I need to be clear about something upfront—if given the choice, I’d like to live in a state like Florida or Texas where there were no regulations prohibiting me from fishing whatever species I want, when I want. But genetics and life choices have combined to make me a resident of a state where closed seasons are a fact of life.
Funny thing, though. As much as I like to complain, there’s a side of me that loves closed seasons if only because that means there’s an opening weekend on the calendar.
Here in Minnesota, an estimated 1 million anglers will be on the water when the sun comes up on walleye/pike opener May 14th. Yes, the bait shops will be a zoo that weekend and the launch ramps will be crowded with folks who don’t know how to back down a boat trailer. And, yes, my favorite fishing holes are overflowing with other anglers. But I love every second of it because the crowds and tradition are yearly reminder that fishing is an incredible sport that positively impacts lives and the economy, and not just in rural areas.
A few years back near the resort town of Walker, Minnesota—gateway to famed Leech Lake and several other top waters in northern Minnesota—we set a television camera on the shoulder to tape the number of boats on the road the night before opener. At one point, 9 of 10 passing cars/truck were towing a boat behind them, and likely 35-40 of the next 50 had boats, too. If you haven’t witnessed this kind of madness I can assure you it will impact you.
I’ve never seen this type of fishing hoopla in another state, nor do I see at any other time in Minnesota (though Memorial Weekend can get crazy, too).
So ... while I still want to be able to fish every day, if that meant the tradition and pageantry of opening weekend would disappear, I don’t think I could support it.
if given the choice, I’d like to live in a state like Florida or Texas where there were no regulations prohibiting me from fishing whatever species I want, when I want. But genetics and life choices have combined to make me a resident of a state where closed seasons are a fact of life.
Funny thing, though. As much as I like to complain, there’s a side of me that loves closed seasons if only because that means there’s an opening weekend on the calendar.
Here in Minnesota, an estimated 1 million anglers will be on the water when the sun comes up on walleye/pike opener May 14th, 2011. Yes, the bait shops will be a zoo that weekend and the launch ramps will be crowded with folks who don’t know how to back down a boat trailer. And, yes, my favorite fishing holes are overflowing with other anglers. But I love every second of it because the crowds and tradition are yearly reminder that fishing is an incredible sport that positively impacts lives and the economy, and not just in rural areas.
A few years back near the resort town of Walker, Minnesota, gateway to famed Leech Lake and several other top waters in northern Minnesota, we set a television camera on the should to tape the number of boats on the road the night before opener. At one point, 9 of 10 passing cars/truck were towing a boat behind them, and likely 35-40 of the next 50 had boats, too. If you haven’t witnessed this kind of madness I can assure you it will impact you.
I’ve never seen this type of fishing hoopla in another state, nor do I see at any other time in Minnesota (though Memorial Weekend can get crazy, too).
So ... while I still want to be able to fish every day, if that meant the tradition and pageantry of opening weekend would disappear, I don’t think I could support it.