I'm not a fish!

[Paul Arden]

So a question that comes up often is "isn't fly fishing cruel?" These are people genuinely interested. Of course I go straight to the neocortex. Which they are fascinated about. Let's discuss it!!

Cheers, Paul

[Graeme H]

Fly fishing is very cruel.

I spend all my money on overpriced gear.

I spend hours every month practising my casting.

I have sleepless nights designing flies.

... only to find the fish are always just outside my casting range.

Too right fly fishing is cruel!!!

[Graeme H]

For the fish? I don't know.

It's less cruel than using many other forms of fishing (nets, lure fishing with multiple trebles, bait, etc) because we usually lip hook any fish we catch, causing minimal permanent damage.

We normally release the fish we catch.

In terms of causing undue stress to the fish, I simply don't know and don't dwell on it.

Cheers,
Graeme

[Nick]

Of course it's cruel. But they're fish...

[Paul Arden]

Hmmm ok, then are fish also "cruel"?

[Salar]

Hmm that's a tough call Paul.

I suppose it can't be argued that fly fishing is more cruel that not fishing for them at all but on the other hand if you factor in the level of care for ecosystems/waterways/habitat etc that many fly fisherman work hard to ensure that fish are "looked after". Then it could be argued that our "cruelness" is more than balanced out in the bigger picture.

Just my 2p

Cheers
Steven.

[Nick]

A reasonable definition of cruelty would go something like - knowingly causing pain and stress for no legitimate reason. So fish are not cruel, because they don't have the mental capacity to understand the effects of their actions.

[Chris]

And fly fishermen are not cruel because you won't be able to find a more legitimate reason to cause a fish pain and stress. Problem solved.

[Paul Arden]

Ok well I don't think fish are capable of experiencing "suffering"!

[Chris]

Ok well I don't think fish are capable of experiencing "suffering"!

I've heard that one (or: "fish don't feel any pain") a few times from different people and am still unsure what it's supposed to mean or what research it is based on. Would you mi d expanding on that train of thought?