On 2008-04-22, Conan The Librarian wrote:

Seriously, I ask you again: When was the last time you fished for
subsistence?

I'd starve to death.

OTOH, it's the only reason I fish. Screw a buncha catch and release. If I
catch a legal fish, I'm gonna eat it. I don't quite understand the romantic
notion of fishing. What? A 200lb man with $500 worth of hardware lands a
2lb fish. Big whoop. To some, I guess. If that's their thing, so be it.

I have nothing against CnR. If most folks didn't do it, I have no doubt
most streams would be fished out in no time. I've seen it happen. Last time
I went fishing, at a popular camping destination that was once remote and
rarely crowded, the fishermen were shoulder to shoulder. Now, with RV
parking, reservations, etc, the place is so crowded the fish have to be
restocked ever morning. I caught my two fish (6 limit) in about 3 mins and
left. It was depressing.

Recently, I stopped a local fishing guide who was returning from scouting
the river below my place. We talked a bit, me asking if the fish were
biting, etc. I happened to mention my taking up fly fishing so I could
catch a few trout to eat. She got all serious and somewhat indignant that
anyone would actually keep a fish and not release it and went into a long
diatribe about how the fish were not infinite, yada yada. I said I'd heard
this river was loaded with fish and the fishing pressure was light. She
said that was the case a couple years ago. Now, fishing pressure was heavy
and CnR was the only solution. I didn't say anything, but thought it rather
funny and a bit hipocritical, as her boss, who owns three fishing shops, is
out stumping up and down the front range at TU seminars to get people to
drive hundreds of miles to this river so she can charge $300 day to guide
them. Fishing pressure, indeed.

So far, the fish, here, have nothing to fear from me.

nb