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11/21/2007
 

THE DO's AND DON'Ts OF FISHING

For any sport to be truly enjoyable for all participants there must be a set of rules that govern the game and its players. And believe it or not, the same holds true for the sport of fishing. Some fishing rules, like license requirements, are written in the law while others remain unwritten. These unwritten rules are often called ethics, a system of principals that guide our behavior.

Adherence to fishing’s ethical guidelines is voluntary, but if no one chose to follow them, fishing wouldn’t be any fun.

Recently, I was fly-fishing at Floyd Lamb Park with some friends. We spaced ourselves out because it’s just good ethics not to crowd against another angler, when along came a man pulling a wagon with two small children. To my surprise the man parked himself right between me and my friend. Because we were fly-fishing there was about 20 feet of fly line whipping back and forth. On the end of the line was at least one sharp hook.

I warned the man that his choice of fishing spots might not be safe because we were using this fishing technique. He said it wouldn’t be a problem and set about putting his fishing gear together while his kids threw rocks into the water where we were fishing. To top things off, when the man began casting his line, he cast across the area where I was fishing.

As ethics go, crowding and casting across another angler’s line are minor infractions when compared to others. Some of the more serious ethics infractions are also against the law. They include taking more fish than you’re allowed, fishing without a license to do so and throwing spent fishing line and other garbage – like empty bait containers -- on the ground.

Another ethical issue involves the practice of catch and release fishing. There is a right way and wrong way to do it. Nothing makes me madder than when I see a person grab a fish they caught with a towel. That practice strips the fish of its slimy, yet protective, coating. And rather than simply ripping the hook out of the fish and throwing the fish back into the water, anglers should handle their fish carefully and remove the hook in a manner that puts the least amount of stress on the fish. Then slide the fish into the water. Don’t just throw it.

Arm chair biology is another serious issue. Every year fish species are found in our waters that shouldn’t be there, because someone didn’t care about the consequences of putting live creatures into waters where they don’t belong. A glaring example of the results of this practice can be found at Comins Lake near Ely. Someone illegally planted northern pike into that lake and they have virtually destroyed the trophy trout fishery.

The next time you go fishing, instead of crowding in on the person who just caught a fish, give them the space you would like to have and respect the waters you are visiting.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.