Decline In Fishing?

[Logan S]

MD DNR probably thinks that bass fishing is in decline because people aren't flocking to the tidal Potomac like they used to...Because it flat out sucks compared to what it was just a few years ago.  People in MD aren't staying home, they are going elsewhere.  More tournaments (and more fisherman) are going to the Upper Bay, Lake Anna, the James, or other places in the region instead of the Potomac, many of those places are out of state.  

 

I fish all over, not just in MD...The amount of fisherman out on the water is the same as it's always been, if not more.  

 

As for technology - I'm not one to surf the web or 'stay connected' while fishing, but having a smartphone is pretty convenient sometimes.  I will check the radar or weather while idling or if it looks like a storm might be coming in.  Not to mention that it could function as a backup GPS in a pinch, that's important to anyone fishing big water or making long runs.  It's also nice that all that plus a camera is now in one device that fits in my pocket.  Heck, I'll sometimes even enter in some notes while I'm prefishing for tournaments so I don't forget.  

[Catt]

[lmbfisherman]

Changing Demographics...

 

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/hunting-fishing/2014/08/04/Shifting-demographics-suggest-a-future-with-fewer-anglers-who-are-most-multi-cultural/stories/201408030210

 

The Old School Basser...

I was going to say something along those lines....and I wanted to say something politically just look at Maryland as whole "demographic wise".

[Turkey sandwich]

Congratulations!  In over six years, this is the first time I've ever heard someone say that they have to use their smart phone as a public service.  Do you take time out from your fishing to check in to see if anyone has replied to these announcements?

 

The standard excuse has always been to insure that they were available in case of an emergency.  My Son-in-Law used that excuse.  The last time he and I went fishing together, my daughter sent him a total of 28 what must have been emergency text messages because he took the time to reply to everyone of them!  The days total catch had me with 30+ bass and him with 2!  As we were loading up the boat at the end of the day he asked me how long it took to learn to catch fish so much better than he could.  I tried to explain that it only took a minute or two to figure out how to mute the ringer on my phone!

It pretty much stays in my bag if I'm not taking pictures, checking time, weather, etc.

[bigbill]

I would pile all the neighborhood kids in my car and take them fishing.

There adults now and never forgot that.

My point is take a kid fishing teach him good sportsmanship. Pass it on.

[CFS]

I think new anglers, like my students, don't care about what they catch, only they catch something. It is disappointing to only catch a 10 pounder once a year, and no other fish at all, than to fill up the cooler with crappie.

[kudagra]

I agree with most posters that there just isn't a lot of youth coming into the sport. I am only 26 and I only know 2 people my age that get out there regularly. Its kind of sad, but at the same time, i can look forward to less pressured fish.

 

Now if only we can find a way to get Jet skiing, wakeboarding, and any other type of boating with a loud radio to decline as well.

[Preytorien]

If anything it seems to me like there are more fishermen now where I fish than ever before. Many times when I take my nieces/nephews out fishing, I see many other kids as well. It seems it's caught on with some of the kids at least. 

 

At work I'm around a lot of people close to my age, maybe a bit older, and when I tell them I fish as avidly as I do, they seem to think it's not true because I don't wear a big foam trucker hat or dress in flannel all the time. I think they associate a certain stereotype to fishing based on what they knew when they were younger. To them, fishing isn't "cool" therefore they don't take the time to realize it's excitement. 

 

Additionally, I agree with the comments of technology being too accessible. Kids these days are addicted to it. My niece comes over to our house with her parents, and I never see her face unless it's basked in the warm cool glow of a tablet. I agree smartphones are handy for photos, emergencies, and most often for weather. But if I don't want a million texts or emails I turn the ringer off. Kids need to learn what we've all learned and experience the great outdoors in whatever capacity excites them - whether that's fishing, hunting, hiking, etc. and all that starts with their parents. I know all too many parents that use an iPad as a babysitter far too often, my wife included. It's fine occasionally, but don't let impressionable kids learn that the only way to have fun starts within an electronic device. Take them for walks, let them help you "organize" your tackle, take them in the boat, go on scavenger hunts in the woods and along the banks. It's amazing how fun you'll both have. 

 

Point is.....get them away from the electronics and get them outdoors - they'll soon find a REAL strike is a lot more fun than Bass Pro Shops "The Strike" fishing game. 

 

Rant over.... 

[bigbill]

I hear so many young adult Freinds of my son's say they never catch anything. Then we take them fishing. There into fishing after that first bass.

If there's kids when I'm catching bass. I stop fishing to teach them. I feel the need to give something back.

[Catch and Grease]

I don't use my phone while I'm fishing besides answering a phone call if my family calls me or taking a picture of a fish or some scenery. Most of my friends and family that are my age that I take fishing are the same way, I really think a lot of adults blow it out of proportion, sure there are some people that could use some time away from their electronics but its really not that bad.

And I don't see the problem with the dude getting on his laptop in the boat, if the guy wants to take a break and hop on his laptop then more power to him, I know after fishing for hours I like to sit down and rest for a second too and sometimes I'll browse bassresource on my phone.

[WRB]

Catt made his point without saying a single word and agree.

California fishing licenses 25 years ago over 2,300,000 licenses sold, 2014 it was 990,000 down over 60%.

Definitely a steady decline across the country with both hunting and fishing while the population is growing in numbers of people.

Tom

[the reel ess]

I don't know about that in SC. But when I stopped chasing small fish around a huge reservoir it seemed to me to be at record high levels. That's why I stopped. I couldn't even be alone on a Monday anymore.

[CFS]

It seems that there are always people crowded along town lakes, while nobody goes to the remote reservoir. Even if fishing rates doubled, I think that those remote lakes rarely, if ever, see an angler. 

[WRB]

I don't know about that in SC. But when I stopped chasing small fish around a huge reservoir it seemed to me to be at record high levels. That's why I stopped. I couldn't even be alone on a Monday anymore.

South Caolina hunting & fishing license sales are down $500,000 this year from 2014 year to date, that is a decline.

Tom

[hoosierbass07]

 There are two languages kids, young adults, adults and even older adults speaks - one is English, the other is the video game language.  Video games appear to be the king with a lot of males.  

[the reel ess]

South Caolina hunting & fishing license sales are down $500,000 this year from 2014 year to date, that is a decline.

Tom

But probably not a decline from when I stopped fishing public waters. I probably wouldn't notice a difference. And I imagine boating and jet ski traffic is up since development is.

[MN_Bassin]

I'm in high school, and frequently get asked why I like fishing. Everyone seems to say "Fishing is boring, unless you're catching a fish.", "It's soooo slooowww.", or "On a lake I'd rather be tubing/jet skiing/etc." I think it comes down to instant gratification and patience. Like so many of you have said, there's all this information at a touch of button. If people have to *gasp* actually work or wait for something, they think it's boring, and don't realize all the little things in life.

[bigbill]

Simple most people here don't catch bass. They use a saltwater setup or panfishing with night crawlers. The bass are begging for the right bait. I'm going to estimate there's one bass fisherman out of fifty people fishing.

The combo license is $60 I think.

[NathanW]

Boom Beach, Candy Crush, Tinder, Subway Surfers, Minecraft, Youtube, Twitter.... the list goes on and on.

[Fishes in trees]

At this point in my life, I find it hard to care if the youth of today are into fishing or not.  In Missouri, for a long time, we've paid a 1/8 of a cent sales tax directly to the MO conservation department. So it is self funded - separate from the rest of the state government budget wise.   For the most part, I think that they have done a decent job maintaining and even increasing fishing opportunities, as well a deer hunting, turkey hunting, campgrounds and so forth.  The blue print is there if other states want to do something similar.

[lo n slo]

I started taking my kids fishing before they were old enough for school. My son took to it and was worm fishing like a champ by the time he was 7.

Now he is 28 and we still love to hang 'em. I guess you gotta get them into it at an early age. But there are no guarantee's.

[Jar11591]

Feel free to pass some of that "decline" to NYS. The waters I fish are so loaded with fishermen they're unfishable during the day.

[greentrout]

I was going to say something along those lines....and I wanted to say something politically just look at Maryland as whole "demographic wise".

Yep, it's the elephant in the room and it's occurring throughout the country and the South is not impervious to it, too. It is what it is.

 

The Old School Basser...

[Dye99]

I think its a few things.

Kids now dont fish, they play video games and text one another. Instant gratification is the key..18 year old who works for me asked my why I fish all the time, so I took him out with me.

We did awesome, but he said it was the most boring thing he has ever done.

 

Another is cost. Especially in Kayak fishing. When I got into yak angling in 2005, it was rare among bass fisherman, and the cost for things were cheap.

 

I added up what my normal load out, with 6 rod and reels, tackle, kayak, safety gear, fish finder, and little odds and ends and it was over $5k.

 

Thats only ONE kayak, and a small amount of my tackle compared to what sits in my shop.

 

Very expensive hobby, so not as many people are doing, so not as many people are pushing it to others...

 

 

I live up in the sierras so for me its awesome. I dont really trout fish, so Im a rare bird for fishing for largemouth....

[the reel ess]

I think its a few things.

Kids now dont fish, they play video games and text one another. Instant gratification is the key..18 year old who works for me asked my why I fish all the time, so I took him out with me.

We did awesome, but he said it was the most boring thing he has ever done.

 

Another is cost. Especially in Kayak fishing. When I got into yak angling in 2005, it was rare among bass fisherman, and the cost for things were cheap.

 

I added up what my normal load out, with 6 rod and reels, tackle, kayak, safety gear, fish finder, and little odds and ends and it was over $5k.

 

Thats only ONE kayak, and a small amount of my tackle compared to what sits in my shop.

 

Very expensive hobby, so not as many people are doing, so not as many people are pushing it to others...

 

 

I live up in the sierras so for me its awesome. I dont really trout fish, so Im a rare bird for fishing for largemouth....

I hear you on the cost. But you could get pretty deep into bass fishing with 2 spinning combos. Then add on as you improve and learn new techniques. When I was a 13-18 year old, all I wanted was fishing tackle and equipment. My mom had to drag me clothes shopping and could never get me to tell her anything I wanted outside of fishing.