Search the Community

Went out with a mate today... I only boated four pikey bream. . Missed abother half dozen and also missed out on a mangrove jack (snapper) and barramundi

I'm very interested to get people's views on this subject as I know they will differ greatly. I salmon fish in NW Scotland where slowly the trend is moving towards catch and release. I fly fish for pike in the winter, which is all catch and release. With flyfishing for pike we are encouraged to use heavier tackle eg an 8wt rod and heavier leader. The theory behind this is you play the fish for less time and when the fish is released it is not totally depleted! Also the intro of barbless hooks (I don't need to explain the benefit in a C&R fishery do I?). So you can probably see where I'm going with this..... Last summer 3 fish were played beautifully and skillfully into the back by members of the party I was with in Scotland. Two of them died from sheer exhaustion of a 30min fight and the other well I hope it's still swimming. My question is at what stage do we start to migrate to heavier tackle and barbless hooks in the quest for preservation of our native stocks? I for one will be fishing this summer with an 8wt, heavier leader and barbless hooks as I endeavor to release all I catch. That said I need to catch the silver king first any fly suggestions please? Edward