"In every fishery there is a season and limit for a reason. If the season is open and the fish happen to be spawning; I will take my limit because I paid for the damn liscense."
This thread has been a largely civil discourse, so I will try to be careful here. I disagree with the above quote, which implies that anything goes if it's legal. There are many legal activities that are not the actions of a sportsman. Just as examples ... handling your small or non-target fish with disdain, unhooking them roughly and dropping them on the rocks or kicking them back into the water. I guess not all of us strive to be a sportsman or woman... so be it. But I like to think that the fly fishing community has a relatively high ratio of sports-people within its ranks.
The world and its resources are finite. I kill and eat some of the fish I land. When I do, I verbally thank the fish for giving its life and I thank the ocean or river for providing my meal. I kill it swiftly and use all of the meat and bones and sometimes the head into soup. The fish we catch are beautiful creatures. Our attitudes will determine our actions.
I'm new to this forum. Please forgive me if I'm already stirring the pot. I'm not a great caster, I use inexpensive gear, and I post my fish pictures on Instagram because my friends post theirs and we love to see each other's successes. I never use guides any more because I don't get the same satisfaction when i catch a fish. Can't afford it anyway.
I look forward to learning from you all... ethically, and otherwise.
