3 Tips for Responsible Fly Fishing Photography

A short guide to responsible fly fishing photos

Pop open social media, search for fly fishing photos, and you will undoubtedly find yourself immersed in a world rich with images of species and destinations that anglers dream of experiencing. On top of this, social media has been a great way to recruit those that may not have previously been interested in fly fishing to take up the sport. 

Social media has also been seen as a double-edged sword, and even perceived in a negative light in terms of popularizing fishing spots, exposing destinations and displaying improper fish handling techniques. Given the benefit of the doubt, most new anglers are never taught how to properly handle and release fish during a photo op. Below are a few tips to help those looking to take ethical, responsible fishing pictures.

The invisible line

If I am guiding anglers on the water, I will use something that I refer to as the invisible line. If they are keen on a photo opportunity, I will tell them to act as if there is an invisible line on the outer edge of the boat's gunnel, one in which fish cannot surpass. This absolutely guarantees that the fish will not be dropped in the boat. 

Avoiding the "squeeze"

In attempt to lessen the chances of losing their grip on a fish, the angler will sometimes (consciously or unconsciously) squeeze with their index, middle and ring fingers. As a trout's vitals reside directly behind their pectoral fin, this increases the chances of doing immense damage to the heart, kidney and liver areas. A safe alternative to squeezing fish would be to gently cradle beneath their belly without applying any unnecessary pressure.

Keeping fish wet

There is no doubt that the Keep 'Em Wet campaign has created a (positive) ripple effect across the fly fishing industry. Holding fish with their gills submerged has not only pushed anglers and photographers to become more creative, science has shown that this drastically reduces the potential harm done to a fish during the release process. Click here to visit the official Keep Fish Wet website.

Closing thoughts

Though not every fish needs its picture taken, I am as much of an advocate as anyone for documenting your journeys on the water through photo and video. Scrolling through old photo and video albums has kept me going through periods of being off the water, during the dark winter months, or whenever I need a quick pick-me-up. Responsible fishing photography is undoubtedly becoming more popular, and we can only expect this to be a continuing trend in this wonderful sport.