[VFB] Quote

[Richard Zieger]

"First it is indisputable that many heavily fished waters have benefited tremendously from catch-and-release fishing.  where there are simply too many people and too few fish, regulations requiring the release of fish improve the situation dramatically. An additional philosophical consideration may in time be even more important to the sport and to the fisher.  On occasion people strive to be something more than just brute animals.  Noble is perhaps a good word to describe a concept that permits us to satisfy our innate need to hum hunt to return our prize to the wild.  Maybe it is simply some modification of our instincts that will permit us to survive on this crowded planet. Finally most of us make this decision emotionally.  It was not too many years ago that I kept everything I was able to catch.  I started to release fish because of regulations in some of the waters I frequented, and because of pressure from my friends and the fishing community.  it was uncomfortable at first, and I found myself resenting the whole catch-and-release program.  Then a funny thing happened and I can't really explain: I began to enjoy releasing fish.  And now when I feel a fish move through my hands and se him swim away, it makes me feel good.  It makes me feel very good."   Mel Kreiger   in "The Essentials of Fly Fishing"   Rick