Appreciation for Our Opportunities

[Johnsfolly]

Recently I was back in the UK to meet with clients. Due to the cost of tickets it was cheaper to stay in England a day or two longer than the leave after our last meeting. So I had a couple of days to do what I wanted. So I checked into fishing opportunities around the areas where I was staying. During that process I was reminded of when I was living there in 1998 and 1999 and the reasons that I did not fish when I was living there. You are required to purchase a rod license and if you intend to fish for rough fish, e.g., carp, pike, roach, bream, tench, etc., that was all you needed to satisfy the government. If you wanted to catch trout or salmon (i.e., game fish) there was an additional license that the government required. I'm fine with those fees. The daily rod licenses were not cost prohibitive. It was the day fees for the bodies of water that really bothered me. Every body of water was likely to be owned by a private citizen and they set the fees to be able to fish that body of water and the regulations that you would have to follow while there. It's their property so I understand the regulations. However, they did prohibit my fishing in the past and also on this trip. I didn't explore the pond fishing to determine if for a given day you were provided a certain section of the pond to fish. For the rivers at least in Northern Ireland, you would only be able to fish a certain section of the river. If there were no fish in that section, you were out of luck on that day. As one would expect, the best sections would have the highest fees.

The point to all of this is that I continue to the have a great appreciation for the fishing and hunting opportunities that we are afforded as US citizens. As anyone can see just by reading any given thread, each of us have a difference of opinion on the best way to fish, on catch and release, on whether guides should be allowed to operate and fish for state funded stocked fish, etc. Even with all of those differences, I doubt that few on here would disparage the opportunities that we have when we purchase that fishing license. We all have the opportunity to fish miles of creeks and rivers without access fees or to boat and fish in the public lakes systems. Most of the regulations are put in place for us to enjoy a better experience. I appreciate what we have and I hope others do as well.

[BilletHead]

Well said John and some people gripe for what we have. Could be worse,

BilletHead

[Ham]

I was fortunate enough to visit the UK in 1982. I tried to visit with some guys that were fishing and some guys at a Tackle Shop. The people I tried to talk to were without exception some of the least friendly people I have ever tried to talk to.

I appreciate what we have here. It isn't perfect, but it is a blessing to be sure.

[Jerry Rapp]

anyone ever tried to fish in a communist or socialist controlled country?

[Gavin]

Fishing is difficult in Europe. Rod fees, access fees, restricted beats. A buddy who lives in London fishes in Spain a lot. Airfare is about $100. Fishing costs vary. Room rental cost to a couple hundred extra.

[Al Agnew]

Actually, there isn't a huge amount of red tape involved in fishing Russia. I suppose the red tape comes in just getting there. But lots of people from the U.S. fish Siberia, and there is a decent amount of fishing over the rest of the country. There's a nice, slick fishing magazine put out in Russia which has used a bunch of my paintings for cover illustrations...didn't matter to them that bass and walleye aren't found over there. They do have zander, which are close kin to walleye, and northern pike. They have rainbow trout in various places. But it's a huge country with a LOT of environmental damage, and I'm sure the fishing opportunities aren't what they are here. Neither is the transportation...I've heard horror stories about plane rides and trains.

I've fished Australia, New Zealand, and Zimbabwe. I wouldn't do any of them again.

[Ham]

Barramundi look like a hoot Al. Not interested in fishing for them? The big ones eat baby crocs. C'mon man!

[jdmidwest]

A friend of mine spent some time this year in the Isles of Man. They freaked out when he talked about concealed carry and building AR rifles. Not something they can do over there. One of the blessings we have and fight to keep.

[ness]

A friend of mine spent some time this year in the Isles of Man. They freaked out when he talked about concealed carry and building AR rifles. Not something they can do over there. One of the blessings we have and fight to keep.

Blessings my butt.

[joeD]

"I'm going to the Isle of Man!!" Woo Hoo!

Dag gummit, I can't build in an assault rifle!? Geez. This place sucks. I could have protected everyone, if they'd only let me! I'd shoot that gloomy weather all to hell! USA! USA!