I'll bite and say "Yes". To Salmo's response, I'll agree and disagree.

You're right on with the mention of following the rules and the varied views of "ethics" .... BUT, I think there are some basic principles of ethical fisherman that we can all agree upon.

First and foremost is a concern for the resource. This doesn't mean wild steelhead release That means:

Regardless of rules and regs, an individual angler realizes his impacts and works to limit them within reason.

What does that mean? An example would be the use of divers and bait for steelhead that I wish to release. The law says I can do, but knowing that a number of fish that I'd release would die means that I choose not to use them as it's wasteful. Another example of this is our policy of NO RELEASE on our silver fishing in AK. It costs us some trips, but it's well documented that these estuarine silvers with bait suffer mortalities of about 70% ... we're not gonna sit there and throw back dead fish after dead fish.

An ethical angler also respects the habitat. That means you don't toss your garbage into the river, or pouring your used oil into the river. Another example might be dragging your anchor through beds to slow you down while fishing the deeper water on the other side of the river. While some might argue that this is open to the "opinion" that Salmo refers to, I don't think so. Any angler who knowingly disregards their impacts on established beds is not ethical in my eyes, and I don't think many would argue that point.

Wasting your catch is probably the most obvious eaxmple I could refer to. regardless of an individual's feelings on what should be released, or how you should fish ... I think just about everyone would agree that wanton waste is wrong.


As far as following rules, I don't think there's anyone out there that can honestly say they've never broken a rule at one point or another. We've probably all forgotten a license somewhere at one time or another or fogotten to pich a barb ... but I think it comes come to intent there. If you say "oh I'll take my chances on buying a license for the season" or "it won't hurt to take a few extra fish" ... I think most will agree that that falls into another category. It boils down to intent with "ethics".

I'm sure I could add a few more, but I think most will get my point ...