I think that many of us can relate to the points brought up by Tsunami's post. I will be the first to say I have met some extrodanary individuals while fishing some of our local waters over the years. However, I have also come across some others who may have had excellent skills when it came to fishing however, they also possesed overwielming ignorance, and also displayed a lack of consideration and respect for other Anglers. I feel that these people are a very poor representation of the Angling Community as a whole.

I find myself feeling disapointed when I get to a fishing destination only to find it surrounded by a group of super hardcore Anglers. When I fish around these people I feel like I'm fishing in a bass tournament with everyone trying out do all other Anglers on the playing field so they can say I WON. Now I can't deny the fact that I am A hardcore Angler my self so, I 'm left asking my self "why should I feel this way"? Well first of all I'm not there to compete with other Anglers, I go to relax and take a break from it all. If anything I'm trying to avoid this kind of stress. It would be a lie to say I don't go to fish. I do try to catch fish at all times but I have caught enough fish in my life to say that I would rather see a kid who's out for his first time catch a big fish then myself or any one who is new to the sport for that matter. May be that might be the fish that raises an interest in fishing changes that persons life. One day way back when I was that kid who got caught a fish and was hooked. I have no hesitation in saying from that day forward this sport began to make a positive impact on my life. I'm willing to bet for many of you there was a day when that kid was you.

I have invested most of the free time in my life to fishing and there where times I got very little information from others which could have saved me a lot of frustration, time, and money. For those who don't learn from an experienced angler as we all know it can be very hard. I try to help these people because I feel that If no body takes the initiative to help introduce new people to the sport then fishing truely will have no future. If we could just pull together to help educate Anglers who are new to the sport by providing good information instead of discouraging them we will all be much better off. If we express the importance of fishing responsibly and caring for our resources chances are moving forward there will be awareness and support for sportfishing in the years to come. If every Angler out there introduced fishing to a couple people each year how much more support do you think we would have? Not to mention the benifits that fishing might bring to these peoples lives. I truely believe that bad or incomplete information breeds ignorance however I also believe good information leads to awareness, enlightenment and wisdom. Just a few of my thoughts on the matter. I hope it gives some of you something to think about and thanks for hanging on through this.