Practicing what we preach...

[Hillbilly_Hooker]

Now that the Christmas season is upon us, we begin to reflect on the past years, what we've accomplished and where we've failed, those that we've extended charity towards or withheld it from, the tasks we've completed and the areas where we could've done more.  And quickly approaching is the New Year, when most of us start to set goals and resolve to do more, to do better, in the coming days.  

With fishing and hunting license sales on the decline nationally, along with the numbers of our fellow citizens that actively enjoy the outdoors, I would like to encourage every single member of this wonderful forum to resolve to help promote and protect this sport that we so dearly love, and are so passionate about, in the days ahead.  Listed below are some suggestions as to how we all might help.  This list is certainly not all-inclusive, so please feel free to add your own suggestions as you see fit.

Take a child fishing.  If not one of your own, seek out a child in your neighborhood or church that may not have the privilege of having a father or mother that will take him or her fishing.

Volunteer for a local Boy Scout Troop, youth group, or other organization to take some kids fishing or to help them learn more about fishing.  Enlist the help of your fellow fishermen or club members.

Volunteer for a local middle or high school biology class or sports group to speak about fishing.

Contact your local wildlife or fisheries agency about volunteering to help.  Assistance might be needed with a local cleanup, artificial habitat construction, or in gathering data from your catch that could better enable them to judge the quality of that fishery or how to improve it in the future.

Contact your local military base or recruiter's office to volunteer to take a service member fishing.  I'm sure a day on the water would be greatly appreciated by those seeking to escape the horrors of Iraq or Afghanistan, or merely to escape the lonliness of being seperated from home and loved ones.

Contact your local college or university to inquire about volunteering to take a college kid fishing.  Perhaps there are students nearby that are avid anglers but, while at school, they are miles away from their boats, tackle, and any fellow anglers that they know.

Speak with your local fishing club about starting a youth club if none exists, or about ways to further assist it if one already exists.

Resolve to take an adult neighbor or co-worker fishing.  Perhaps the person that works alongside of you all day has had a lifelong desire to become an angler but didn't know how to get started.

Contact your local lake's advocacy group, homeowners association, or civic league and volunteer to serve.  Most would value the input of the local angling community as to what happens on and around the lake.

Communicate with your local town, city, or county government about possible conservation or recreation groups or Boards that you might serve on.

At your next and future fishing tournaments, consider ways to help the organizers rather than criticizing those things that could be improved upon.

I appreciate your indulgence in reading this post and your consideration of other worthwhile suggestions that can be added to it.  In closing, I wish everyone a blessed and merry Christmas, and challenge each of you to 'practice what we preach' in the coming year.

Sincerely,

Robert B.  "Hillbilly Hooker"

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Amen!  Get involved, make a difference.

Don't know where to start?  Let me help.

www.castforkids.org

You won't regret it, I personally promise.