photo by Jim Stewart

Did you know that (according to the American Sportfishing Association) fishing license sales are down nationally over 1.25 million since 2001?  For those of us who fish, it is hard to believe that participation in our sport is declining and license fees are going up. We need more anglers if we are going to save our sport and the fishing industry that provides funding for the conservation of our natural resources.

In February of this year, I attended the Bassmaster Classic in Birmingham, Alabama. I went there to cover the Women’s Bassmaster Championship for www.ebassfish.com, an on-line magazine that my sister and I started in September of 2005 to help promote and grow the sport of women anglers. I was also there to work a booth for my sponsor FISHHER; a company based in Omaha, Nebraska that designs and sells fishing gear for women. Well, to make a long story short, I was asked to work at the Anglers’ Legacy booth.

If you are not familiar with Anglers’ Legacy, it is a national mission of the “take me fishing” organization and the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation. It was my job to help collect pledges from attendees at the Classic. It was a good concept, but not an easy task. All I had to do was get anglers to sign a pledge stating that they would introduce at least one new person to the sport of fishing each year; someone who had never been fishing. Most people were eager to sign the pledge, but it was those who declined that needed convincing.

The most frequent comment I got received was; “I do that anyway”.  The second-most comment was “I don’t know anyone new to take.” Well, I wasn’t suppose to argue with them. I was told to just smile and thank them and move on…so I did. Since the Classic, I have helped solicit pledges at the Bassmaster American in Greensboro, North Carolina and a Women’s Bassmaster Tournament on Kentucky Lake. Those same comments were made frequently at both events.

It is a pretty good bet that anyone who fishes, does take other people fishing, usually a relative or close friend. Many clubs plan events that take the disabled and the elderly fishing. Yes, we do it anyway, but sometimes we take the same people again and again and forget that there are others who have never been fishing.

You say you can’t think of anyone new to take? Don’t try to think of someone you already know, look for someone else. There are all kinds of organizations you can check with. For example: Big Brothers – Big Sisters, Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, 4-H Clubs, Social Services, Make A Wish, YMCA, YWCA, local charities, recreations centers, and church groups. Ask your friends and co-workers. Finding someone who has never been fishing but would love the chance to go will be easier than you think.

Make yourself available, even if it is just one day a year. Each year, every state has a “Free Fishing Day”. This is a great time to plan on taking someone new fishing because you don’t have to worry about a fishing license that day. To find out which day your state has set aside for its residents to fish without a license, contact your state’s game and fish commission or search on-line. Most states hold their free fishing day event between May and August each year.

What do you do with old rods and reels and tackle? What about those bags of plastic worms you just had to have and you never used. Recycle…pass them on! There should be at least one fishing club in your area that puts on kids’ fishing events. They can always use extra equipment and prize items. How about that pile of fishing magazines that you keep tossing in a corner? Check with your local library to see if they can use them. Maybe your local doctor and dentist offices would be willing to let you leave them in their lobby. Hospitals are a great place to leave reading material. Always get permission first, of course!

No boat…no problem! Go “bank” fishing. You can usually find a city lake with a fishing pier or a local catfish or carp pond. Wherever you go to fish, keep it simple and make it fun, especially if you are taking a small child.

Your fishing legacy is more important to the future of fishing than you might think. Share your passion so others will have a choice. Fishing may not be for everyone, but at least they had the opportunity to give it a try because someone took the time to take them fishing. Do you remember your first fishing trip and who taught you to fish? So will they!

photo by Linda Berry

Give Them A Choice!