[Riparian]

This is something I have thought about and discussed with other fly fishing pals.

When have you caught the fish? If you have him on and he gets off do you count him? If he breaks free by bending the hook, spitting the hook, or breaking the line do you count him?

For me: I find that if Im fly fishing for bass and loose one I am preturbed and dont count the fish as caught. But when fly fishing for trout I consider the object to fool the fish and if he takes the fly whether he gets to the net or not he is counted as caught (foul hooks dont count). But when fishing wolly buggers for trout I dont think this way
I guess it comes down to the difference between immitating a foood source and getting a reaction strike. When immitating a food source, if I trick him I caught him. For reaction type flys I gotta get him in the net or at least play him for a good while (how long depends on how tough a day Im having) before he is caught.

Please Opine

Riparian

[dshort]

Gotta put your hands on him. Not that it really matters in the grand scheme. Especially when you're going to release him anyway..

[Riparian]

Originally Posted by dshort

Gotta put your hands on him. Not that it really matters in the grand scheme. Especially when you're going to release him anyway..

LDR

[seveniron]

If i'm catching a bunch, I need to get them in hand to count. . . if the fishing is slow a ldr might work

[Scud]

When it is on the stringer?Naw gotta touch him.

[Noonan]

Im agree with everyone so far. If they are in hand, I count that as a catch...unless I'm getting skunked...then I may count one that just looks at my bug.

[blue ridge angler]

general consensus seems to be the same as mine..in the hand, and fair hooked are the only ones I count.(unless it's a slow day.

[RMZ52]

Hands on.

[rdricks]

I usually break it out into how many hooked, and how many brought to the net. However, when fishing with someone new to the sport, I usually give it to them if they touch the leader.

[kylemc]

Fish counters, seriously?