Catch-and-Release: All It’s Cracked Up to Be
Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park. (Bob Mallard)
“Catch-and-release is not overrated. In fact, short of stopping fishing, something very few of us are willing to do, catch-and-release is the best tool we have for maintaining natural age and size distribution, as well as abundance. And while some anglers, and unfortunately many state fish and game managers don’t seem to agree, natural balance is best for all involved.”
NFC Executive Director Bob Mallard talks catch-and-release in MidCurrent as part of his ongoing native fish conservation column. Bob discusses why catch-and-release still makes sense regardless of the increasing number of people saying it doesn’t.
“If angler harvest has no impact, why do we often find poor fishing in areas that experience heavy harvest? And why do we often find the largest fish in catch-and-release waters? What about stocking over wild fish, referred to by fisheries managers as supplemental stocking. Why do we need to do it if angler harvest has no net impact?”
CLOCK HERE TO READ
Special thanks to MidCurrent and Epic Fly Rods for giving voice to our wild native fish and their habitats.
