By Louie Stout
Could we just show each other a little respect?
That was the thought that came to my mind when I received an email recently from a reader who questioned the values of other anglers who don’t share similar interests.
More importantly, or so it seemed, he questioned the ethics of anglers who use heavy lines and “drag in fish without a fight.”
“A light line and nice, light rod is a real challenge for good fishermen,” he wrote.
He’ll get no argument from me or any other angler who loves catching fish. Light tackle is fun, too.
But then he adds, “They have ruined the sport and want money and you guys support them.”
But, how have any law abiding anglers “ruined the sport?”
I suspect his inference relates to bass fishermen, many of whom do use heavy lines and rush fish to the boat. Last time I checked, there was no law against that, even if it does seem a little overkill at times.
But ruin the sport?
Law abiding fishermen contribute to their pastime through license fees and tackle purchases that return funding to fish management programs. In fact, most bass fishermen buy far more tackle and equipment that carry federal excise taxes. Those proceeds get returned to their respective states in the form of Sportfishing Restoration funds to enhance and protect all fishing opportunities.
Secondly, most bass fishermen embrace catch and release practices. The fact that they don’t kill or eat their catch benefits panfishermen, since largemouth bass often are the top predator in a lake and help keep the small panfish in check.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with anglers who do keep legal fish or enjoy eating them. Nearly all anglers have deep affection for bluegill and perch and many are just as likely to spend a nice day daubing for panfish for a family meal.
So, why do some anglers use heavy tackle? Because that’s how they enjoy fishing, just as panfishermen savor those days anchored over a school of bluegill with light tackle, or a Lake Michigan angler finds excitement in trolling for trout and salmon, or a fly fisherman enjoys stalking trout on a stream.
If people are fishing within the law and not hurting the resource, what difference does it make? In a perfect world, we’d have the water or woods to ourselves to enjoy what we love to do.
Sadly, that’s not the case anymore and we have to share the resources that continually shrink as access is being taken from us by lake residents and landowners.
Look, it doesn’t matter if you fish for carp off the bank, steelhead in the river, bass from a boat, bluegills from a kayak, or hunt with bows, crossbows, shotguns or rifles - we all share a common bond of deep passion for the outdoors.
Energies would be better spent working together to protect the resource, calling out those who abuse it, and challenging those who want to deny us access or diminish our legal opportunities.
Unless someone is breaking the law or abusing the resource, show a little respect, even if you don’t “like” their method of participation.
And lastly, to answer a reader’s question as to why more space isn't devoted to panfishing tactics, believe me, I’ve tried. The panfishermen I’ve approached want to keep their information secret.
Go figure.
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