Kirk Deeter | The Middle River Group, LLC

As a fishing guide and a journalist the chance to chronicle the outdoor experience is a side benefit of being on the water. Many times that means getting a photo of a happy fly-fisher with a fish.

Here’s the rub. The grip and grin, hero shot is great for the angler, but even when it is done right is not great for the fish and when done wrong can be deadly. My friend Dr. Andy Danlychuck has been beating the drum about this for a while and the idea has been stuck in my head.

I’ve done it, at lot and it bothers me. Sure, I am careful when I set up those shots but I’ve always worried about it. Of course I want the client to have a memento but not at the sacrifice of my business partner the fish.

Not surprisingly others have similar concerns.

Kirk Deeter has posted before on the subject and recently posted New Year’s Resolution Number One: Goodbye Grip-n-Grins in Field & Stream’s Fly Talk. “Fact is, a lot of fish get killed to make photographs, and we need to do more to improve that one way or another.”

Cameron Mortenson of Fiberglass Manifesto posted Keep ‘Em Wet. “The more that I think and talk about it, the better idea this becomes.”

Native Fish Society is running a photo contest to help drive the Keep ‘Em Wet message. “So, let’s get creative with the way we photograph our wild fish by keeping them wet and in the water.”

You only need to look at some of Brian OKeefe’s photos to see how to do it right.

The time has come for better, wetter photos.

When I started into Chris Hunt’s new book Fly Fishing Idaho’s Secret Waters, I didn’t think it would strike a philosophical cord. Then again I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised when it did.

Kirk Deeter, in the foreword poses the question “…is spilling the beans really a good thing to do?”

His response; “get real.”

He goes on to explain that Idaho is the seventh-least populated state in the U.S. and that there is plenty of fishing to go around. He feels it is essential to inspire people to explore and see what the state has to offer.

Of course there are some that may disagree with Mr. Deeter and you need look no further than the comments that came as a result of my post on Five Great Virginia Stream for Tenkara to see that disagreement.

Of course I am strongly in Deeter’s camp. As is Hunt.

In Chapter 2, titled Secret Idaho, Hunt offers the reader the best reason for passing along the knowledge.

What’s more, our backcountry and backcountry trout deserve the appreciation of anglers who, without a bit of encouragement, might not venture very far from the blacktop to chase fish. The more anglers who experience the backcountry, the more allies our wild fish have when it comes time to beat back a bad idea or stand up to those who don’t share our conservation values.

I don’t know about you but my want for clean water, clean air and the opportunity to pass along the fishing and hunting heritage that comes with wild places far out weighs the cost of sharing a few secrets.

As Jim Range used to say:

The ultimate test of a man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.

Wet Work

“Cheat Codes”