As anglers, it’s up to us to preserve the fisheries and habitats that make our sport possible. By following ethical angling practices, we are doing our part now to make sure future generations have the opportunity to enjoy the sport as much as we do.
Fish Responsibly
Purchase a fishing license; know your fish species; obey fishing and boating regulations.
Know the harvest limits and size restrictions for every body of water that you fish.
Many areas have special restrictions for certain waters, such as use of artificial flies and lures, single hook flies and lures, barbless hooks or no live bait. Please know and comply with these regulations
Prevent the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) and disease. Be familiar with the AIS program prior to entering the waters you fish. Never release plants, fish or animals into a body of water unless they came out of that body of water. (more about AIS control)
Expand your knowledge and skills to enhance your angling experience and success.
Share your expertise with less experienced anglers. It can be quite rewarding to watch others catch fish using your techniques, especially young people.
Enjoy your fishing experience and have fun!
Respect The Water, The Land and Your Fellow Anglers
Fish thrive in healthy habitats. Respect the water, riparian areas and surrounding lands.
Pack out your own trash and any other trash found while fishing, and dispose of it properly. Carry a trash bag to pick up after others who are not so thoughtful.
Avoid spills and never dump any pollutants such as fuel, oil or waste on land or in the water.
Respect private property and do not trespass on private land or water. Always ask for permission to fish on private land.
Respect our public lands – shorelines, stream banks, parks, campgrounds, picnic areas, and boat launches – by leaving a clean site and being considerate of others.
Be courteous to other anglers by going out of your way to avoid crowding or disturbing others. In crowed areas, leave ample room for other anglers so you don’t disrupt their fishing experience. If possible, explore another, more private area to fish.
Let Them Go, Let Them Grow – Catch and Release Fishing
Practice catch and release as often as possible. Handle fish gently and carefully during their release.
Use a landing net and leave the fish in the water during hook removal whenever possible.
Plan ahead for releasing fish using appropriate equipment such as a de-hooking tool, forceps or long-nosed pliers.
If you must have the fish out of the water, return it as soon as possible. The less a fish is handled and the quicker it’s released the better chance it has for survival.
Taking photos of your catch is one way to preserve the memory but remember, the longer the fish is out of the water, the more stress it has to endure. Have your camera ready! Take a quick picture and return the fish promptly, or consider photographing the fish in the water. (more catch and release tips & tactics)
Selective Harvest
What is Selective Harvest? The basics of Selective Harvest is keeping the medium sized fish and releasing the really small and larger fish to continue to grow. In many cases, selective harvesting requires some knowledge of the water and the species you are fishing. This knowledge will allow you to selectively take fish of appropriate size when it will improve a fishery, and release other fish that will help sustain or improve the fishery.
If you wish to keep fish, harvest only what you can consume in a reasonable amount of time. Freezer burned fish are almost always discarded and result in a waste of our resources. Limit what you keep, don't always keep your limit.
If you decide to harvest a fish, dispatch of it quickly with a sharp blow to the head. Also cut a gill so that it bleeds out quickly.
If you land a trophy fish, take a picture and release it. Beautiful and very life-like fiberglass mounts can be made from photos. (more selective harvest tips and tactics)
Preserve Your Passion, Protect Our Legacy and Spread the Word
Lead by example. Promote ethical angling practices, respect for the environment, and good stewardship of our outdoor heritage.
Focus on the adventure, memories, and fun of the angling experience rather than the size and number of fish caught.
Take a kid fishing! Show our young people the wonderful world of sport fishing. Introduce them to ethical sportsmanship and good stewardship of our great outdoors.
Teach beginners to respect the fish they catch and the places where they catch them. This philosophy promotes the “Preserve Your Passion” movement from the beginning.
