I'm not one to say "where I'm from" or "down south" or "in my day" but.... since moving from Florida to TN I have noticed that many people who spend time outdoors are really terrible stewards of the resources this state has to offer. I have seen simple things like people leaving their garbage on a creek bank or discarding fishing line and soft plastics. That sort of thing doesn't really surprise me- there are dirtbags everywhere.
What does surprise me though are the folks that seem to be true sportsman that don't seem to care about how they handle their fish in catch and release scenarios. In the past few weeks since I have gotten serious about figuring out how to fish middle TN waters, I have seen people drag fish across a sandy bank, intentionally let them flop about the rocks, boat swing trophy fish and intentionally let them hit the deck, etc.
To completely contradict my opening statement, it was different where I spent my life before TN. People seemed to take great care to release their fish unharmed and there was an inherent respect for your foe on the other end of the line. Maybe I haven't fished with the folks who are really great anglers in TN but it seems everywhere I turn I see some guy mishandling a fish only to feel good about releasing it.
Thoughts?
What does surprise me though are the folks that seem to be true sportsman that don't seem to care about how they handle their fish in catch and release scenarios. In the past few weeks since I have gotten serious about figuring out how to fish middle TN waters, I have seen people drag fish across a sandy bank, intentionally let them flop about the rocks, boat swing trophy fish and intentionally let them hit the deck, etc.
To completely contradict my opening statement, it was different where I spent my life before TN. People seemed to take great care to release their fish unharmed and there was an inherent respect for your foe on the other end of the line. Maybe I haven't fished with the folks who are really great anglers in TN but it seems everywhere I turn I see some guy mishandling a fish only to feel good about releasing it.
Thoughts?