The old flossing debate...what a can 'o worms.

What is always forgotten, or someone fails to realize when this subject comes up in a forum like this, or in the STS article, or anywhere else, is that EVERY form of fishing can be called "unethical" by those that want to see it banned. Like hunting, fishing has it's staunch opponents that would love nothing more than to see all forms of fishing outlawed. Yet...we sit around and argue with one another over whether it is "ethical" to voluntarily hook a fish in the mouth versus possibly dragging the line through its mouth and hooking it that way. Be careful, my friends, for those who wish to see fishing go away will join your cause, then come after your method because, at the end of the day, is dragging a fish in from its watery home by cramming a barbed hook in it throat "ethical" in and of itself. I think we need to let this issue rest and remember that it is fishing in general we need to protect. I have not heard of any fisheries that are endangered because of flossing...habitat loss, yes. Over-fishing by commercial fisherman, yes. Streambed erosion, yes. Water issues, yes. Damming of rivers, yes. But...not flossing. Let's focus our energy where it is really needed.