Keep Fish Wet: Why do you believe Keep Fish Wet is important?
Dave McCoy: As someone who lives in the PNW and has grown up pursuing anadromous species of fish my entire life, it is difficult to watch as our stocks of fish have declined to morbid, maybe unrecoverable levels. Yet we continue to be able to fish for many of them and by keeping them in the water during handling and quickly playing them, my hope would be that the mortality rate for C&R would be lower. KFW is akin to when Catch and Release was emerging on the scene, many just couldn't wrap their heads around why you might do such a thing. Decades later, here we are with many stocks of fish around the world in peril and C&R might be the one movement that kept them here this long. KFW is just taking this one step further and by energizing this through social platforms and carefully vetting those who will genuinely represent how to KFW, my hope is this is yet another measure to keep us fishing.
KFW: How do you use KFW best practices?
DMC: I employ KFW principles on a daily basis. As a guide, when clients are playing a fish, I am coaching them on how we will land it, unhook and photograph it without excessive handling and without removing it from the water.
I also have purchases many different apparatus for capturing images of fish at water level or below to allow creative photography for my businesses and for clients to enjoy later. These include waterproof cell phone cases, DSLR water proof housings, GoPro and others. Clear rubber netting allows many fish to rest gently in the water without abrasion and provides a unique look to underwater photographs of the prize catch.
Release from the net is easy, tip it and allow them to exit at their pace, helps to keep the hands off them even more during angler/fish encounters.
KFW: Do you have suggestions on how anglers can apply our principles and tips in different fishing situations (e.g. how do you keep fish in the water when fishing from a boat?)?
DMC: From the boat, a net is imperative and a home made (long dowel with a piece curves coat hanger inserted into the end) Catch and Release tool that allows you to reach down the line from the boat while the fish remains in the water/net to unhook and release the fish. Guides, when possible need to pull a boat over and exit the boat to shoot when possible a photo of clients and fish, fish eye lenses can assist in this process without exiting the boat.
At a young age, Dave’s father introduced him to fishing and sparked a lifelong passion to experience and enjoy life in the great outdoors. Growing up in Eugene, Oregon, his stomping grounds were and remain legendary namesakes such as Crane Prairie and Hosmer Lakes as well as the Deschutes, McKenzie and Umpqua Rivers to name a few. While Dave quickly discovered the thrill of having a fish on, it was the awe of his surroundings that instilled his deep passion for fishing and conservation. Dave has dedicated his professional life to the fly fishing industry and has spent the last twenty-plus years relentlessly trying to surpass expectations as a guide, outfitter owner, conservationist, and fly fishing ambassador. Dave is quick to note that he is nothing in his pursuits without his wife Natalie and daughter Nessa, who constantly remind him why he is so inspired without saying a word. In addition to co-owning and operating Emerald Water Anglers, Dave is proud to represent these companies in the following capacities:
Patagonia and Costa Sunglass Ambassador
T&T Fly Rod and Nautilus Reel Ambassador
Keep Fish Wet Ambassador
Indifly Advisory Council
Echo/Airflo Pro Staff member
FFI Certified Casting Instructor
Snoqualmie River Steward for Native Fish Society
@davemccoyewa @emeraldwateranglerswa @snoqualmie_river_steward
