Fire strikes Dayton house
McCain's visit to Miami Valley
You've Been Spotted: Local pools
Why are angler numbers declining on Great Lakes?
Thursday, January 24, 2008
You might recall the story a couple of months ago that fishing had declined, especially on the Great Lakes. I was a bit skeptical of that report, observing the number of boats out on Lake Erie on any given summer day.
But, I suppose, statistics don't lie.
Extras
Since 1991, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported, angler numbers decreased nationally by about 15 percent.
However, the report singled out the Great Lakes area for a 44 percent decline in anglers during the same time frame.
Again, all you have to do is look at the boats one sees going after walleye and perch on Lake Erie and you have to question those numbers. And having been a regular fishing on the big lake for many years, it sure doesn't appear to me there is less angling going on than 15 years ago.
There was a time during the 1990s when walleyes weren't abundant, so maybe big numbers of anglers were lost and never totally regained.
A group called AnglerSurvey recently conducted a survey of 1,724 anglers to find why people are fishing less in the Great Lakes.
Of those questioned, 355 Great Lakes anglers were identified and those who do not fish as often in the Great Lakes as they used to were asked why. The major reason was a preference for fishing in other locations.
"This poll starts to give us insights into why Great Lakes fishing is declining. We're sure there are many complex trends all combining to impact fishing. We now have a starting point toward learning why," said Rob Southwick of Southwick Associates, the company operating AnglerSurvey.com.
"By learning why fishing is declining, efforts can be made to help reverse the trend. Anglers contribute $1.2 billion each year via fishing licenses and excise taxes on fishing tackle. These funds are legally dedicated to conservation. Maintaining fishing is critical to protecting the environment."
Do you think the price of gasoline or lakes full of gobies and zebra mussels might have something to do with it?
Area shooters on team
As usual, the Miami Valley is well represented on this year's Amateur Trapshooting Association All-America Team.
The only area first-team selection is Dave Berlet of New Knoxville who was named to the Veteran squad.
Betty Peterson of Xenia and Diane Foster of Tipp City were selected to the women's second team. Walter Reaster III of West Milton made the Junior second team.
In the Senior Vet category, Don Wilkin of Wilmington and Dave Brusman of Vandalia were picked for the second team.
Short shots
• Ohio boat owners with registrations expiring March 1 can visit ohiodnr.com to renew their registrations. Last year, more than 10,000 watercraft registrations were renewed online. Ohio registered more than 414,000 watercraft in 2007, up from 412,578 in 2006.
• U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 6-1 will meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 7 in MCL Cafeteria's meeting room in Kettering. The public is invited. Call (937) 434-6919.
Contact this reporter at 225-2409 or jmorris@DaytonDailyNews.com.
