As Editor of North American Fisherman, I enjoy many perks. I fish in a lot of exciting places with a lot of very cool people; I get to see and test new gear (sometimes long before it comes to market); And I have the privilege of communicating with Club members from all over the country via the website forum, Facebook and email.
But one of my all-time favorite benefits is having access to the entire North American Fisherman library.
Now don’t let your imagination run; I’m not talking about anything like the Library of Congress. Ours is an old bookcase filled with black binders. But those binders contain all 157 issues of the magazine going back to the first one published in 1988. I simply love flipping through those old mags, and comparing what we and other fishermen thought we knew to what we know for sure today.
Recently I dove into the December/January 1999-’00 issue to re-read a feature story titled “Fishing Into The Future,” in which the editors had a lot of fun speculating on what sportfishing would be like in the 21st Century. It’s actually somewhat scary.
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| The Future of Fishing? |
According to the story, our brainstorming sessions resulted in a prediction that … “GPS units will offer more information, like the names and locations of businesses near the lake you’re fishing. Your engine acting up? Punch up the nearest marina and help is on the way. Hungry? Stop at a ‘troll-through’ fast-food joint.”
We also predicted that boat positioning would be hands-free and computer controlled, and that electric trolling motors would be designed to retract right into the hull. Except for the retracting part, I think
Minn Kota’s i-Pilot hit our prophecy right on the head. And who knows, they may already be working on a version that tucks in like landing gear on a jetliner.
Back then, underwater cameras were the hottest thing, but they were generally big, cumbersome and cost some serious cash. We predicted that engineers would focus on making them smaller, and cheaper (yeah, we really went out on a limb there), but we didn’t foresee something like
Aqua Vu’s Micro System, with a processor and screen about the size of an average smartphone—for $300! A group of NAFC members are Field Testing those babies right now.
We missed on a few predictions, too—so far anyway. We envisioned, for example, that anglers would control their boats with a joystick while sitting in an enclosed climate-controlled cockpit. AND that the boat would hover over the water on a magnetic force-field. Fishing reels would react to neuro-kinetic stimuli (like some artificial limbs do today), and automatically take in line or adjust the drag.
Then, there was the CyberShad 2000, an artificial lure, we designed on paper, with futuristic features like:
ChameleoChrome Finish A laser holograph finish that changes color and sheen to enhance predatory response. It automatically adjusts to water clarity and light intensity, maximizing visibility in stained, muddy or low-light conditions.
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| Artist's Rendering of the NAF Staff's CyberShad 2000 |
TruEye An exact replica of a fish's eye that transmits video signals, giving the angler an underwater view of fish, cover and the retrieve.
SmartFins Remote activated, SmartFins act independently, allowing the angler to control running depth and direction.
TortoiseHooks Recessed hooks are stored inside the body and instantly deploy on a strike. The lure is virtually snagproof, yet guarantees a solid hookset.
RealTail An organic skin layer encases titanium-alloy gears and drive rods to create to the first-ever remote-controlled naturally swimming tail. The angler controls lure speed. During the retrieve, the living skin emits natural odors and electric impulses similar to those produced by a frightened baitfish.
Admittedly, we reached for the stars on some of this stuff, but remember that we’re only 11 years into the century. What will we see as the remaining 89 percent unfolds?
You tell me. Assuming we can successfully fend off zebra mussels and the zealots who want to close off all of our waters, what will your great, great grandchildren be using when they hit the water? -- Kurt