The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Hey Blaino,

I've had to base this on my own observations and experiences. In my years of fly fishing, I've only had one fish hooked deeply, and even then I could see the fly and was able to easily remove it with my forcepts.

When I was a bait fisherman, and I might brag the best I've ever met, I accidentally killed many a trout when the fish swallowed the bait. Even when I set as soon as I was aware of a fish, it was sometimes too late.

I've seen bait fishermen release steelhead that were bleeding. I bet most of them went to fish heaven soon thereafter.

Even though some bait guys are better than others at not hooking fish deeply, the occasional fisher using bait will kill more fish than if he or she were pulling plugs or spinners, IMHO.