By having the right mindset, knowledge of the fish and its environment and applying the correct techniques, we can still get the perfect shot while putting the fish’s health first.
Unfortunately, even with the latest equipment and all the knowledge in the world, if we do not have the right mindset from the get go, then all this knowledge is rather meaningless if we disregard best practices to satisfy our own selfish needs for gratification. We need to take a step back and ask ourselves why we fly fish and if our intentions really have the fish’s survival at heart? I would like to believe that most of us do indeed have the fish’s best interests at heart and want to do everything possible to minimize the impact we have when catching a fish.
However, in the excitement of catching that elusive fish or finally hunting down that monster you have been dreaming of, many an educated angler has placed their glory and recognition above the health of the fish. Unfortunately, social media has had a big hand to play in this regard, sacrificing the health of a fish for ultimate bragging rights and a rush of serotonin for every like or share on social media.
This all comes down to mindset, are we after the rush of the pursuit and the sense of achievement when we see a fish swim off strongly and in good condition, or do we seek the glory and approval of our achievement from others? If we can get our mindsets right and understand that no photo is worth compromising the health of a fish, then we will already be well on our way to releasing fish in better condition. We need to consciously make this shift in mindset before we even pick up our fly rod and actively apply it when fishing.