Fishing USA

I read and hear on a regular basis that the popularity of angling in this country is on the wane. Empty river banks and low licence sales are proof of this to say nothing of the regular closure of tackle shops.

On the other hand, the popularity of angling with a rod and line "over the pond" has never been greater and is growing fast. There are an estimated 30 million licenced anglers in the USA. In addition there is likely to be another 30 million plus who either fish in the sea, are juveniles, or in many other areas where a licence is unneccessary. It has been estimated that there are 20 million who fish exclusively for bass. And this in an overall population of 298 million.

In the UK we only have about 1.5 million licenced anglers in a population of 60 million.

Figures like these, which are subject to confirmation, make fascinating reading.

Why is fishing so popular in the States compared with here?

I think it's because as a sport, angling is actively encouraged, from central federal government (GW Bush is an avid bass angler) right through to schools and the media. Fishing tournaments such as the Annual Bassmaster Classic are televised to millions and recieve just as much press, if not more than golf.

Virtully all of the last 10 presidents of the USA were keen anglers. Many famous movie stars from Bing Crosby to Brad Pitt have been, and are avid anglers.

Why do you think that fishing so popular there compared with here?

maybe its the simplicity of it over there ?
rod, reel & a box of lures and away you go

Whenever I see a fishing program in the USA it always seems to be about lure fishing. Not that I mind that, I do a bit myself.

There does seem to be a lot more to fishing on this side of 'the pond'.

Although with the popularity of big carp fishing, depending on what is broadcast in other countries, it may look to others that we only carp fish.

Fishing in the USA is a Family pastime,I have found that there are more tackle shops,cheaper tackle, more bait shops, more accessible waters to actually fish in than in the UK,Yes, I know that America is a little bit bigger than England,but size for size it does seem to have better access to venues. As other posts say, it is true that angling is encouraged more in the USA. Also, I have found that there are not as many "Specialists " and "Syndicates", and Big fish hunters as there are in UK, most anglers are content to turn up , wet a line, and go home.........
Then you get on the other hand, the very expensive charter boat anglers, who must have cash to burn.

"I read and hear on a regular basis that the popularity of angling in this country is on the wane."

I don't think that its really on the wane Ron. I think that as with most things, its' popularity will fluctuate, causing us to occasionally believe this is so.

In all honesty, I did'nt know that one had to be 'licensed' in the USA to fish, I always thought it was practically written into America's constitution that every man has a right to fish and hunt? I stand corrected.

Oh Yes Malc, every man has the right to fish and hunt there but that doesn't mean he mustn't pay his dues to the game and fish conservation bodies in each state.

Virtually every state has fishing and hunting licences where they are needed and woe betide you if you are caught without one.

However they are very cheap. A CT residents state fishing licence is only $20 for the year and can be obtained from tackle shops everywhere. If you are a non resident you will pay more.

There are many waters where licences are not required and there is also the sea.

Fishing is indeed a family sport. Much freshwater fishing is geared up to the use of a boat and many many families own one. A typical example of the family attutude to fishing is that in Alabama you can buy a licence plate for your vehicle that proclaims - "Take a Kid Fishing".

As regards tackle, most of the American freshwater species are predatory and lure fishing has been developed to a fine art. Your can catch a fish on the simplest tackle but you can also spend a fortune too. Some of the top USA anglers are the epitome of "Tackle Tarts".

I have fly fished for trout, and bass fished with some top American anglers in SA. They put an enormous amount of effort and thought into catching fish. They read regularly the copious quantities of magazines available on the sport and TV programmes on fishing are enormously poplular. Never think that the top US anglers are slouches - far from it.

As regards carp. The US waters are full of them but they are regarded as vermin. Quite rightly too as carp have played havoc with the natural habitat of native species.

As regards hunting big fish, the Americans do that too. There are many "Lunker Bass" hunters and cash prizes for the biggest fish of various species caught. For example if anyone beats the 23lb large mouth bass record, he has a million bucks in his pocket to say nothing of all the other spin offs.

And you should see the latest series of bass boats in real tree camo!

Virtually every state has fishing and hunting licences where they are needed and woe betide you if you are caught without one.


they don't then have to pay a fortune in ticket prices on top though do they.

they don't have the riparian owners rights problems that we do either.

plus to top it off their closed seasons do actually make some bluddi sense.

Carrott.

Correct, they have large open waters and rivers where all you require is the state licence. They also have lots of "Pay Lakes" which are quite heavily stocked with bass and are ideal for youngsters to learn the sport.

As regards exclusive syndicate waters, well I do believe that certain limestone rivers in the Catskills are controlled thus. They are the USA equivalent to our River Test.

Due to the sheer size of many of their waters, they certainly do not have problems with riperian owners as you are fishing from a boat.

Some years ago a friend of mine spent 2 years working and living in the American Midwest. Most of his fishing was done on small private farm dams that were stocked with bass and crappies. All that was required was a polite approach for permission to fish there, and this was hardly ever declined! In fact the hosptality shown to him by some of the Midwest farmers was overwhelming, especially if you presented a couple of bass to the lady of the house.

Of course with resources such as you describe lads its no wonder that such a high percentage of the population take the sport up.

In the past there has been terrible problems with pollution in the States. But this has been sorted out in the main due to work by societies such as B.A.S.S. I think it was Lake Michigan that was once described as the biggest cesspit in the world.

Today, angling is the largest participant recreation in the USA which provides many many billions of dollars to the national economy. It's much bigger than golf which comes number 2.

Both George W. and his daddy have appeared on the front covers of fishing mags holding bass.

You wouldn't get Tony Blair, Gordon Brown or Two Jags doing that here - would you?

Just to provide a little bit of balance, Maggie or Major never held appeared on the cover of an angling magazine either Ron, other than to ban leadshot of course!

Other than Mr Salter(Labour) I cannot remember any angling friendly politician.

Lead is certainly not banned in the USA of course.

I do think that Harold MacMillan used to do a bit of salmon fishing.

I have fly fished with Kevin Barron - one of our local MPs.

Pity he is Labour.......)

Hello,
I have lived in Massachusetts in the United States my entire life. I was looking for sites to find out how to coarse fish because I find it very interesting and it looked very fun. While looking around this site, this forum entry caught my eye (Ive often wondered of the outside veiw of our fishing styles and how we go about it). I think Ron summed up it up quite well (even though lead is banned in many of our states) and I dont think many people care whether or not GWB fishes or not, he is pretty much a joke of a president to most of us (except the dilusioned 33%). Fishing in America is no more simple as a rod, a reel, and a box of lures anymore than fishing in the UK is about a rod, a reel, and some corn and maggots. I believe both styles are very complex in their own ways. I think it is so popular over here because there is so much space to do it, like you said. I would really enjoy to take a trip across the pond as you say over there( I love saying that ever since I heard someone say it in an article I read, call me crazy and ignorant) and go fishing for some carp and chub, and I also wish some of you could come over here and fish for some smallmouth bass(great fighters) and some Mississipi catfish(can reach over 100 lbs. Oh and we also flyfish over here. Sorry I didn't add that too eloquently.

Mike,

Wow - the smallie or bronzeback (Small Mouth Black Bass) is one of my favourite species. Like you say, they go like heck and I've caught many of them.

I think I will book a flight to MA tomorrow.

In my opinion there is no game fish in the world to beat a lovely bronze coloured small mouth bass with its spikey fin and bright red eye.

Nothing comes close.

I havent really traveled a lot, but from my small life experience id have to agree, they are just plain fun to fish, even the small ones (and maybe ill see you if you come sometime; look up Pepperell MA, its a middle of nowhere town in Northern Mass borderin on Nashua NH youd probably not fish there but Ive actually caught some 6 lb crappie on our local pond so if you go float fishin, go Hield Pond

You're quite right Ron, it is the high profile given to fishing, in the U.S.A., by presidents, politician and celebrities that helps make it so popular over there. George Bush Sr. has actually put his name to a fly only bonefish tournament which is held each year at Islamorada.
One of the Presidents (can't remember if it was Truman or Roosevelt but his motto was "The Buck Stops Here") had a house at Key West which is still known today as the Little White House because he spent quite a few months of each year there fishing whilst conducting his presidential duties.
I can't imagine any British Prime Minister buying a house at, say, Throop so that he can combine his state duties with fishing.

I think that was Rooseveldt Frank.

By the way Mike, when I tell you that I've caught lots of smallmouth bass in my life but not one in the USA you might be surprised.

I caught them all in South Africa where the species was introduced into various waters in the 1920s. They also introduced bluegills and largemouth bass.

Mike, you say you haven't travelled a lot, and you are only 15 years of age, but by golly you write excellent English for your age (better than many Britishers of twice your age) and you have probably been to more places than myself when I was 15.

I would love to meet you.

I am very surprise that you havent caught one in the US ( to tell you the truth my mouth was actually agape for a full minute) I didnt even know that smallmouth were in South Africa. And as to my English, I am very flattered but I think my English teacher would beg to differ as I am only getting a B+ (do they have the same grading system in the UK? I doubt it) I check my writing in international forums almost as much as my English papers because I love to disprove preconcieved notions against Americans and how theyre all dumb and fat (allthough it is understandable as many of us are, but then again, there are dumb and fat people everywhere. I guess Americans just like cameras more.) I do like to travel even though I do not do it often. Every once in a while we somewhere special, you might think me spoiled, but once I got to go to Puerto Rico it was great even though I didnt go fly fishing there ( Ive always wanted to go fly fishing in the Caribbean ever since I saw a program on it) I guess the economy got better (until recently) so people could travel more in recent years

Strangely enough both LM and SM bass were shipped from a fish farm in Holland and then bred at the Jonkershoek fish farm near Cape Town.

From there, various waters were stocked all over Southern Africa. The species has thrived, too much in fact as they have been responsible for the demise of a number of indigenous species. LM bass reach weights of 15lbs in KwaZulu Natal. I have caught them to 7lbs in the Albert Falls Dam. I have also caught SM bass to over 6lbs from a small lake about 50 miles from Johannesburg.

American bass were also stocked into Japanese waters by Americans during the rebuilding of that country after WW2.

LM bass are also found in Holland, France, Spain, Italy and Greece. SM bass are found in Scandinavia and one very private lake in the UK.

They don't seem to grow very big on this side of the Atlantic.

And I don't think that all Americans are dumb either!

Ron, If you include all of the Eastern European pochers we have in this country, I think you will find that that pushes the UK numbers up considerably!