"Trying to catch a fish with rod and fly is like trying to catch a bird with string and bread." H.R. Dobson

This is an interesting analogy, put forward by H. R. Dobson as part of our early education in fishing. I always thought it meant that an angler should practice stealth because fish, in particular, Brook Trout are wary creatures. I'm pretty sure that's what was intended, but I have been thinking of other interpretations...

When we were kids we loved to fish off Liverpool's Town Wharf - a massive wooden pier with a blotchy patina of creosote and seagull shit, and always, the stirring bouquet of dried fish guts. With our closed-face spinning reels, fiberglass rods from Canadian Tire, and "Daredevil" lures, we caught Pollock and, sometimes, Mackerel right off the wharf. It was lots of excitement for young boys! Once a fish was caught, we used a jackknife to chunk it up for bait, and hauled Eels and Sculpins up over the dock, as well. Occasionally, a bold Seagull would find itself on the wrong end of a hook, and cause all kinds of commotion.

What if birding were a legal sport like fishing? What if we could get a license to go out and try to catch birds with a rod, a reel and a lure, or bait? We'd have to study the habits of each species, and practice conservation, of course. There would have to be bag limits and seasons. I imagine we'd find pigeons pretty easy-to-fool, sort of like Pollock. People might go on safaris to capture exotic trophy birds like Emus or Condors. We might have to use live bait to capture Peregrine falcons, or to bag a Snowy Owl.

If "birding" were a legal sport like fishing, would you do it?



Photo: Pigeon Eye by David Gifford