[catchNrelease]

Originally Posted by OldBaldGuy

Although I probably shouldn’t “go there,” the problem with leaving statements like these unchallenged is that some unsuspecting soul may read them and actually believe part of it.

Too late I guess

Originally Posted by OldBaldGuy

To insinuate, as you have done, that some of us involved with NEFGA as directors or volunteers (I’m one of the latter) are backing NGPC’s “angler recruitment” because of an elitist perspective is laughable. I know almost all of those guys, and to the best of my knowledge, none lives on or has a cabin on a private lake, and only two have boats. While many of them enjoy the occasional invitation to fish a private lake, if you look back through their hundreds of posts you’ll see almost all have depicted fishing public lakes. We're a bunch of “average Joes” with a far-above-average interest in Nebraska’s fish and game. (Well, among the volunteers, maybe Harold isn’t “average,” but he has aspirations in that direction. )

First of all, my point was that recruiting more anglers IN MY OPINION ruins the fishing for ME. I never said anything directly about "NEFGA", im talking about the fact that more anglers on the water means less enjoyment for me and my family. And yes, laugh all you want but it is somewhat true. The more anglers, the less available fishing room. You are familiar with basic mathematics, yes? Get real, I am a bank fisherman, when you tell me that promoting MORE fisherman will not impact my fishing experience you're insane.

Originally Posted by OldBaldGuy

When you say “promoting new anglers ruins the fishing for ME,” can we assume you personally will then pick up the tab state-wide for fishing stocking, lake renovations, law enforcement, research, etc., because the costs keep going up while the number of buyers (licenses holders) drops?

I think the ridiculous cost of an annual fishing permit should more than suffice. It's not like i've ever seen any "great" fishing lakes around Omaha or Lincoln. Mediocre to poor at best.

Originally Posted by OldBaldGuy

Finally, I have to call b.s. on the statement “you cant even find a spot to fish.” Isn’t what you’re really saying: “someone was in MY spot”?

What im saying is try having your children all excited to go fishing! and then you show up at the lake! and you cant even find a spot to take a few children to fish! It is absurd. And then they want to promote and try to get NEW anglers? THERES TOO MANY! I know this doesnt happen EVERY SINGLE TIME, but it is more often than not that we drive out to a lake, and end up turning around, because there is no room for bank access or a nice enjoyable relaxing time. Who wants to be crammed in having people casting over your lines every 5 minutes. I guess we have different ideas of what is enjoyable and what is not.

Originally Posted by OldBaldGuy

So far this season I’ve fished 67 times in Nebraska (the other three times were in Arkansas), and, yes, sometimes I arrive to find someone fishing the spot I’d hoped to fish. But at even the most extreme example – the peak of the “trout season” at Two Rivers – I’ve always found a place to fish, and I usually caught some fish. My solution is to try to get there 30 minutes earlier next time.

The peak of trout season at Two Rivers is a joke, you call that fishing?
Where have you lost your mind?

Fishing USETO be a peaceful, enjoyable, relaxing, ART around these waters. No longer is that the case.