Is Fly Fishing Growing?

Ask some old timers is fly fishing growing and you get the muttered reply that there are
few places now where a body can go and get peace on the water. The appearance of more
and more fishing outfitters backs up their complaints.

Is fly fishing growing at a sustainable rate

There are more fishermen out on the water than when I was a kid and the question needs
to be asked is fly fishing growing in a manner that does not endanger our trout and other
sport fish populations.

With the introduction of catch and release practices on many rivers I believe that it is
possible to encourage more people to enter the game while still protecting the fish.

Wildlife management groups and fishing regulations ensure that future fisher folk will
still thrill to the sight of fish rising on mist covered waters. Conservation conscious
anglers no longer fish to fill their creels.

It is not unusual at the end of the day to sit around a campfire and talk not only about the
one that got away but also the one that you let get away. On some rivers you are frowned
upon if you do not return fish to the water even if there are no catch and release
regulations in place.

Is fly fishing growing good for the sport

Increasing numbers of people are casting lines on rivers and lakes in search of feeding
fish. Is fly fishing growing so that the increase in numbers is good for the sport?

We fishermen have always been solitary people. We enjoy fishing pristine rivers where
we can test our skills against wary browns, or fighting rainbows. If there are others
fishing, we have given them plenty of room and found our own fishing spot.

There are certainly problems associated with the growth of fly fishing, but I thing that
generally the sport is benefiting from the popularity it is now experiencing.

Technology has followed on the wave of popularity that fly fishing is enjoying. Our tools
are being more and more refined as manufacturers compete for their places in the market.
We are refining out fishing skills with tools that make catch and release techniques more
successful.

It has been proven that the greatest survival rate for released fish is when they are caught
on a fly. We are more likely to fish with barbless hooks and bring fish in quickly for
releasing. Our rods and lines are designed to make the process easier.

Licensing ensures that monies generated return at least in part to maintaining and
supporting fishing waters.

The new generations of fly fishermen and women are more aware of conservation needs
and practices than most of us who grew up thinking that our fishing expertise was
measured by the number of fish we took home at the end of the day.

Is fly fishing growing a problem

There are some issues that need addressing when we consider the question is fly fishing
growing. The added pressure on sensitive areas can negatively impact fishing. More
people on fishing waters can contribute to pollution issues.

However, the problems associated with the growth of fly fishing can often be alleviated
by well considered regulations.

Seasonal closures allow targeted fish populations to rebuild and vegetation to recover.
Limiting the numbers and sizes of catches not only prevents over fishing an area, but can
encourage healthy stocks by keeping the fish population to numbers that the waters can
effortlessly sustain.

The greatest issue that I have with the increasing numbers of people on the rivers is the
corresponding increase in litter. It is not unusual to soda cans, food containers, and other
wrappers lying on banks and shorelines. Worse still is the tangled monofilament lying in
the grass, a lethal trap for curious birds and wildlife.

There have always been thoughtless individuals and we fly fishers have had our share of
them. Unfortunately they are still around. My solution is to always carry a plastic bag or
something similar that can slip into a pocket.

At the end of the day, I carry out any garbage I find. It doesn’t weigh much and I feel that
I have left the area a little better than I found it. Maybe the next fisherman will appreciate
the beauty and do the same.

Is fly fishing growing? The answer must be that it is, but generally that is not a bad thing.
If we are responsible in our fishing habits and considerate of out impact upon prime
fishing habits, then we can sustain the increasing number of anglers casting lines each
season.