Most fly fishers are different. Its the long rod and the thick line. Its the flourished casting such gear requires. Its the trappings and the stereotypes (and the counter-culture trappings and stereotypes within fly fishing). Day to day, we blend in with most normal folk. But on the water? That is where we’re different. We’re the outliers.

Why? Because we tend to not eat the fish we catch.*†

*Are there good reasons for catch and release? Yes.

†Are there fly fishers who do harvest trout and other species? Yes.

Generally, though: we throw them all back. We can probably wax eloquent about the pursuit. There are virtues and joys that come with the challenge and the safe return of our quarry. We should be able to articulate the best practices for conservation. Some ecosystems can only support anglers because of very conservative regulations. Talk that talk. But remember that most people in the world think that fishing results in harvesting.

Okay. Fishing results in killing and eating.

And I’m of the mind that fly fishers need to realize that’s the way things are. On the whole, we’re different and in the minority. The limit-chaser has become the boogeyman in a lot of our circles. However there is a vast difference between the spring creek trout poacher and the person who takes home a bucket of Mississippi catfish. A boatload of silver carp, each laying dead with a bleeding arrow wound, warrants a lot less concern than a poorly-played steelhead in the Pacific Northwest. You can even argue we should applaud the  pile of dead carp. Even if they’re just used for fertilizer.

Hashtag, “raising awareness” types ought to wag a finger at fly fishers who throw brook trout back in the Rockies. Instead, they quickly chastise a child who wants to bring home the pallid stocker from the local pond. Ironically, he’s just picking on the easy target too. But he’s a kid. And he’s doing what most people do.

This isn’t a call for bloodlust. Nor am I saying that you have to eat a fish every once in a while. (Although you should kill and eat a fish every once in a while.) Certainly, I’m not advocating any shift in policy. Why? The vast majority of anglers are still going to  abide by their local regulations as they take home crappie, redfish, and all sorts of species.

So what am I doing? I suppose I’m simply raising awareness. But to be fair, there are some things that necessitate foundational epistemological presuppositions. Or, you have to start somewhere. Here’s my two  starting points, bullet-pointed, for us fly fishers:

• Again, most people in the world think that fishing results in harvesting. Most people in the USA think this way.  And I’m not one to quickly toss around the concept of privilege, but  catch-and-release/purely recreational fishing is a framework that not everyone appreciates.
• Across a wide spectrum of concerns, non-catch-and-release anglers are the allies of fly fishers. We’re largely fighting for the same things. And as I write this, I realize this deserves it’s own article. Stay tuned.

Keep throwing fish back. Keep being different. Definitely keep advocating for our fish, our waters, and our environmental concerns. Also keep in mind that we’re part of a culture that is bigger than us. There is a lot we have to offer, but there is a lot that we can learn.