Protect our business partners...
Ive been thinking of writing a post about this but didn’t want to be the “river police” or “that Colorado guide with his western bullshit”, but it’s a common issue I see out here as a White River fly fishing guide… so Im just going to do it 🤷♂️.
These fish are our resource and we need to protect them as best we can. I mean, we are already catching the hell out of them day in and day out… the least we can do is treat them with some respect when we have them in our nets and hands ready for photos and admiration.
Fish don’t breathe air. Try to keep them in the water as long as possible. 15 seconds is my rule. Net in the water, quick lift, grab it, shoot the pic. If the pic didn’t look very good, put the fish in net, back in the water. Try again. I only try twice, but thats just me. Ive stopped taking photos of every 20'“ fish… sure, a quick one of first fish of the day, and/or a cool looking one, but the rest get admiration and back in the water.
Stop squeezing them. they’re obviously slimy and squirmy, but squeezing them doesn’t help your situation at all, if anything it makes it worse.
WET YOUR HANDS. Trout have a protective slime coating and if that coating goes away, they’ll start look like a zombie in that area. I either have my clients use the river water, or I will tell them to use the dripping water off the bottom of the net to get their hands wet enough. So, obviously Im moving fast, to snap the pic, get the fish home, and ready for the next one. Fish photos should show water on the fish, and the clients’ hands, if its done properly.
Let them swim out of your hand or the net. They don’t need to be tossed in like a bass. Thats just damn disrespectful!
This is the STUPIDEST sh!t that I cant believe I feel the need to say it to the 0 people that read my blogs, but DON’T LIP TROUT LIKE A BASS. and Do you really need you stupid Walmart brand boga grip for that trout? cough BAITGUIDES cough Ive actually got a funny photo of a very famous (now retired) young dude… well ask me about him and to see the photo on our next trip together!
Theres plenty more, but Im not God, nor your mama, so carry on. Ill be the first to admit I’ve failed to practice-what-I-preach on a few occasions, but after spending nearly 10 years in the conservation-minded state of Colorado, I have learned how to better protect our resources.
All in all, there are reasons some of the greatest trout rivers are out west and coincidentally have restrictions; whether it be closed areas for spawn, “hoot owl” for warm temperatures, NO BAIT, its all for a reason and that reason is protecting the fish. You never know, that 14” brown trout may be the next world record.
Drip Drip on a White River Rainbow Trout. Riffletrip Outfitters Fly Fishing Guides