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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!
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YAKIMA BAIT COMPANY
