If you want to eat fish, why don't we bring home only those that I and my family can consume (no need to feed the entire town)? When caught enough, just quit and go home. If we all have at least this much self control, we should be able to enjoy the precious fun of fishing in a much healthier, sustainable manner.

Or why don't we do some good in return? For example we often find plastic bags discarded in the least becoming locations.. I know we fishermen shall never litter but that is not enough. The challenge for us is how often we can pick them up and bring them home. You are welcome to join our worthy battle.

Fishing originated as a means of survival. But we the contemporary people must also face a sobering fact: the world's human population, which was 2billion in 1900, tripled to 6billion by 2000 - while the earth hasn't grown bigger by an inch. How much more can the earth do for us is no longer a question. Time has come when we must change our way of life, so we can better co-exist with other lives.

I admit fishing is, whether kill or not, a cruel act. But it'd be fair to say that through fishing we can come a step closer to the otherwise alien world beneath. Through fishing we gain perspectives, touch mysteries, and in due course even learn a wisdom or two. Catch and release is not the solution to all the problems but it does cast a light to the ways how the man and the nature can live together.

I'm not a vegetarian myself and know how rewarding it is to enjoy one's own catch. But when the oceans are getting depleted like today, we just cannot remain indifferent.

Here are a few simple facts: a bream needs 2 years to reach 20cm while a rock bass needs 5. In 4 years a salmon grows to 80cm but a sea bass needs 10. Of course all lives weigh equal in front of the God, but in terms of conservation, we should learn to harvest wisely.

And why flyfishing?

In a relative term, flyfishing is fish friendlier method because, first of all, it generally catch less. Secondly, flyfishing is more process-oriented game, where observation and imitation are the key. I steers fishermen's focus away from quantity but more onto quality. A fish you won is therefore not just a piece of meat but a reward for your skill and quest.

Again, a warm welcome to the world of flyfishing.


- Back

Pristine mountain streams are lonesome place. There are not much gourmet pleasure, where insects adrift make the precious few meals to survive on.

A Scottish friend of mine once caught a small fish about 6 inches in the highlands. Inspection of the tooth confirmed it was a char, and surprisingly, 15 years of age. The world in the water is ruled by the providence of its own.