"Give
a gift of fishing this Christmas!"
Author - John E. Brady, Hanover PA-USA
Copyright 2001
e-mail - jeb@jebswebsite.com
Right now most everyone has their priorities set on what to get that special someone for Christmas.
If you sport is fishing, it's usually easy for friends and relatives to know what to get you. Buy if your into fishing, Christmas is a great time to offer to introduce non anglers to the sport.
How often have your found that when you talked to someone about your fishing excursions, they have commented that they would like to try fishing some day. Why not make this year that "someday" for them.
There are plenty of options. You could put together a small tackle pack with an assortment of hooks, line, crankbaits etc. You could give them their own rod and reel. Another option might be to purchase their fishing license for them. In Pennsylvania, you can purchase fishing license for someone else as a gift.
One of the best gifts you could offer would be a fishing trip. Especially if it's a son, daughter, niece or nephew. Give them an IOU with the promise of taking them fishing early in the season. Then help them prepare over the next several months.
If you think introducing someone to fishing would be a great gift for the holidays, then you have accepted my new years resolution challenge to all anglers.
Statistics over the last several years has shown a decrease in the amount of fishing licenses sold each year. Unless we have a trend of anglers going fishing without purchasing a license, this means that fishing is in a decline.
I'm sure anyone who visits a launch ramp on a weekend during the summer months would dispute this claim, but non the less, numbers don't lie. A recent industry report stated that overall fishing licenses in the United States fell by more than 500,000 in 1997. That same report shows a decline for Pennsylvania of over 8% for 1997 from 1993. A poll of anglers shows several reasons for this trend, most of which is lack of the leisure time to spend fishing.
One might think that this type of a trend would be a good thing. It might help free up the crowded water and allow us to get back to the calm tranquil fishing that many of us grew up with. The reality however is that as the sales of license decline, so does the funds to support our sport. The proceeds from our fishing license helps stock fish, build new docks and maintain current ones.
My challenge is for every angler next year to introduce someone to fishing. Whether it's through a gift at Christmas, a birthday present, or by just calling up a friend and say hey, lets go fishing.
Make a new years resolution to introduce someone to fishing. Pennsylvania has two "Fish for free" days each year. One in June, and one in September. Anyone of any age can fish on those days without the need of a fishing license.
If you belong to a fishing club whether it be a bass, walleye or trout club, I challenge your group to hold a fishing day for kids next year. Spend an afternoon and teach them the basics then take fishing.
So even if you don't decide to do something for Christmas, take the challenge for the new year and introduce someone to the sport of fishing next season. You might just find yourself a new fishing partner.
Tight lines, and Merry Christmas!