{Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Catch and Release question

Hi -- I was curious about the pervasive practice of C/R that I see most fly fishermen tend to do....presumably for all species and all size classes of fish caught.  Does anyone know approximately when this developed with fly fishing?  Since I've lived in the DC area I've literally released ALL fish my wife and I have caught without even a second thought, but I was wondering whether there has been any "revisionist" thinking on the subject given the better understanding we now have of population dynamics, etc.  For example, even some state agencies (Missouri Department of Conservation for example) now advocate "thinning" smaller individuals of species like bluegill/sunfish in certain waters where populations are "stunted" due to ridiculously high numbers and/or lack of resources, etc.  To me, this is sort of like the old Smokey Bear "Forest Fires are bad" stuff from 30 years ago vs. the prescribed burns we do now which we now understand are of benefit to the system. 

 

Then of course there are invasive issues (e.g. snakehead, carp, etc.) that different agencies have different approaches for depending upon where you are. 

 

I really am asking this out of genuine interest - and please keep in mind that I'm a "releaser" just like most other fly fishermen I've run into.  I don't kill fish, but I also don't like adhering to an idea without really understanding why I'm doing it.   

 

Is it just a tradition carried for the sake of tradtion?  Did it start mostly with trout or certain other more "sensitive" species that are prone to exploitation and simply carried over onto all other species?  Animal rights?

 

Thanks - and please no flame wars.  If this post makes you upset and you think you might type the word "idiot" or something, just email it directly to me ;). 

 

Gene

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http://www.tpfr.org
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