Some disturbing data from outdoor polling firm Southwick Associates regarding high gas prices:
“…more than half of all anglers and 40 percent of hunters indicated rising gas prices will cause them to slow down with the outdoor activities or reduce distances traveled, plus reduce the use of gasoline-burning boat motors.”
With the economy limping along, the last thing that’s needed is the $45 billion we spend on outdoor stuff each year shrinking. That means fewer excise taxes paid and less money for conservation and outdoor programs.
Bad, bad news all around.
Fishing in the New York area certainly has its drawbacks, but one of the benefits has to be public transportation. I can get to the beach, the mountains or a local watering hole without firing up the Saturn, which is a good thing considering it’s rolling toward 130K miles.
The Washington Times picked up a piece of Southwick data about fly-fishing that I also thought was interesting:
Have you noticed that you can hardly pick up a fishing magazine or watch a cable fishing show without seeing people fly-fishing or posing with a fly-rod and a trout or bonefish?
The fact of the matter is that of the 50-odd million American sport anglers, most use only conventional fishing gear, not fly-rods and reels. The most recent survey showed that spinning, spin cast and bait casting tackle is preferred over all other gear. Only 1 percent said they fly-fish only, while less than 6 percent mostly fly-fished but used conventional fishing tackle some of the time.
Asks the Times’ Gene Mueller: If less than 6 percent are mostly fly-fishing fans, someone needs to explain to me why at least 90 percent of all fishing books that are printed every year are about fly-fishing. Could it be that fly-fishers are the most literate among American anglers?
It just looks cooler, Gene.
Posted by gjhaze 
