'Fly fishing not just for the wealthy'

By Greg LaBonte

The narrative that fly-fishing is an elitist pastime reserved for wealthy outsiders no longer reflects reality in Maine, nor does it justify dismantling long-standing conservation rules.

First, fly fishing is no longer financially burdensome.

Entry-level fly rods, reels, and lines are widely available at prices comparable to spin-casting gear, and Maine outfitters such as my own company, Maine Fly Guys, does just this.

Right here in Maine we have affordable fly-fishing gear. There are even absurdly cheap options on Amazon, entire outfits for $20-30.

These options offer affordable equipment, instruction, and guided experiences specifically designed for everyday Mainers, not luxury tourists or elitists.

The idea that fly-fishing requires thousands of dollars simply does not hold up in today’s market.

Second, fly fishing does not require an excessive time commitment to learn at a functional level.

Basic casting and fish-handling skills can be learned in a single afternoon, and many anglers become competent enough to fish effectively within hours, not years.

The learning curve is often overstated, particularly by those arguing against the method rather than engaging with it.

Maine’s fly-fishing community has actively lowered barriers to entry through free clinics, short lessons, and community-based education.

Most importantly, “fly-fishing-only” (FFO) designations exist for biological, not social, reasons.

These waters are typically managed to protect sensitive native brook trout and landlocked salmon populations that are vulnerable to higher hooking mortality, bait ingestion, and overharvest.

Fly fishing, often paired with artificial flies and barbless hooks, significantly reduces fish mortality and stress.

This is not preference; it is fisheries science. In fact, many FFO waters in Maine also have strict harvest limits or are catch-and-release only, meaning the argument that anglers are being denied food access is largely moot.

These waters are protected precisely because they cannot sustain high harvest pressure, regardless of fishing method.

Finally, Maine’s Right to Food amendment was never intended to eliminate conservation rules or guarantee access to every body of water using any method an individual prefers.

The amendment explicitly preserves the State’s authority to prevent abuse of natural resources, and fly-fishing-only regulations are a textbook example of that authority in action.

Maine manages its fisheries for long-term public benefit, not short-term convenience.

Opening fragile, high-value fisheries to unrestricted methods would not democratize access, it would degrade the very resources that make Maine special.

Conservation is not discrimination, and responsible stewardship should not be recast as elitism simply because it requires restraint.

Editor's note: The author, CEO of Maine Fly Guys and a board member of the Sebago Chapter of Trout Unlimited, offered this commentary following a Maine Wire story about a lawsuit aimed at expanding Maine fishing access. He may be reached at MaineFlyGuys@gmail.com.