Let me start by stating that I sincerely and deeply appreciate our Missouri Department of Conservation. Without the MDC, I might not be able to enjoy all of the hunting and fishing opportunities that this great state has to offer. The department is active, attempts to engage as many Missourians as possible, and full of good men and women that want to share their love of the outdoors with others. With that being said, I have a small, but seemingly simple request to the department. I believe that our beloved sport of fly fishing deserves its own set of fishing records.
I have posted over the past few months about different fishing records that have fallen with many of them being classified under the "Alternative Methods" category. This category consists of trotlines, limblines, snagging, bow and arrow, gigging, throwlines, banklines, spearfishing, grabbing, and atlatl. The pole and line category consists of...well...rod and reel. For more information, feel free to visit the following link: http://huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/fishing/trophies-certificates/state-record-fish-list
Here's what I propose; starting as soon as possible, the Missouri Department of Conservation should create, recognize, and maintain a set of records for fish caught on flies and fly rods. Now, on the surface, this seems like a simple request, but there is a greater depth to this request. Here are the obstacles that I foresee and possible solutions to said problems.
1. A Fly AND A Fly Rod?
Yes, for a fish to qualify, a fish needs to be caught on a fly AND on a fly rod. If these requirements do not come in tandem, then any spin fisherman with a homemade jig would qualify for fly fishing records. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to fishing some of my trout jigs on ultralights to catch crappie. I figure if trout parks can set up rules and regulations for zones and can define what a fly is, then just transfer the same requirements to meet the qualifications under this new category. As for what constitutes a fly rod, I'm not sure how to address that but I'm open to ideas.
2. Why Fly Fishing Records?
Let's be honest here, in most cases, bait fishermen catch more fish than fly fishermen. Fly fishing is more complex and requires more skill and technique. Again, I mean no offense to bait fishermen. My grandma raised me on fishing with worms for catfish and my son and I recently caught a mess of bass on minnows. It has its time and place, but so does fly fishing and should be recognized differently but still with respect and reverence.
3. Why Not?
Why wouldn't we have a set of fly fishing records? Is it because our records won't date back very far? Because if so, the longer we wait, the less history and prestige our records will have. Other than that, I really can't understand why anyone would be opposed to such an idea. It would only open the door for more anglers to be recognized and bring more attention to the fishing opportunities in our great state.
Maybe I am flying solo here. Maybe I'm the only one that feels this way. However, if there are others that feel like I do, and feel strongly about making this happen, then I will start contacting some folks at the MDC and start the push to make this happen. I feel strongly about making this happen, but if I don't have a group to back me on this, then my push will fall on deaf ears. Email me, contact me via Facebook, send me a singing telegram if you agree and think this should happen.
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