Did anglers stop calling themselves fishermen?

The article examines language used in Maine’s outdoor and fishing culture, asking whether anglers have stopped calling themselves “fishermen.” The writer recalls earlier editorial resistance to “spokesperson” and argues that linguistic change is difficult to resist, then turns to the growing use of “fisher” in fly-fishing publications. A reported field observation describes seeing a fisher in person while scouting near Chandler Lake, noting it was not wearing chest waders and appeared to be in a natural setting. The piece discusses how editor James Babb of Gray’s Sporting Journal said the word “fisher” is used to avoid offending readers who may view “fisherman” as not gender neutral. It cites dictionary definitions that treat “fisher” as both a term for someone who fishes and as a carnivorous mammal, highlighting ambiguity and debate about which meaning should dominate.