Communism and the Practice of Spin Fishing

By Gabe Bree

Most of us have had the lovely experience of fishing. It is a great way to get out and enjoy the world outside your home, work, or everyday routine. Not only is it an escape for the body, but it is an escape for the mind. It allows you to drown out all the noise of your life, it is like a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, but cheaper. But there are two main types of fishing: fly fishing and spin fishing, one of which is communist and dangerous for fish, and the other is elegant, technical, and requires precision and finesse.  

Everything about fly fishing is elegant, from the bait to the technique to the talent. Flies are tied to perfection in sizes ranging from a speck of dirt to the size of your forearm. Using all different kinds of materials such as elk/deer hair, fur, dubbing, copper wire, beads, etc. In hopes of perfectly imitating a highly abundant food source in the fish’s habitat. When casting, you have to use the rod's momentum, flex, and rigidity to project the fly through the air. Spatial awareness is key; you can't cast anywhere, you have to focus on the fly, watch the fly, wisp past you as it dances in the air. You have to be dedicated to the practice to catch any fish or be good at fly fishing.

On the other hand, there is spin fishing. Otherwise known as the style of fishing that only communists take part in. Spin fishing is for the average person who is not all that interested in fishing and only goes because they're 30 years old and their mom told them to stop playing video games. Or it is for the dedicated fisherman who does not care about the well-being of the fish they are attempting to catch. Spin fishing takes no skill and no coordination, unlike fly fishing. In short, spin fishing is hucking chunks of metal and or worms that fly across the river like a bullet and splash into the water like an elephant seeing their first sign of water in Africa. Spin fishing lures are made from dangerous materials such as plastic, rubber, paint,  and lead, which is known to cause cancer in the state of California. The hooks on lures are also treble, which is three hooks tied together at the stem. Treble hooks and bait fishing are not only dangerous for us but also the fish. Alex Sitz, a local fly angler, says, “Especially around here, you use spoons and spoons have treble hooks, and that's three hooks versus one that are digging into them. Especially so when you are using worms for bait, the fish tend to swallow the hook, which in most cases is certain death for a fish (Sitz).”  Mortality rates in fish caught with a treble hook are significantly higher than in fish caught with a single hook or on a fly. “Treble hooks, due to their configuration, will generally lodge in the mouth and cause superficial injuries. However, there is nearly a 100% mortality rate if treble hooks become entangled in the gills.” The use of treble hooks has a direct correlation to mortality in fish (Ayvazian).

Burkholder reported that the mortality of northern pike angled with treble hooks ranged from 3.3 to 4.8%, whereas no mortality was observed with pike caught on single hooks (Daugherty). 

Although fly fishing is safer for fish and, in most cases, more entertaining and fulfilling than spin fishing, if you are a beginner fisherman and are looking for a new hobby, fly fishing is often a big step for newer anglers. It is like jumping into the deep end when you do not know how to swim. Spin fishing, in contrast, is like having training wheels when you are learning to ride a bike. Owen Foley, an experienced angler in Cody, said, “It's a good way to get into fishing, because fly fishing can be hard for newer fishermen (Foley).”  Alex Sitz said, “Everyone should learn to spin fish first, but after a while, they must graduate to fly fishing later.” “Anyone can pick up a spinner rod and head out fishing. This makes it easier for beginners who are starting out because you don't have to worry about casting a fly accurately and having all of the knowledge that fly fishing requires (Bowman).”

Fishing is about the adventure and having fun, but some types of fishing are far superior to others. Everyone who is an angler wants to continue the sport for the pure fun and love of the fish, but we can not do that if there are no more fish to catch due to treble hooks and swallowed worms. So I hope that everyone who spin fishes will grow into a more careful angler and take up fly fishing. Historians say that Stalin himself was a spin fisherman who fished the great waters of the Yenisei River in Siberia. 

Works Cited

Ayvazian, Suzanne. “Releasing Fish - Hooking Mortality in Fish.” seagrant.sunysb.edu, New York Sea Grant, 1994, https://seagrant.sunysb.edu/articles/t/marine-fisheries-resource-center-for-anglers-releasing-fish-hooking-mortality-in-fish#:~:text=Treble%20hooks%2C%20due%20to%20their,become%20tangled%20in%20the%20gills. Accessed 17 April 2025.

Bowman, Daniel. “Fly Fishing vs Spin Fishing: An Angler's Insight fly fishing vs spinner fishing.” bowmanflyfishing.com, Bowman Fly Fishing, 2022, https://www.bowmanflyfishing.com/fly-fishing-blog/fly-fishing-vs-spin-fishing-an-anglers-insight#:~:text=The%20Benefits%20of%20Spin%20Fishing&text=Anyone%20can%20pick%20up%20a,knowledge%20that%20fly%20fishing%20requires. Accessed 17 April 2025.

Daugherty, Daniel J., and Daniel L. Bennett. “A Review of Hooking Mortality, Associated Influential Factors, and Angling Gear Restrictions, with Implications for Management of the Alligator Gar.” tpwd.texas.gov, Texas Parks & Wildlife, 2019, https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/MDS%20297%20PWD%20RP%20T3200-2725.pdf. Accessed 17 April 2025.

Sitz, Alex. Personal interview. 14 April 2025.

Foley, Owen. Personal interview. 14 April 2025.