First of all, let me start this reflection with the disarming of any preconceived notions of where you think this one is going. One of the things I love about the Ozark Fly Fishers is the fact that we rarely talk religion and politics (except our beloved friend, Joe!). What we usually talk about is fly fishing and that is a good thing. Most of us are drawn to fly fishing as a means to get away from all of the other stuff that we have to deal with in our lives on a daily basis. It gives us a diversion, a way to recreate, to refresh, and to just flat out enjoy ourselves. It beats gambling and it is a helluva lot more satisfying than watching our local sports teams squander their fame and fortune.Speaking of religion, we come from a number of different backgrounds – Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Agnostic, Atheist, and other various persuasions. And, rumor has it that there are even a few Presbyterians in the club. Can you imagine – Presbyterians in the Ozark Fly Fishers? Who’d of thunk it? Actually, now that I think of it, the minister, Reverend Mclean, in “A River Runs Through It” was Presbyterian. And, as for politics, there are Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Independents and even some members of the Disenfranchised Party, among others. Oh, we do occasionally get into a little proselytizing, a little campaign plug for our favorite candidate, or maybe we are fired up about a cause that is just tugging at our heart. So be it. We also have different perspectives on equipment. Short rod or a long rod? Graphite, glass, or bamboo? 1-Weight, 5-Weight, 8-Weight, Why Wait? Floating line or sinking line? Furled leader, mono leader, or make your own? Dry fly, nymph, or streamer? Store bought or tie your own (I prefer to take mine out of the bushes where people have snagged…heck, they are free!). Do you fish in a creek, river, stream, lake, ocean, or wherever? But, at the end of the day, we all have a common bond and we know it. There is a big tent that we share and if we do it right, we can all benefit.
We come from all walks of life, a variety of socio-economic backgrounds, different age groups, different zip codes, different religions, opposite political parties, and lots of different perspectives on how things should be done. Our club is a beautiful mosaic of 300 people that are all committed to many common things – most of all protecting and improving our fisheries. If you are not, well then, you are a taker and not a giver and that takes me back to my comments from the last newsletter – and you probably don’t want me to go there again. So, let’s press on.
Each one of us depends on good places to wet a line for healthy fish. There are some of us fortunate enough to have a place on private land where the fishing is un-pressured and quite good. Congratulations. A few more us may even have well-heeled friends and family that have a place we can access. But for the rest of us working (and retired) stiffs that don’t we depend on areas with public access. Property ownership is an interesting thing, because many moons ago when only the Indians occupied this great land, nobody owned the land. The Indians believed that the land was owned by no-one and that they were merely stewards over the resources. They took good care of it, killed only what they needed, and left it like they found it. Pretty good philosophy, eh? Ted Nugent – rock star, gun rights activist, reality show host (Ted or Alive on OLN), and “live off the land” Michigan property owner says it like this: “If that animal that you killed, gave its life, the least you can do, out of respect, is use every bit of it possible.” Maybe Ted Nugent is a descendant of the American Indian. Maybe not. Back to property ownership – at some point in time, someone had to be the first person to own that acreage. Who decided who that was? Who sold it and profited initially? It is like going to a Blues’ or Billikens’ game at The Savvis Center and trying to park on the street on a “free” meter and some guy tells you it cost $10 to avoid a ticket. Those who pay him don’t get a ticket and those that don’t do. Is his brother in law a city cop or the City Clerk? It is something to think about, anyway. Does the system have some corruption in it? It always has and always will. What we do know is that we need good public access places for us to fish.
The recent discussions in the Missouri legislature about changing our current funding of conservation is enough to make your head hurt. We all better care enough to make damn sure they don’t change it for the worse. Our state has an excellent program and is a model for many other states. Count your blessings and work hard to keep it that way. Could it be better? Yes! Could it be worse? Much. Let the politicians tap into that money for other purposes? Are you kidding me? Should we let them utilize those funds for fabulous programs like the Emission Testing Centers? I don’t think so. What a scam that program is. Most politicians are simply pigs at the trough, nudging each other for funds for their pet projects. It doesn’t matter which side of the aisle they are on. They all waste money and deal with bureaucracy.
So, what is your point, Livingstone? Since my column is titled “Random Thoughts” I don’t think I really need to have one. But, I will take a stab and wrapping this up into one. As fly-fisher people, we don’t like to experience crowded streams, lakes and rivers. We like our solitude and good fishing. At the same time, there is strength in numbers when dealing with government. A well represented and active membership gets heard. We not only need to be members of OFF (and TU, and FFF, and SMA, and others), but we also need to get involved at whatever level we can afford – both time-wise and financially. Many have gone before us and served our interests faithfully. We benefit without even thinking about it. What will our legacy for generations that follow us be?
One of the most interesting personalities in the outdoor world is the founder of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard. Entrepreneur, passionate environmentalist, avid rock climber, kayaker, and yes, even a fly-fisherman. He has a written a new book titled “Let My People Go Surfing” that outlines his career and philosophies. He is very contrarian in his approach and yet has grown a multi-million dollar global corporation that practices what it preaches about conservation and the environment. In 2001, along with Craig Matthews, owner of West Yellowstone’s Blue Ribbon Flies (and Angler of the Year in the January 2005 issue of Fly, Rod & Reel magazine), he started One Percent For The Planet. This is an alliance of businesses that contribute at least 1 percent of their net annual sales to groups on a list of researched and approved environmental organizations. This is putting your money where your mouth is. Although I may not agree with Mr. Chouinard on a number of things, I respect his commitment and recognize that many will be benefactors of his efforts. He walks his talk…a lot more than most of us can say.
By banding together to work for the common good, we can build on and improve the legacy for intelligent conservation. We must recognize that there is strength in numbers and remain united for our cause. We need new people entering this great sport – especially young people. As new flyfishers enter the fray, we need to educate them on the importance of clean water and healthy fish (not to mention streamside manners). Our best teaching is done through leading by example. We must be educated, engaged, and involved in the issues. It is not always somebody else’s job – it is ours, too. You think about that. TL
