What do you think is happening with fishing?

[Mobydick]

I just wanted to see what people think. It is for a school project. No names will be used.

[northgabassfisher]

it will keep on growing i think, the way the keep showing it on TV and stuff and there making shows more family related, and the way BASS and FLW and BFL keep advertising its just bound to grow

[Mobydick]

Yeah, I agree with you.

[bassmasta7]

With a couple more moves, it could be the next poker.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I think with the assistance of places like this forum, the sport will continue to grow and expand. Take the Tournament trail for example. A few years ago, you pretty much had to consistently WIN to stay in the money. With the sponsor power that bass fishing is generating now, even the guy that comes in twentieth place is cashing a decent check. I think the money alone will attract more and different people to the sport.

I also look at it this way. As stressful as life can be, people are going to look for different ways to relax on the days they have off. What better way than cruising around a lake all day, wetting a line. With the exposure from television and advertising, there is no limit to the number of potential new fisher-people (I will be PC for once)  

Wayne

[chs773]

it is def. increasing in popularity.  just this last year more of my friends and people i know have been getting into fishing.  i also have become a more serious fisherman.

[Bass Smacker]

 Fishing is becuming more and more  popular. Thanks to TV and good sportmanship most fisherpeople

are seen as good ol boys or girls. Its grupes like PETA that we need to watch out for there every where and will not hesitat to poision the minds of our young with lies.

 J/M

[Captain Cali]

Increase. Just a hunch.

"FISHING IS NOT A CRIME!!"

[Guest Texas_Bass_Pro]

There was a show that came on TV the other night and it was talking about what the younger generation does for fun and surprisingly most youth are going back outside to either hunt, camp, and fish.  The majoity of the kids said that they love to fish and would go more if taken!!!

[BadKarma42]

I think that like most other things, the more word of mouth from people getting others interested combined with media exposure and it can take off.

Of course, there will be the arguments of "is it a sport or hobby" and some thougths that it is a "redneck" pastime will need to be overcome.  I think the latter will take time, but is also achievable through word of mouth and the positive exposure from sources such as this site.

For me, dad took my bluegill fishing as a young lad and as I got older, we didn't go much anymore for a number of reasons.  I got into when I moved to PA as a result of hunting and fishing being what everyone here did.  I figured I'd give it a shot and liked the challenge.  So much so, that this was a busy year for fishing and I was not at all prepared for bow season due to getting into the tournament game.  As soon as bow season ended, it was back to thinking about fishing.  

[Ky_Lake_Dude]

I think it is increasing rapidly especially with minorities

[cart7t]

For better or for worse it's definitely been increasing in popularity in my 35 years of bass fishing.

That's not necessarily a good thing though, we have limited waterways to fish on.  The days of CoE dams popping up and creating new fishing grounds are all but over.  I worry about the overuse of the limited waters we have now.  

The growth I've seen has been biggest in the tournament side of the sport and I'm not sure that's good either.  I've nearly wrote off most of the major reservoirs in my state because the constant pounding they recieve every weekend from March - Sept by tournaments.  If you love T fishing, than that's a good thing I suppose, if you're in it for the enjoyment end of the sport than you'll find yourself getting pushed to smaller lakes.  The pressure there is increasing as well as other like minded anglers head there to get away from the larger lakes.

I'm looking forward to my retirement years when I can get on the water more often during the middle of the week and leave the lake on the weekends for the weekend warriors.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

The popularity is growing still, at a surprisingly fast rate.

"WHERE IS IT GOING?"

Same place the rest of the planet is going, down the tubes.  With global warming becoming so dominant and no real plan in place to address it, Bass fishing, along with every coastal city on earth will be washed out in 100 yrs.

[bow3022]

I think its decreasing. Most of the kids nowadays always rather go to the mall or movies. Its normal, but, im one of the oddballs in the group. Im the one always fishing on fridays-sundays rather than going to the mall or some stupid stuff.

[MattStrykul]

bow3022 I dont know if  your exactly right on that. I live just outside of washington DC, and there are PLENTY of things to do besides fish. You would be surprised how many people actually do enjoy, and go fishing. I myself fish very frequently, and also am a sponsored rollerblader, and I find the time for both. I think it also has to do with where you live and how you were brought up (most of the rich kids that live around me wouldn't be caught dead fishing) , but thats just my 2 cents.

[c17Lat]

I live just outside of Washington DC too. the Washington Post has an In and Out List that they publish every new years day. This year on the list:

Out                                In

Fantasy Football              Fantasy Fishing

[senile1]

For better or for worse it's definitely been increasing in popularity in my 35 years of bass fishing.

That's not necessarily a good thing though, we have limited waterways to fish on.  The days of CoE dams popping up and creating new fishing grounds are all but over.  I worry about the overuse of the limited waters we have now.  

The growth I've seen has been biggest in the tournament side of the sport and I'm not sure that's good either.  I've nearly wrote off most of the major reservoirs in my state because the constant pounding they recieve every weekend from March - Sept by tournaments.  If you love T fishing, than that's a good thing I suppose, if you're in it for the enjoyment end of the sport than you'll find yourself getting pushed to smaller lakes.  The pressure there is increasing as well as other like minded anglers head there to get away from the larger lakes.

I'm looking forward to my retirement years when I can get on the water more often during the middle of the week and leave the lake on the weekends for the weekend warriors.

You took the words out of my mouth.  

LBH stated:

Same place the rest of the planet is going, down the tubes.  With global warming becoming so dominant and no real plan in place to address it, Bass fishing, along with every coastal city on earth will be washed out in 100 yrs.

Sadly, our environment may be unable to support fishing a few decades from now.  I don't know about every coastal city being washed out though it is a definite possibility.  I do know that our present pace of population encroachment on wilderness areas can't continue.  

[Troutfisher]

Well, I'm 15, and several people at my school enjoy going fishing and going outdoors.  True, an equal number of people enjoy going to the mall and things, but there are quite a bit who enjoy the sport of fishing.  

[dodgeguy]

The popularity is growing still, at a surprisingly fast rate.

"WHERE IS IT GOING?"

Same place the rest of the planet is going, down the tubes. With global warming becoming so dominant and no real plan in place to address it, Bass fishing, along with every coastal city on earth will be washed out in 100 yrs.

my that's a dim outlook!!!i don't know about that lbh.the earth has gone through numerous heating and cooling cycles in it's lifetime.this may just be another one of them.it was a lot hotter when the dinosaurs were here.as a matter of fact in the 1970's they were telling us we were going to have another ice age.from what i have heaqrd mars is also getting hotter.is that our fault?maybe the sun is burning hotter than it was.i don't really think they know what's going to happen.besides ,if the northeast warms up enough we can stock florida lagemouths!!! ;D

[Infidel.]

I think it is increasing at a depressing rate.  The elite series is just as big of a "you know what" as Nascar.  Wrapped boats?  IMO the industry and sponsorships are killing it.  Fishing shows that I used to enjoy watching are now no more than 23 minute commercials with 7 minutes of other commercials breaking it up.  I know I am being overly negative but I have to vent to someone right ?

[Troutfisher]

besides ,if the northeast warms up enough we can stock florida lagemouths!!!  

;D  ;D  ;D

On a serious note, I don't believe in global warming on that large of a scale.  I believe the earth goes through heating and cooling cycles.

[Fish Chris]

just based on some of the stuff I have already known. However, a quick search turned up this long, but quite informative article, written to try to cut through the BS.

http://www.fishingnj.org/netusa27.html

Please read the whole thing if you have the time, but if not, at least scroll down to the first graph, titled:

"Participation in recreational fishing"

Fish

[justfishin]

I feel that over the next 20 years that our fishing resources are going to take a beating due to environmental changes. We need to address this situation soon. Global warming and letting big industry get away with polluting our waterways, such as in the DC,Virginia, Maryland areas, is setting up a disaster. The federal government rubs the big industries backs in order to gain revenue. As far as bass fishing as a tournament sport, I feel that new venues are going to take over. FLW and BFL are going to be the leaders of the tournament world, as well as some weekend series that will be showing themselves soon. Bassmasters is in trouble since ESPN took over with the 55,000 dollar fees and other seemingly impossible ideas and rules that make the trail so hard to stay in. I guess we will see what comes about. There is always a chance to turn things around.

[the ohh face]

On a serious note, I don't believe in global warming on that large of a scale.  I believe the earth goes through heating and cooling cycles

The earth of course does go through natural warming/cooling cycles.  It also goes through unnatural cooling/heating cycles. For example a large volcanic eruption or asteroid strike causes a drastic cooling cycle. Massive release of greenhouse gasses causes a drastic warming cycle.

[ga_hawghauler]

i believe the sport is bass fishing is stronger now than ever and will continue to grow. But it is up to all of us anglers and sportsman to help protect and preserve it.