Fly Fishing Sportmanship
Fly-fishing is a sport/art/science that has been developed and enjoyed for hundreds of years. A variety of manners and customs have evolved to help make the sport more enjoyable for everyone. Jans Mountain Outfitters fully supports the following rules of behavior or “golden rules:”
Thou Shalt Not Mistreat a Trout
Many fishermen practice catch-and-release fishing but some fishermen don’t know how to release a trout. Once you have quickly but adequately played the fish to net, begin by wetting your hands and holding the fish gently as you dislodge the hook. (Using barbless hooks or flattening the barb with pliers in advance makes the job easier.) When returning the fish to water, hold him facing upstream so that his gills can re-oxygenate and give him strength. It might take several minutes to revive enough to swim on his own. With careful handling most fish will revive and offer you another chance to catch him again, and he will be a little wiser in the process.
Thou Shalt Not Encroach Upon Thy Neighbor
Every fisherman ahead of you, upstream or down, has the right to fish the water for a reasonable period of time. He has the right of first possession on the stream. Whichever direction he is fishing, he controls the movement. If he is fishing upstream, he has the right to unimpeded water above him. The same goes for his movement downstream. Cutting in front, hogging the best water, loud talking or allowing your kids and dogs to run loose is strictly prohibited.
Thou Shalt Not Trash the Ecology
The environmentally-conscious river runners have a motto: “Leave nothing but footprints.” This motto applies to fishermen as well. Cigarette butts, beer cans and other non-biodegradable material has no place along a trout stream.
Thou Shalt Not Trash the Property of Others
Cutting or breaking down fences and driving in pastures or crop land where roads don’t exist have no place in a fly-fisherman’s repertoire. Ask permission to trespass, close all gates, and treat the animals and property with the same respect you would if you were the landowner.
Thou Shalt Not Hog Fish
Even if regulations state that you may keep a dozen fish, why keep so many? If you need to show your friends how many fish you can catch, put your ego in a cooler for a couple of days and see how good it smells and tastes. Trout are a culinary delicacy only when eaten fresh.
“Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them Do Unto You”
If every fisherman or woman practiced this golden rule we wouldn’t need any other statues, laws, rules and customs.
Fly-fishing is a great sport that can be enjoyed by folks of all walks of life – even more so when they all follow the simple rules outlined above!
Jan Peterson is chairman of the board of Jans Mountain Outfitters in Park City. Their main store at 1600 Park Avenue has a full selection of rods and reels, boots, waders, books, and perhaps the best collection of flies in the region! They also have an outstanding rod demo program and dedicated guides with years of knowledge and experience. Any questions, give Jans (or Jan) a call at 435-649-4949 and ask for the Fishing Department.
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