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Fishing 101
By
David E. Wilson, Jr.
his summer, fishermen and women should take the time to teach the
younger set or anyone new to the sport the ins and outs of being a
fish-friendly and nature-friendly angler.
ver the next few months, some 5 million people will be fishing in
Pennsylvania, and for many, the outing will be their first with rod
in hand. To keep fish plentiful in the future, there are some simple
rules for both catching and releasing fish and for keeping your outing
impact-free.
f you are planning on releasing the fish you catch, never let it flap
on the ground. Underwater, gravity has less impact so fish are not
used to pounding. Hold the fish with a wet hand or wet rag (never
dry) and gently remove the hook.
lthough there is a wide range of tolerance from catfish to trout,
fish should never be kept out of the water for more than about 15
seconds. Even though we anglers see fish swim away, researchers show
that often they do not survive more than a few minutes. Fish out of
water for long periods of time may be revived by moving the animal
frontward and backward in the water to allow oxygen flow through the
gills. Always have pliers handy for deep-set hooks and leave hooks
in fish that have swallowed them rather than ripping out their stomach.
Anglers should use barbless hooks or circle hooks to minimize damage
to fish.
 hen
on a fishing outing, keep in mind how much fish you really need. Just
because a fish is of legal size, doesn't mean you can't throw it back.
As a child I would rationalize keeping as much as possible by conjuring
up all of the people I could share my quarry with — from my
best friend to my uncle's sister's cousin's half brother. I later
realized I just wanted to brag.
now size and creel limits well and take time to learn to identify
fish species so you know what you're catching.
eep in mind, too, that good fishing requires unpolluted water. Never
discharge boat sewage in rivers or lakes, retrieve all used fishing
line, and never let plastics blow out of your boat.
lso, remember that you're fishing in an ecosystem. Too many times
while fishing I've seen other fishermen kill or maim fish which they
had accidentally caught while targeting another species. Even those
with a distaste for the inherent value of other living things should
realize that nature requires a balance and that depleting one species
invariably has an effect on all others. Pickerel, suckers, or mud
catfish may not seem important to anglers, but their eggs and young
are integral food sources for gamefish.
his summer, show courtesy to fish and wildlife and they will return
the favor with clean water and scrumptious fish fries.
Related Watersheds.tv presentations:
 International
Coastal Cleanup
Coastal
Bays Cleanup
Contact Dave Wilson
See past topics of In the Flow here!
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