Catch and release response

To the Editor;
Without specifically mentioning Deirdre Fleming (or the Portland Press Herald), John Holyoke basically disses her and her whole very well done article in his recent piece, “Catch and Release not to blame for togue population explosion.”

He mentions putting “perfectly edible togue back in the water.” If he had read her whole article, he would have noticed that many fisherman really don’t consider togue to be great table fare — part of the reason they are so hard to manage.

Flemming also shed some light on some of the other fisheries in trouble (like Aziscohos Lake)
and the importance of the forage (feed) for fish to thrive. All in all, her piece was informative
and insightful, and stands in stark contrast to Holyok’s response — of which the only effect on me was somnambulism.

Stuart S. Smith
Master Maine Guide
Wayne