ALT Title: Telling the Ugly Truth about Social Media, Fishing to Spawners, and the Infection of Hypocrisy in (Some) Brand Ambassadors and Brands
Two things….
First, Read the Article
If you haven’t read Ryan’s OPINION: Fly Fishing “Brand Ambassadors” + Social Media – What Might They Be Doing to Your Fishery? first published back on the 10th in SweetwaterNow, by all means take a few minutes and do so.
Then Go Back and Re-read the Final Section FOLLOW-UP Again
From the article –
At some point we must understand going to any lengths illegally/unethically for social fame shouldn’t be accepted by followers and the sponsoring companies should take additional steps to prevent this, maybe vet the ambassadors just a little, after all, they are representing you..sometimes illegally, you just don’t know it. In this case, great organizations like Hatch Reels, Thomas & Thomas, Orvis, Yeti Coolers, Howler Brothers & Cortland Fly Line all have been misrepresented by Patrick Duke and they should be aware of this. Let them know you don’t approve.
Maybe the incentives these companies create for the ambassadors are pushing anglers to do whatever necessary for their fame shots, and that needs to stop or change. The crowd of responsible anglers notice this and are taking note. Ambassadors are role models to the angling community, keep that in mind.
As brand ambassadors of such prestigious brands and stewards of the resource, targeting spawners should be ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. Unfortunately, the sponsoring companies and magazines such as American Angler have to be even more weary of poachers looking to gain fame, as this is a CLEAR example of fine brands and a magazine being that were taken advantage of.
We fly fish for the sole purpose of memorable interactions with fish at a low risk to the fishes’ wellbeing, not because we want to slay fish. It brings us together, in places we love and want to protect for the future. If slaying fish was the goal, then we would be ripping rapalas and snelling sucker meat to circle hooks all the time.
What Can You Do
Obey the laws regarding fishing.
Read and obey boating regulations pertaining to Aquatic Invasive Species.
Keep an eye out for illegal guides.
Understand negative impacts of targeting and handling spawners and inform those targeting spawning trout.
Don’t fish spawning trout
Don’t anchor or wade around spawning trout.
Keep the fish wet and limit time out of the water.
Fish barbless hooks.Both resident and non-resident sportsmen and women must continue to keep an eye on our fisheries if we want the quality to remain. Wyomingites are fortunate to have non-residents love our state as much as we do. If we work together and honestly/ethically follow these guidelines, we may see less dead fish.
We’re simply tired of watching social media celebrities visit areas that are special to people, disrespect those people by breaking laws and pushing ethical boundaries, and take fish however they can for their own gain, just for gear and followers (and I’m not talking about putting meat on the table.)
It’s time to stand up against this type of fishing. Feel free to contact me if you have any ideas!
It’s past time to start pestering the BRANDS to winnow the asshats from their cadres of “ambassadors”; by NOT doing so Hatch Reels, Thomas and Thomas, Orvis, Yeti, Howler Bros., and Cortland Line (in this case) implicitly validate this kind of crap (the act of poaching spawners in a closed section of river without a license, the social and print media misrepresentations are yet another layer…).
It’s also past time for “ambassadors” trying to do it right to speak up and clean up the ranks; you know (for the most part) who belong, like Mr. Duke, on the ash-heap of fly fishing history.
Kudos to Ryan Hudson for taking a stand; there’s a guy that deserves your support.
Git ‘er done.
