Comments on: Do We Really Want Fly Fishing to Grow?

By: Domenick Swentosky

Domenick Swentosky — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 22:05:00 +0000

Cheers

By: Seth Lansberry

Seth Lansberry — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 16:24:04 +0000

I believe growth in the sport of fly fishing is good, like you eluded to, ideally it brings a sense of connection to the outdoors and inspires conservation to keep what we love going. I realize this is Troutbitten so its all about trout. But, we can also advocate to grow the sport by hinting at targeting other species of fish such as bass, pike, pan fish… and many others. This brings more people to the water but also spreads them out over a broader range of river systems while accomplishing the same goal of building the love and respect for fishing and nature.

By: Mike Barnes

Mike Barnes — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 04:07:58 +0000

Guides,lodges,gear manufacturers,fly shops all want more people involved so they can generate more revenue.My local fly fishing organization has become more of a ministry to attract the “non traditional” fly fisherman than a fly fishing club.I fish alone and on public waters.I will not pay to fish for penned up overfed pigs in “private” water.I feel that protecting access to public waters is considerably more important than increasing the number of people fly fishing.

By: Mike O’Mara

Mike O’Mara — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 02:42:49 +0000

In reply to Alex Argyros.

Well said

By: Domenick Swentosky

Domenick Swentosky — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 15:59:20 +0000

In reply to Adam Rieger.

Good thoughts. Thanks for that. I don’t want growth, necessarily. I just want others to enjoy these places in a deep way and be happier for it. And that’s why we say fishermen make the best conversationist. Because you can get people into the IDEA that the birds, the fish and clean water matter, but with a real and tangible connection to it, their commitment and understanding is much stronger.

By: Adam Rieger

Adam Rieger — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 15:32:52 +0000

I for one only see a legit reason for growth to be to make a living off the sport.
Friends of the river or trout as the best conservationists I disagree with. It is not hard to convince regular folk of why keeping rivers clean and the environment clean is important whether or not they have ever fished.
I live near New York City and the vast majority of trout water is connected to reservoirs that supply water to the city. Keeping the streams clean is a government priority – keeping them trout friendly is another issue.
In areas close to a large population more anglers even of the most caring nature is still a detriment. Catch and release has a negative impact when it hits high levels. Lost flies, boots on the stream bed etc all hit a point where the impact is negative. There are many other animals that rely on the stream and if it is constantly full of people things change.
Now protecting wild fish? Well on the east coast browns and rainbows are not native – their consequences are irreversible at this point but have to have had an impact. While I love to catch them who am I to say their success is “important” to the eco-system?
In the end I believe adding humans no matter how educated to a limited area/resource is bad. So conservation as a reason for growth I think will backfire.
If we have significant growth in densely populated areas then a possible consequence is more “club water” and/or the State setting up “beat systems” as we see on the famous streams of Long Island. With a beat system you get a section and pay a fee for a time slot to fish. On Long Island with such a high population they have no choice. I do not wish that for others.
Having said all this I don’t seek to stop growth but I don’t want it either and the only reason I can really see for wanting it is the all mighty dollar.

By: Alex Argyros

Alex Argyros — Fri, 31 May 2024 15:36:07 +0000

The success of this article glows brightly in the intelligent and nuanced discussion it has engendered. Of course, your readers aren’t the problem. It’s those commercials on tv with the actor fly casting who didn’t even take the time to learn his (fly) lines. Success seems to always generate a backwash of mediocrity. So, as newly minted, and uncommitted, fly fishermen may protect some of our streams, they pollute them with themselves. At any rate, there are always smaller, unknown, and difficult to access creeks that, at least for a while, withstand the onslaught.

By: Rick

Rick — Fri, 31 May 2024 14:09:55 +0000

From Wikipedia:

The tragedy of the commons is a metaphoric label for a concept that states, “should a number of people enjoy unfettered access to a finite, valuable resource such as a [river], they will tend to over-use it, and may end up destroying its value altogether. Even if some users exercised voluntary restraint, the other users would merely supplant them, the predictable result being a tragedy for all.

Grow it at your own risk.

By: Mike Hall

Mike Hall — Fri, 31 May 2024 13:33:06 +0000

One has to wonder about the sense of highly acclaimed guides writing articles in popular magazines regarding Baskin-Robbins like take a number rivers that daily resemble amusement parks on the 4th. of July.

By: Mike C. Farrell II

Mike C. Farrell II — Fri, 31 May 2024 11:22:36 +0000

In reply to Rich Pospula.

Well said.