Is Fly Fishing Humane?

[Rabbi Eric Eisenkramer]

As a rabbi and a fly fisher, one of the most common questions I get asked is about the ethics of fly fishing. Is it morally acceptable to spend one’s free-time taking a trout from the river, either to return it shortly to the stream or to eat it for food? Is fly fishing humane?

When fly-fishing for food, I feel on solid ethical ground. To catch a large beautiful rainbow trout, take it home and then fry up the fillets with olive oil, salt and a bit of pepper, is a delicious dinner. Even when fly fishing for food, I take steps to make the process as humane as possible. I never use a creel, to keep a fish alive for hours in the water, which seems cruel. If I decide to keep a trout, I kill the fish immediately. To keep it fresh, I bring a cooler filled with ice on every fly fishing trip.

I also use a very sharp knife, and I kill the fish quickly by removing it head, hoping to minimize the pain. These steps that I take were inspired by the Jewish kosher laws, a collection of rules for how and what a Jew may eat. One law states that in order for a piece of meat to be kosher, the cow must be slaughtered with a very sharp knife that has no nicks or cracks within it. That way, the cow is killed instantly and without pain. I try to end the life of the trout in a kosher-like and humane manner.

While I sometimes fly fish for food, most often I practice catch and release fishing. If I and all of the other fly fishers out there kept or killed every fish we caught, the rivers and streams and lakes would soon be empty of fish. Catch and release fly fishing is necessary to preserve those beautiful and special places where the trout live. I probably keep only one out of every dozen fish that I catch.

We can all take steps to make the catch and release process humane and ethical. When I hook a trout, I do not play it to exhaustion, since the fish may not survive even if released. I always dip my hands in the stream before holding a trout, since the oils on my skin will harm the fish. I also try to minimize the time that the fish is out of the water, quickly removing the hook from its mouth and releasing it back to the stream.

Even when I practice catch and release fishing, I suspect that the trout that I reel in are not having such a great time. But they will all live to see another day. To practice catch and release fishing is to acknowledge that trout are precious. With our expensive fly rods and exquisitely tied flies, we may have the ability to catch many fish on a stream. We also have the responsibility to treat a trout with respect and dignity, for a fish is a beautiful living creature whose source is ultimately divine.

When fly fishing, I still sometimes feel a little bit guilty. And I am not sure there is any way around it. In fact, I would say that feeling guilty about fly fishing is probably a good thing, if that feeling motivates us to be as humane as possible with the fish. Fly-fishing is a wonderful activity that can lead us to feel close to nature. And it can also be ethically challenging. Our task is to make fly-fishing, and all activities in our lives, as ethical and upright as possible.

[flyfshn]

One other thing you may want to try to ease your mind of whether it is ethical to practice catch and release is to remove (smash) the barb on the hook. It does less damage to the fish and make catching them more of a challenge! I have only been flyfishing for a couple of years, but I have not killed any that I have released.

[WebFreeman]

I wish the Rabbi would come back and participate in the discussions he starts.

[Rabbi Eric Eisenkramer]

One other thing you may want to try to ease your mind of whether it is ethical to practice catch and release is to remove (smash) the barb on the hook. It does less damage to the fish and make catching them more of a challenge! I have only been flyfishing for a couple of years, but I have not killed any that I have released.

Thanks for this tip. Next time I'm fishing I'll try pushing down the barb. Someone also told me recently that he releases the fish while they are still in the water. I thought that was a good idea too. Thanks! Eric

[bojack]

i'm not 100% sure but is it legal to clean or remove a fishes head while still fishing? i was under the impression that while on the water you had to leave the fish whole.

[Rabbi Eric Eisenkramer]

i'm not 100% sure but is it legal to clean or remove a fishes head while still fishing? i was under the impression that while on the water you had to leave the fish whole.

Bojack,

I think you may be right. I usually fish up in New York where I live, but I am originally from St. Louis. Up here, I do remove the head but dispose of it in the woods, far from the stream.

Anybody else know if it is legal to remove a fishes head in Missouri?

[back2roots]

I don't know about Missouri in general...but on Taneycomo, while at / on the lake the trout must be completely intact. Head, tail and all.

Bill

[brownieman]

While in poccession the fish have to be intact...possibly gutted, not sure on that one but if a question arises with length kinda hard to measure a fish with no head, ya know.

Someone should check...I may be mistaken...once again, lol

[Rabbi Eric Eisenkramer]

I wish the Rabbi would come back and participate in the discussions he starts.

Fair enough. I will continue to participate in the discussions I start since I enjoy this forum.

[Phil Lilley]

Thanks Eric.

You have to leave some part of the trout attached... head, skin... for identification purposes until it's off the water. Once on a dock, in a cleaning area, it can be filleted and bagged. But if you're wading, canoing or boating, you have to leave some sort of identification of the fish intact.