Quote:
Originally Posted by uglymike
Lofty goals, however I think NGPC is wasting our tax dollars. Why recruit new fisherman if the fishing in this state is mediocre at best? Most of the serious fisherman I know do most of their fishing out of state. Why? Gone are the days of ie; monster walleyes at Big Mac, world class trout fishing on the Keystone canal, huge wipers at Elwood and Harlan, etc, etc. In the present day economy, driving hundreds of miles for just mediocre fishing is not an option. If they're going to drive hundreds of miles, they go to So. Dakota for walleyes, Kansas for wipers, catfish; you get the idea. The tri-county is without a doubt going downhill as far as flatheads goes, destruction of habitat by CNPPD is the main cause in my opinion. I've been forced to change my approach to fishing, lower my standards. Now, if I want to catch lots of big fish, I go carp fishing!! Maybe you guys using fly rods have "got it" being happy with 1lb. blugill, crappies, 2lb.bass etc..........And don't even get me started on hunting in Ne. If you've got large money for a lease, own land or have family with land, hunting can be very good. If you're Mr. Average Lunch Bucket Nebraskan, you're out of luck unless you're willing to deal with the circus that public hunting land has digressed to in this state. Want to risk being shot? or wade thru the knee deep trash? Then hunting public land in Nebraska is for you!!!
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Quite frankly, I'm a "guy using fly rods" and I gave up chasing bluegill about 20 years ago to pursue larger species. I've just returned, actually, to fishing for bluegill because it is fun. I don't know if I've "got it," or not, however, I will agree, if I want to catch lots of big fish, I go carp fishing as well, but I digress.
I must disagree, respectfully, with your assessment of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Overall, I feel that they have done a decent to good job of managing our shared resources with the money that they have. If you look back over the last forty to fifty years, you see more catch and release waters in Nebraska which, ostensibly, will lead to better managed waters (and, hopefully, bigger fish). If you would have proposed any form of catch and release forty years ago in Nebraska, you probably would have been laughed out of the state. The net result, for anglers in Omaha at least, is that there are several waters within 30 miles where one can catch a lot of bass in the 13 to 18 inch range while having a good shot at a bass in the master angler class. The NEGP manages these waters enumerating the data using several survey methods and then take steps based upon the data and the management approach. The NGPC does this statewide, it benefits all of us.
The NEGP has also had to manage our resources while dealing with a severe drought through most of the state and in states in the Platte River watershed. With Lake Mac at a small percentage of full pool, it is difficult, at best, to manage the resource and any downstream waters.
With regard to the "circus" that one finds on public land, I will not disagree that there are public places where hunting and fishing is a circus. However, there are also places, public land, where hunting and fishing is not a circus. Places where you are not elbow to elbow with your fellow anglers or standing in the line of fire. Many of these places are nearby and don't involve a lot of gas. You can do a lot of "scouting" using maps and satellite imagery to identify places, saving a little bit more on the fuel bill.
However, and back to the topic at hand. I see this effort as critical to the future of hunting and fishing not only in Nebraska, but nationwide. I see this as critical for several reasons. Firstly, without a sizable, engaged population of hunters and anglers, we lose political clout. The Dingell-Johnson and Pittman-Robertson funds, funded with money that we paid when we purchased fishing and hunting equipment, are under attack. There are groups in Washington that are eying these funds. And they are not looking at them for fish or wildlife restoration. With a large, engaged constituency, the odds that congress would NOT misuse the funds increase. As a large group, we should be able to tell our representatives that "we are a large group, we are watching, and we vote! And, by the way, our numbers are increasing!" I'm not sure that we can make the latter statement in an affirmative voice. Moreover, if our numbers increase, so does the likelihood that memberships to the NRA, Pheasants' Forever, Ducks Unlimited, and Trout Unlimited, among others, would increase. Fortunately, in addition to their conservation efforts, these groups keep an eye on Washington and report back to us.
I should add that the equation is twofold with regard to these funds, the more hunters and anglers that we have, the more, theoretically, that goes into the funds. Cabela's is not the only organization that benefits from equipment sales, we benefit as well, directly.
Secondly, the world relating to water is changing and changing rapidly. Not only are we engaged in legal battles with neighboring states regarding water rights (battles that could have dire consequences financially as well as physically). Water is also a critical component that is used for processing many of the commodities that we use such as gas and ethanol; we need to ensure that we have water and that our water is used wisely. We need to understand these issues and we need to have our voices heard to ensure that our water is conserved and used wisely. If our numbers dwindle, the our voice is not heard as loudly.
Thirdly, while we have won decisive legal battles, the balance of justice is not clearly in our favor. The recent supreme court ruling reaffirmed our right to bear arms by only a five to four margin. Moreover, the balance in congress is not clearly in our favor. We need to make sure that our elected officials look after our interests. We need to make sure that they support judges whose legal philosophies are in line with our interests. Once again, if there are more hunters and anglers, we speak with a louder voice.
Finally, I wouldn't challenge your assertion that there is "mediocre" fishing in Nebraska. Sure, there are some gems, but, even if the perception is there that fishing or hunting in Nebraska is mediocre, we can do something about it. The NEGP can only do so much with the funds that they have. There are plenty of examples of grass roots groups and individuals who have made a difference and have improved fishing and hunting through their conservation efforts. From my point of view, the more hunters and anglers that we have, the chances are better that more will step up and help to improve our resources. We need to work to improve our resources not only for our fishing trip tonight, but also for the fishing and hunting opportunities for our children, our grandchildren, and our great grandchildren, and on down the line. Our future is at stake. I see this effort as a critical piece for the future of hunting and fishing, I fully support it.