Charles Crolley wrote:
snip
I have nightmares about some fish having to carry around my fly and
part of a leader for the rest of his life.

The fish with whom I've communicated regarding this issue claim they
carry the fly and tippet as a badge of courage, many times trying to
collect as many as possible. I've landed a fish or two still carrying
previously collected flies, and, based on the way they shake a squirm
when I remove them, they are plenty ****ed at losing their trophy.
Further, these fish have still been actively feeding, so I assume the
impact is negligible.

Almost every fish I catch is not hooked deep, but *barely* hooked in the
lip (fish lips? hmmm. . . a debate for another time, perhaps. . .).
Also, I'm guessing most de-barbed hooks probably get shaken out
somewhere along the way. BTW, my ten foot LDR's aren't from break-off,
but shake off. The only flies I normally lose are to the flora.

If it bothers a person to think about those consequences, then they
should probably just stick with 3X and not break the fish off.
--
TL,
Tim
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