04-03-2003, 11:01 AM
[cool]Good philosophy, Ron. Some folks think I am a few lures shy of a full tackle box in my outlook on fishing. I also maintain almost a worshipful attitude toward nature in general, but fish in particular. I have been known to waste much valuable fishing time just enjoying the clouds and light, a particularly beautiful sunrise or sunset or the way the trees reflect off the water. Even worse is when I catch a wild trout from a high altitude lake or stream and marvel at the detail and the beauty of the coloration. You can almost hear the heavenly choirs singing on such occasions.
Unfortunately there are too many fishing slobs who see fishing as only a legal means of capturing and killing fish. What's worse is the "angler" who keeps everything he catches, only to take home and show off. The best case scenario is that he at least gives them to someone who will use and appreciate them. Far too often, however, they end up in a garden...or worse yet, a dumpster or a vacant lot.
I'm not a soapboxer, but I'm also not bashful about making myself heard when I see people abusing our resources. In many cases, young people are merely carrying on the tradition of poor sportsmanship they have learned from someone who had bad habits. Even worse are the young people who have grown up in single parent situations, where there was no parent who could or would teach them anything about the great outdoors, and how to enjoy and respect it.
I guess that's just a roundabout way of saying: TAKE A KID FISHING. And, if you do...teach him or her the RIGHT way.
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Unfortunately there are too many fishing slobs who see fishing as only a legal means of capturing and killing fish. What's worse is the "angler" who keeps everything he catches, only to take home and show off. The best case scenario is that he at least gives them to someone who will use and appreciate them. Far too often, however, they end up in a garden...or worse yet, a dumpster or a vacant lot.
I'm not a soapboxer, but I'm also not bashful about making myself heard when I see people abusing our resources. In many cases, young people are merely carrying on the tradition of poor sportsmanship they have learned from someone who had bad habits. Even worse are the young people who have grown up in single parent situations, where there was no parent who could or would teach them anything about the great outdoors, and how to enjoy and respect it.
I guess that's just a roundabout way of saying: TAKE A KID FISHING. And, if you do...teach him or her the RIGHT way.
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