The Future Of Fishing

BHPGuy · 10-26-02, 08:59 AM

I posted a new "link of the week" (these are usually more like link of the week, or month, or whatever) on my website:
www.hiwassee.net

It's an article by Kim Ryals, the Southeast Coordinator of Trout Unlimited's Volunteer Operations, about the future of fishing. I highly recommend it.
www.hiwassee.net/FutureOfFishing.rtf

You should be able to open it with your browser, a word processor, or Wordpad.

------------------
Don Denney
dd37312@hotmail.com
http://hiwassee.net

The Owl · 10-26-02, 02:40 PM

Warning: A comment....and a bit of commentary to boot....

That was an interesting read, alright.....and if this info is right, it's def. something we should all be concerned about. I was shocked to see that fishing(not just ffing, but fishing in general) wasn't in the "top ten recreational activities of adults" !? You'd be hard pressed to sell that one to Bass Pro Shops, or the local Marina, I'd think! The article doesn't say where the "surveys" took place, and a bit mysteriously, doesn't even name one of them - although the author talks about polls and such as if there were several, at least. ALways the skeptic, it'd be nice to see where the questions were asked, and to what groups of people......a hot summer day in NYC or a nice spring day on Lake Eufala, and I'd bet you'd get a whole differnt skew on it, either way. Kind of like the DNR taking a trout fishing "poll" at Ami. State Park, amid the hordes of baitfishers and corn dunkers........as to a size limit on trout?!
Send folks to where the fishermen are, and you'd get just as lopsided a result as you would from folks on the street in Queens!

But, like I said.......it doesn't say where the questions were asked....maybe they did survey folks in the Keys, or Yellowstone, or the smokies....or Atlanta proper.

Also, it mentions using lic. sales to compare rec. fishing with other sports.....I'm sure there are folks that fish their own property, or fish saltwater(which, until a couple of years ago, you didn't need a lic. to fish - at least not in GA), or fish pay-to-play, or private lakes and ponds....

It was a great article, and I'm glad I read it - it just raises some flags......I've recently spotted this subject " fishing on the decline" in several media forms....and all within about a week of each other....but the story, the info. , is always different..it's not like they are all folloing the same survey, and proposing the same numbers.....I mean, not like they've all picked up some story on the AP and everyone is reporting it.

And snowmobile riding is what place?

Really, now.

Owl

The Owl · 10-26-02, 05:55 PM

Well, there may be more..........

Ok, after discussing this issue with the wife, and coming to the conclusion that yes, two heads really are better than one, at least mine - I think there's someting amiss here, other than what I've already questioned...

I am pasting the chart from the article below. The author refers to it as the top ten outdoor recreational activites...
( I also have to wonder why, among so many things that we can all agree are "sports", that " walking " is included.....most people walk everyday. If it's hiking......well, that's already on the list.
Anyway, I found myself wondering if this list(or chart, as it appears on the orig. page) is a list of the top ten in regard to " growth ", and not merely the top ten outdoor recreations in America?
No doubt there are thousands of people bird watching, swimming in natural waters, and hiking......but in five days at St. Simons, even WITH all the walkers, joggers, etc. etc. that we saw every day.....there were more people fishing on just the one pier there at almost any given hour, than all the people we saw walking during our stay! And, the fishing IMHO, wasn't that good ! ( I only watched, as this was a family trip, but it was pretty much line watchin' except for a few rays and a puffer, a trout and a few rougher rough fish.

)

I could be dead wrong, and if so, then I can admit it with no problemo....but it sure looks more like a " higest growth rate " chart to me.

By the way, one other place I saw info similar to this was in this last month's issue of Field and Stream, where Ken Schultz states that fishing is on the decline, etc. etc. etc. and then wrongly states that contrary to popular belief flyfishing is not leading the way in more fisherfolk joining the ranks. Mr. Schultz meant to say, I'm sure

, that flyfishing is the fastest GROWING aspect of fishing. I don't think I've ever heard it said, or seen it written that flyfishing is the leading form of fishing in the USA. He makes sure the reader knows that flyfishing is only a tiny percentage of the whole fishing picture - something that every flyfisherman worth his salt(newbies excluded, of course) already knows, and has known for years. No one thinks we're the mainstream......misfits would be more like it.

( Although I do agree with Schultz when he says that one fishing event a year is probably not going to get kids hooked on fishing......but that's where good parents should come in.....but don't get me started on that one!

LOL )

Owl

Birdwatching 236
Hiking 196
Backpacking 166
Snow mobileing 107
Walking 91
Off-roading 89
Primitive Camping 82
Developed Camping 76
Downhill skiing 67
Swimming in Natural Waters 64

Gray ghost · 10-26-02, 06:39 PM

I think driving on Hwy 400 should be listed in the top 10.

Iron Chucker · 10-28-02, 12:54 PM

Owl, Good point about the chart. The chart is labled as "Percent Growth" of these activites - not overall popularity. What population is sampled is critical to the reliablility of the research too. I just can't believe that -nationwide - off roading and snowmobiling are more popular than fishing. The catagories seem strange too. I like to drive my jeep off-road, then walk/hike with my backpack to the primitive campsite where I watch birds and do a little swimming in native waters...

Despite some shakey statistical analysis, the bottom line here is nothing new - take kids fishing.

skibum · 10-28-02, 02:17 PM

Atleast it had SKIING on the list. Those people could'nt be all bad

Windknot · 10-28-02, 03:28 PM

Thanks for posting this article, Don. Like Owl, I've got some concerns about the study he quotes from, but there's no doubting the comments about involvement of kids.

If we start them too late, it's over. If we start them without the element of FUN, it's over.

And as for the question about who pays..... I thought the excise tax had been expanded to supplies also used by campers, birders, etc., but for sure they are not paying a license fee like we do.

Oh, and congratulations about the nice mention in Trout. Please accept a virtual toast in your honor.
Don

FLYSLINGER · 10-28-02, 03:41 PM

With the placing of snowmobling on the list, I have to wonder too. The data sure as hell wasnt gathered in the south, or am I just the only one with out one?

SlckTrck · 10-28-02, 04:02 PM

I had the same question. How did they get this info and who did they ask?
Beyond that lets really think about it. FlyFishing is really a dynamic sport. I drive all the way out to the backwoods of the mountains to find that perfect stream (off road driving), I camp out that night so I can fish all day long. (Camping), if the good camp spots are taken I just have to ruff it.(primative camping). I pack up my gear and treck to my favorite fishing hole. (backpacking and hiking) and if I step on that slippery rock I will most likely be doing some swimming.(Swimming in Natural Waters ). Heck if the fish are not biting, what else can you do but watch the birds. Fishing should be growning pretty fast when you cna encompass all of these excellent activities. Just my opinion.

Oh...and my first time fishing ever was with my Dad and his uncle. I can rmemeber it clearly to this day. I take my little cousins fishing all the time becuase of that. Now I can take them trout fising.

------------------
SlckTrck
I'm Hooked! ____}

[This message has been edited by SlckTrck (edited 10-28-2002).]

vonchim · 10-28-02, 07:18 PM

I remember an article along the same lines in Bassmaster a year or two ago. The author pretty much raised the same concerns and pointed to much the same conclusions. (Take kids fishing)

This article doesn't state the sources for the chart. But it most likely (I guess) came from some sporting goods industry marketing type group. Notice he mentioned the marketing aspect of it. How many times you see someone on tv hauling in a huge brown as compared to all the other stuff that is on. Not to mention all the advertising for shoes, sports drinks etc. (Airtime)

In general i think most folks are just too busy doing other things to take the time to fish. Remember, the instant gratification of our get it yesterday society plays a huge part in many peoples lives these days.

If it was just catching, it would all be easy. But, that is why it is called fishing.

A good article.

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10-26-02, 08:59 AM	#1
BHPGuy Native Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Cleveland, TN Posts: 123	I posted a new "link of the week" (these are usually more like link of the week, or month, or whatever) on my website: www.hiwassee.net It's an article by Kim Ryals, the Southeast Coordinator of Trout Unlimited's Volunteer Operations, about the future of fishing. I highly recommend it. www.hiwassee.net/FutureOfFishing.rtf You should be able to open it with your browser, a word processor, or Wordpad. ------------------ Don Denney dd37312@hotmail.com http://hiwassee.net

10-26-02, 02:40 PM	#2
The Owl Ex Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,178	Warning: A comment....and a bit of commentary to boot.... That was an interesting read, alright.....and if this info is right, it's def. something we should all be concerned about. I was shocked to see that fishing(not just ffing, but fishing in general) wasn't in the "top ten recreational activities of adults" !? You'd be hard pressed to sell that one to Bass Pro Shops, or the local Marina, I'd think! The article doesn't say where the "surveys" took place, and a bit mysteriously, doesn't even name one of them - although the author talks about polls and such as if there were several, at least. ALways the skeptic, it'd be nice to see where the questions were asked, and to what groups of people......a hot summer day in NYC or a nice spring day on Lake Eufala, and I'd bet you'd get a whole differnt skew on it, either way. Kind of like the DNR taking a trout fishing "poll" at Ami. State Park, amid the hordes of baitfishers and corn dunkers........as to a size limit on trout?! Send folks to where the fishermen are, and you'd get just as lopsided a result as you would from folks on the street in Queens! But, like I said.......it doesn't say where the questions were asked....maybe they did survey folks in the Keys, or Yellowstone, or the smokies....or Atlanta proper. Also, it mentions using lic. sales to compare rec. fishing with other sports.....I'm sure there are folks that fish their own property, or fish saltwater(which, until a couple of years ago, you didn't need a lic. to fish - at least not in GA), or fish pay-to-play, or private lakes and ponds.... It was a great article, and I'm glad I read it - it just raises some flags......I've recently spotted this subject " fishing on the decline" in several media forms....and all within about a week of each other....but the story, the info. , is always different..it's not like they are all folloing the same survey, and proposing the same numbers.....I mean, not like they've all picked up some story on the AP and everyone is reporting it. And snowmobile riding is what place? Really, now. Owl

10-26-02, 05:55 PM	#3
The Owl Ex Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,178	Well, there may be more.......... Ok, after discussing this issue with the wife, and coming to the conclusion that yes, two heads really are better than one, at least mine - I think there's someting amiss here, other than what I've already questioned... I am pasting the chart from the article below. The author refers to it as the top ten outdoor recreational activites... ( I also have to wonder why, among so many things that we can all agree are "sports", that " walking " is included.....most people walk everyday. If it's hiking......well, that's already on the list. Anyway, I found myself wondering if this list(or chart, as it appears on the orig. page) is a list of the top ten in regard to " growth ", and not merely the top ten outdoor recreations in America? No doubt there are thousands of people bird watching, swimming in natural waters, and hiking......but in five days at St. Simons, even WITH all the walkers, joggers, etc. etc. that we saw every day.....there were more people fishing on just the one pier there at almost any given hour, than all the people we saw walking during our stay! And, the fishing IMHO, wasn't that good ! ( I only watched, as this was a family trip, but it was pretty much line watchin' except for a few rays and a puffer, a trout and a few rougher rough fish. ) I could be dead wrong, and if so, then I can admit it with no problemo....but it sure looks more like a " higest growth rate " chart to me. By the way, one other place I saw info similar to this was in this last month's issue of Field and Stream, where Ken Schultz states that fishing is on the decline, etc. etc. etc. and then wrongly states that contrary to popular belief flyfishing is not leading the way in more fisherfolk joining the ranks. Mr. Schultz meant to say, I'm sure , that flyfishing is the fastest GROWING aspect of fishing. I don't think I've ever heard it said, or seen it written that flyfishing is the leading form of fishing in the USA. He makes sure the reader knows that flyfishing is only a tiny percentage of the whole fishing picture - something that every flyfisherman worth his salt(newbies excluded, of course) already knows, and has known for years. No one thinks we're the mainstream......misfits would be more like it. ( Although I do agree with Schultz when he says that one fishing event a year is probably not going to get kids hooked on fishing......but that's where good parents should come in.....but don't get me started on that one! LOL ) Owl Birdwatching 236 Hiking 196 Backpacking 166 Snow mobileing 107 Walking 91 Off-roading 89 Primitive Camping 82 Developed Camping 76 Downhill skiing 67 Swimming in Natural Waters 64

10-26-02, 06:39 PM	#4
Gray ghost Hall of Fame Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Cumming Ga. USA Now pronounced Qmen Ga. Posts: 1,908	I think driving on Hwy 400 should be listed in the top 10.

10-28-02, 12:54 PM	#5
Iron Chucker Native Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 126	Owl, Good point about the chart. The chart is labled as "Percent Growth" of these activites - not overall popularity. What population is sampled is critical to the reliablility of the research too. I just can't believe that -nationwide - off roading and snowmobiling are more popular than fishing. The catagories seem strange too. I like to drive my jeep off-road, then walk/hike with my backpack to the primitive campsite where I watch birds and do a little swimming in native waters... Despite some shakey statistical analysis, the bottom line here is nothing new - take kids fishing.

10-28-02, 02:17 PM	#6
skibum Hall of Fame Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Duluth, Ga Posts: 3,446	Atleast it had SKIING on the list. Those people could'nt be all bad

10-28-02, 03:28 PM	#7
Windknot Director, Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Dacula, GA Posts: 12,600	Thanks for posting this article, Don. Like Owl, I've got some concerns about the study he quotes from, but there's no doubting the comments about involvement of kids. If we start them too late, it's over. If we start them without the element of FUN, it's over. And as for the question about who pays..... I thought the excise tax had been expanded to supplies also used by campers, birders, etc., but for sure they are not paying a license fee like we do. Oh, and congratulations about the nice mention in Trout. Please accept a virtual toast in your honor. Don

10-28-02, 03:41 PM	#8
FLYSLINGER Ex Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Republic of Wydaho, formerly Ga. Posts: 931	With the placing of snowmobling on the list, I have to wonder too. The data sure as hell wasnt gathered in the south, or am I just the only one with out one?

10-28-02, 04:02 PM	#9
SlckTrck Native Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 1,701	I had the same question. How did they get this info and who did they ask? Beyond that lets really think about it. FlyFishing is really a dynamic sport. I drive all the way out to the backwoods of the mountains to find that perfect stream (off road driving), I camp out that night so I can fish all day long. (Camping), if the good camp spots are taken I just have to ruff it.(primative camping). I pack up my gear and treck to my favorite fishing hole. (backpacking and hiking) and if I step on that slippery rock I will most likely be doing some swimming.(Swimming in Natural Waters ). Heck if the fish are not biting, what else can you do but watch the birds. Fishing should be growning pretty fast when you cna encompass all of these excellent activities. Just my opinion. Oh...and my first time fishing ever was with my Dad and his uncle. I can rmemeber it clearly to this day. I take my little cousins fishing all the time becuase of that. Now I can take them trout fising. ------------------ SlckTrck I'm Hooked! ____} [This message has been edited by SlckTrck (edited 10-28-2002).]

10-28-02, 07:18 PM	#10
vonchim Native Join Date: May 2001 Location: Snellville,Georgia Posts: 387	I remember an article along the same lines in Bassmaster a year or two ago. The author pretty much raised the same concerns and pointed to much the same conclusions. (Take kids fishing) This article doesn't state the sources for the chart. But it most likely (I guess) came from some sporting goods industry marketing type group. Notice he mentioned the marketing aspect of it. How many times you see someone on tv hauling in a huge brown as compared to all the other stuff that is on. Not to mention all the advertising for shoes, sports drinks etc. (Airtime) In general i think most folks are just too busy doing other things to take the time to fish. Remember, the instant gratification of our get it yesterday society plays a huge part in many peoples lives these days. If it was just catching, it would all be easy. But, that is why it is called fishing. A good article.