I can't help but notice that the popularity of fishing in Utah has increased significantly. For example I have many non-sportsman friends who have dropped large amounts of $ on fly fishing equipment because it has become a "cool thing to do." I can't decide if this new popularity is good or bad for our sport, I tend to think that inexprienced fisherman cause lots of damage, e.g. Walking on reds, mishandling then releasing fish, etc. Without a deep love for the sport anglers are less likely to become educated and more likely to cause damage. But then again I am sure there are many positives that come from increased popularity. If anyone has insight on this one way or the other I would appreciate to hear it.
[signature]
We all started somewhere
[signature]
I've noticed the opposite. In my trade (commercial HVAC and sheet metal) I am on construction sites alot. It is rare that I can talk fishing with anyone because it seems so few do it. Hunting season comes and look out!
I'm kind of glad though. Lots of guys don't understand why I'm so facinated with it.
[signature]
It isn't hurting our sport... The people who do it to be cool will only go out once or twice. Once they realize that it's not as easy as it may seem, most of em give up anyways. I hope those that do get hooked, like I did 30 years, ago will learn to be good sportsmen and respect the fish and their habitat...That's where we come in. It's our job to teach them! Everyone has the right to try the sport we love and get so much enjoyment out of, we should be the ones helping them do it right!
[signature]
By helping the younger generation out will keep the sport alive. Everyone has a time to learn and grow. It is the job as one might say of the older generation to take the younger ones (or those older ones that are just starting) under their wings and help them out when needed. There is so much to this sport other than just throwing out a piece of bait and waiting. From learning to read water to knowing what to look for weather wise.
[signature]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]If you take a look at the Utah fishing license sales data for 2004 - 2013, you can see that there is a very slight gain over the last 5 years from the 2004 level. The 2004 - 2009 period shows a decided drop and I would say the overall economy had a huge impact there.[inline "Utah License.jpg"][/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"]
[#800000][/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Now, take a look at the national figures.[/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]
[/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][inline "National License.jpg"][/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"]
[#800000][/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Nationally, the fishing population has actually been fairly stable with an ever so slight decline and the economic downturn in the first five years of this period wasn't evident.[/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]
[/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]You may be seeing a few more folks enjoying the wonders of our sport on the local level, but nationally speaking, the opposite is true - but only slightly.[/#800000][/font]
[signature]
Only time I noticed an uptick in fly fisherman was right after "a river runs through it" came out [
] the fad quickly ended, I figure if guys get into it and hate it you can grab some cheap Orvis dork gear [laugh]..sorry FG.
[signature]
Not so much the increased popularity, but the increasing population. As for trendy, fishing as a sport has done this for a long time. In the 70's, with tournament bass fishing. In the 80's, with increased cable-televised fishing. In the 90's with "the movie" sending fly-fishing into mainstream. The increased popularity of saltwater fly fishing. The internet. The list goes on. More people+more media+easier acquired information+better technology=more fishermen.
The same number of license holders are just fishing more, IMO.
[signature]
Maybe not being able to draw a hunting permit has something to do with the increase in fishing trends?[reply][/reply]
[signature]