Access to fish

[CRB]

This I feel will be the most important issue facing the fishing in Pennsylvania in the next 25 years, perhaps the nation. It is kind of ironic that most of the articles in the national publications advertise private waters. They publish most of their articles on non-public waters that only increase the fishing pressure. They seldom publish articles on the works of fishermen to open up access. Clean water yes but stream stewardship not.
Why not?
The more information to the masses on the problems facing this subject would go a long way in opening the eyes of fishermen fishing streams on non-public land.
Chris

 

[JackM]

Chris, perhaps this will be seen as a smart@$$ reply, but I don't mean it that way. Why not, since you have an interest, pen an article or two about this issue and send it off to some of the various fly fishing magazines. You may actually earn a few dollars at the same time. I agree that it is an issue that can use more attention, although I don't feel that even in the next 25 years this will be anything near a crisis except maybe in an isolated watershed or two. That said, it doesn't mean taking action to stem the trend now is worthless, to the contrary, it is never too soon to act to preserve our resources.

 

[Maurice]

CRB wrote:
This I feel will be the most important issue facing the fishing in Pennsylvania in the next 25 years, perhaps the nation. It is kind of ironic that most of the articles in the national publications advertise private waters. They publish most of their articles on non-public waters that only increase the fishing pressure. They seldom publish articles on the works of fishermen to open up access. Clean water yes but stream stewardship not.
Why not?
The more information to the masses on the problems facing this subject would go a long way in opening the eyes of fishermen fishing streams on non-public land.
Chris

Here's why Chris. Because the fishing rags want to publish articles to sell magazines. This means they need pictures of big fish. They also need advertising dollars. Those dollars come from clubs that advertise memberships in the mags, maybe at a discount for writing an article which is actually better advertising. Nevertheless, the editors, writers and photogs get to go on these wonderful trips to exclusive waters on the company dime. Its all very plush and hob-nobby. Sort of a reciprocity game for extending the high life.

Now lets look at the flip side. Can you picture FR&R or FFM mag doing stories about conservation and public access gained by individuals volunteering their time for conservation groups? Heck it is difficult to get guys to stop fishing to do stream clean ups, plant trees, and do other things "conservation minded". All anyone cares about is fishing....how you gonna get folks to crusade to gain public access? The lions share of anglers believe it is someone elses job to secure access for them. Who would advertise in the back of the magazine anyway? Not the outfitters, or not as many because their way of life is being undervut by those types of articles. Can conservation groups afford to advertise in those rags? Probably not.

So what you end up with are high end publications with lots of pcs of places you will never be able to afford to visit let alone join. Inbetween are the ads...or should I say the articles are inbetween the ads. Thats why I quit buying them...it perpetuates the farce.

Sorry about the sour grapes...Seriously...I'd like to see it.

Maurice

 

[JeffK]

For the NJ view. I grew up in rural NJ and it is basically now suburbanized. When the place was rural you would get laughed at when discussing fishing access since people took it for granted. Then one day you wake up and find much is lost. NJ is purchasing some nice streamside properties as Wildlife Management Areas and some of the towns that have become wealthy have significant bucks for parkland, but it is mostly a rear guard action.

The earlier public access is purchased the better.

 

[littlejuniata]

Lets just get our politicos to enact a law prohibiting the propogation of fish, for commmercial purposes in any flowng waters of the commonwealth. After all the state does own the water!