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fly fishing, conservation and politics.

Fishing

Safety in the field

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Safety is like sex, we talk a lot about it but sometimes it is more talk than action. Or as my good friend Mamie Parker used to say, “when all is said and done, more is said than done.”

Safety preparations for any outdoor adventure are really pretty simple. If you take a little time getting the appropriate gear together you will be able to deal with many, if not most, of the outdoor challenges you might face when things take a turn for the worse.

Many people think “oh it won’t happen to me.” Well as former search and rescue volunteer I can tell you, it happens more often than you think. I was the training team leader for wilderness safety and survival for my search and rescue group. Over the years I learned some basics that may come in handy for you as well.

Plan, brief, execute, debrief is a military mantra that makes sense in outdoor recreation as well. In fact most of us do it without really thinking about it. We plan the trip, talk it over with whoever goes along, tell them what the plan is, come back and tell our friends what a great time we had.

We also can use that opportunity to inject some safety points and lessons learned into the planning, briefing and debriefing cycle. Things like what to do if we get separated or hurt, how the radio’s work, where the spare batteries are, how much water you need.

Checklists are a good way to keep track of all the things you want to have. They are simple to put together and can be amended as you learn what is really needed and not needed.

Here is a good start based on the so called ten essentials — map and compass, sun protection, rain gear, warm layer, flashlight, batteries, first-aid and meds, dry matches, tinder, knife, food, water and emergency shelter.

You can find a detailed checklist on REI’s Web site.

These items can easily fit in a small backpack and can make an unexpected wilderness adventure more tolerable.

One of the most important things to do is to let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back. If you change your plan let them know. If I am meeting someone I tell them where I will leave a note so they can find me.

When it comes to clothing dressing in layers is the way to go. One of the tricks is to dress cool. That is not a fashion statement mind you, it means dress for what you will feel like ten or fifteen minutes from now. Carry the extra layer for sure, but put it on when you stop or cool off.

For example if you are hiking a mile or so into a tree stand or fishing hole, under dress by a layer. You are likely to work up a sweat on the way in and wet clammy clothes are not only uncomfortable they draw heat away from your body.

One of the best confidence builders I know is the ability to find your way around in the woods. When was the last time you practiced with a map and compass?

GPS units are great but when they can’t get a fix or the batteries run out, you better be able to use a map and compass. Understanding how to use a map and compass to help you find your way in the field is an essential skill and some regular practice can never hurt.

So as you venture out to hunt and fish this fall take some time to think about your own safety in the field.

You can read more of my columns at the News Virginian.com.

National Fish Habitat Awards

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Ryan Roberts, NFHAP Communications Coordinator, sent along the information below on the National Fish Habitat Annual Awards Program.

If you know someone who should be nominated contact your local fish habitat partnership. You can find them here: http://fishhabitat.org/

The submission deadline is January 29, 2010. The awards will be presented at the Jim Range National Casting Call on April 22, 2010.

THE NATIONAL FISH HABITAT ANNUAL AWARDS PROGRAM

Program Overview

The National Fish Habitat Annual Awards honor exceptional individuals or partner entities who have demonstrated a commitment to fish habitat conservation, science, or education. The awards celebrate those who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication, innovation or excellence in aquatic resource conservation. National Fish Habitat Awardees show how individuals can and do make a difference.

Awards will be made annually on the basis of nominations submitted by Fish Habitat Partnerships and the hundreds of organizations and members that make up the Partners Coalition. From the nominations submitted by Partnerships and Coalition, the National Fish Habitat Board will select several of the most meritorious for these nationally recognized awards. Honorable mentions may be made.

Eligibility

The Awards Program is open to all members of the 14 Board-recognized Fish Habitat Partnerships and members of the Partner Coalition. The planning and writing of the nominations are the responsibility of the Partnership staff and partner/coalition organizations.

Award Categories

For Exceptional Vision in support of Fish Habitat Conservation

(In Memory of Jim Range)

Purpose: to bestow a well deserved honor in the name of fish habitat conservation to someone whose career is a reflection of the enlightened and progressive nature of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan. Awarded to an individual, who sees beyond the limits of one state or region, with a focus on a national need and works accordingly and effectively.2

For Extraordinary Action in support of Fish Habitat Conservation

Purpose: to recognize outstanding conservation action(s) that has/have made a true difference in fish habitat conservation. Awarded to an individual or entity, that has implemented an on-the-ground conservation project that has demonstrated positive results in terms of fish habitat quality and/or quantity.

For Scientific Achievement in support of Fish Habitat Conservation

Purpose: To recognize outstanding achievement in the use of science to improve fish habitat conservation by bringing attention to the need for and benefits of fish habitat management. Awarded to an individual or entity, that has developed and/or implemented science-based tools, assessments, or methodologies that assist in the conservation of aquatic habitat.

For Outreach and Educational Achievement in support of Fish Habitat Conservation

Purpose: to recognize outstanding achievement in promoting and encouraging fish habitat conservation and partnerships through outreach and education. Awarded to an individual or entity, that has developed and/or implemented programs or taken other action to increase the public’s understanding and appreciation for fish habitat.

Requirements

1. Nominations in each award category should be submitted by Board-recognized Fish Habitat Partnerships or Partner Coalition members.

2. The nomination must contain a precise statement of the proposed Partnership activity/project/person deserving of the award.

3. It must show evidence of imaginative and thoughtful appraisal of the ways in which the individual / entity contributes towards achieving the goals and objectives of the NFHAP.

Preparation of the Nomination

A. Only one copy of the nomination is required. Nominations should be typed.

B. The nomination must contain the following information:

1. The award category for which the group or person(s) is being nominated.

2. The name of nominated group or person.

3. Your relationship with the person or group you are nominating.

4. If nominating a group, the contact person who represents the group.

5. A brief narrative or abstract of no more than 200 words clearly summarizing the reasons for nominating the individual /group.

You may also provide no more than four pages of supporting information that describes the actions of the nominee that merit the proposed award, and how it is related to the goals and objectives of the NFHAP, or any other information that would assist the judges in determining the merits of this nomination (Please attached these pages to your nomination form).

You should also provide your contact information as the nominator.

C. Nomination forms and supporting material should not exceed five pages.

Submission of the Nomination

Mail or fax one copy of the nomination, postmarked or faxed not later than midnight Friday January 29, 2010 to: Ryan Roberts 444 N. Capital Street, NW (Suite 725) Washington DC, 20001 rroberts@fishwildlife.org Fax: 202-624-7891 Phone: 202-624-5851

-OR-

E-mail Ryan Roberts, NFHAP Communications Coordinator at rroberts@fishwildlife.org no later than midnight Friday January 29, 2010 and attach the file containing the nomination to the E-mail. The file must be created in Microsoft Word©. In the subject line of the e-mail, please type: NFHAP Nomination.

Judging and Announcement of Awards

The nominations will be judged by the National Fish Habitat Board and awards will be presented at the Jim Range National Casting Call event in Washington DC April 22, 2010. Nominations should be prepared with this in mind and should be written for periods not longer than one calendar year. Please refer all further questions via e-mail to Communications Coordinator, Ryan Roberts at rroberts@fishwildlife.org

Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s 20th Anniversary

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Last week I was back in Washington and had the chance to join in celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. There were two events, a lunch and then the annual banquet and auction that night. In 1997 and 1998 I served as the president of the foundation and it was a special treat to help mark this important milestone.

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation was started in 1989. The foundation created a link between the sportsmen’s community and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus. The Caucus had been started earlier that year by a small group of liked-minded legislators who wanted to protect and promote the outdoor traditions of hunting, trapping and fishing in the U.S. Congress.

“This year’s banquet is sort of the culmination of a year-long celebration of our 20th Anniversary,” said CSF President Jeff Crane. “We were able to recognize and thank everyone who has contributed to the 20-year success of the organization including current and former Caucus members and all those who have contributed to our cause.”

The lunch was a small gathering of past members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus and Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. Many of the past board members and the five of us who had run the foundation all were there. It was a great chance for all of us to swap hunting, fishing and legislative stories.

The two original co-chairs of the caucus, Congressmen Dick Schulze and Lindsay Thomas both made it back for the lunch and banquet. Schulze has served on the foundation’s board of directors and Thomas currently sits of the board.

“This was a very special event and I am honored to have been invited back to witness the tremendous growth of this caucus and foundation since we founded it in 1989,” said Schultze.

“It was wonderful to be able to visit with and recognize publicly my founding Caucus leadership colleagues,” said Thomas.

Today there are 200 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and 52 Senators in the caucus, making it one of the largest in Congress. Twenty-one of the original caucus members are still in Congress.

The Valley’s own representative Bob Goodlatte is a member and has been since he was elected to Congress. There are five additional members from the Virginia congressional delegation — unfortunately neither of our senators is a member of the caucus.

I enjoyed my time at the foundation and have been especially excited to see them take the success of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus model and expand on it in the states.

In 2004, the foundation replicated its model of raising awareness of sportsmen’s issues by creating the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses. There are 38 states with bi-partisan caucuses, including Virginia.

The Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus was formed in 2004. It is currently co-chaired by the Valley’s own Senator Emmet Hanger and gubernatorial candidate Senator R. Creigh Deeds.

According to the Caucus’ Web site, “The caucus has been very successful since its inception, working towards the passage of the ‘No Net Loss’ legislation in 2007 and the creation Virginia’s Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp) program in 2005.”

The latest development in expanding the caucus model has been the formation of a bipartisan caucus of governors. The Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus was launched at the National Governor’s Association Annual Meeting in this summer. The goal is to increase communication and information exchange between states to promote and protect hunting and fishing.

America’s nearly 40 million hunters and anglers contribute more than $70 billion annually to the U.S. economy. The economic contribution that hunting and fishing makes in Virginia is significant. Sportsmen contribute over a billion dollars and account for more than 20,000 jobs each year.

Having a voice in our nation’s capital is great, having one in the state capitol is even better.

You can read more of my columns at the News Virginian.com.

AFFTA and the Fly Fishing Retailer Show

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First, let me offer a quick explanation for my absence. After enjoying a week’s vacation in beautiful Rhode Island, I found myself hurrying back when my mother was stricken with pneumonia. She wound up spending a week in the intensive care unit at Newport Hospital.

I spent three weeks up there, but all’s well that ends well and mom is recovering nicely at my sister’s home in New Hampshire.

My next stop was Denver, Colo. Last month I was elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the American Fly Fishing Trade Association. My first board meeting was during the Fly Fishing Retailer show last week.

AFFTA’s mission is to “promote the sustained growth of the fly fishing industry.” To do that, the association focuses on attracting more people to fly-fishing, promoting business excellence and educating elected officials and government agencies on important policy topics such as the economic importance of conserving fly-fishing habitat or thorny tax and trade issues.

The Fly Fishing Retailer is the industry’s trade show. At this show, manufacturers show and promote their new products to dealers like shops, guides and outfitters and also members of the outdoor press. Only members of the fly-fishing industry can attend, it is not open to the public like a consumer show is.

AFFTA Board members, like me, get a guest pass to the show and I spent two days wandering around the floor, looking at new products and visiting with many of my friends in the business.

Over the next few weeks I will share some thoughts and observations about some of the more interesting things I saw at the show, like the latest in the rubber versus felt for the bottom of wading boots, flies without hooks and the latest in bobber technology. No kidding, bobber technology.

Of course I got a chance to try new fly rods from the likes of Sage, Scott, Loomis, St. Croix, Temple Fork Outfitters and Winston. Casting a variety of rods is one of the best parts of going to the show. It is also a great chance to give friends a hard time about casting techniques, which greatly adds to the entertainment value of the show.

There is a pretty robust party circuit each night after the show closes. The most entertaining one is the Annual Drake Flyfishing Video Awards. This was the fourth year for this event showing of ten five-minute film clips about fly-fishing. A panel reviews all clips and the top ones win prizes for being the best in their category. There are awards for best humor, best story, best fishing, and best overall.

You can see clips from the last three years at the Drake Web site. Check out “Running Down the Man” from the 2006 films, it is one of my favorites.

I have now returned to the Valley and am looking forward to some fall fishing and the hunting season. Hopefully you have already had a chance to get out enjoy some time afield.

If you want to have some fun, get some wing shooting practice and support a good cause, come out to Flying Rabbit Sporting Clays on Sept. 27 for their first Hunters for the Hungry benefit shoot. The donation is $50 for this 100-target event. Lunch, soda and water are included, you just need to bring shells and eye and ear protection and of course your shotgun. You can get more information by calling 540-574-2529 or go to their Web site.

Finally, it is not too soon to be marking your calendars for next year’s Virginia Fly Fishing Festival on the banks of the South River. The festival is scheduled for April 17 and 18. This is the ten-year anniversary of the event so it should be a good one.

You can read more of my columns at News Virginian.com.

A time to reflect, learn new tricks

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When you hit certain milestones in your life, in my case turning 55 years old in July, you get a chance to reflect on the things you have accomplished and the things you might still want to accomplish in the future.

As I write this I am enjoying a family vacation in Exeter, R.I. We are at a cabin on Yagoo pond. It is a typical New England lakeside scene — if you saw the movie On Golden Pond then you get the picture. The place hasn’t changed all that much in the 55 years I have been coming here. I like that.

There is some wonderful fishing here. Over the years I have caught my fair share of bass, pickerel and sunfish. For more than 40 years, I have fished here with a fly-rod. Since I am reflecting on future accomplishments I decided to learn to how to use a bait casting rig on this vacation.

For the last 10 years or so I have taught fly-fishing professionally. I enjoy teaching, especially watching my students discover those personal keys that help them become good at fly casting.

My last attempt to use a bait-casting rig was not pretty. With no instruction I just hung a plug on the end of the line and “let her rip”. Those of you who fish with a bait caster are now smiling and thinking “bet he had one heck of a backlash with that approach”. And I surely did. The net result was more time untangling then casting.

Now like most humans endowed with a Y chromosome, reading instruction manuals is not in my make up. However, I have learned a thing or two over the years and for this learning experience I read up on how to “adjust” the reel to help prevent backlashing.

There were two reels collecting dust in my gear closet both pretty old school. A Quantum Tour and an Abu-Garcia Ambassadeur. They had magnets and brakes and all sorts of “fine” adjustments to assist you in casting.

Reading carefully and setting the reels up as suggested, I ventured forth to test my skills.

My first cast was tentative and somewhat misdirected. But, no backlash. A few more casts improved my accuracy. As my timing improved so did the length of my casts.

Soon I realized the adjustments could be modified to allow for more independent control of the spool with the thumb. Clearly, this was how the big boys did it. I was ready to advance.

I quickly came to appreciate that point in the learning curve when you think you should be able to do something, but for some reason it just doesn’t work out that way. My mind raced back to all the time my students had that perplexed look and I thought, “come on it is not that hard”.

I eventually got to a point where the backlashes were not taking the fun out of fishing. The casts were going where I wanted and I started to enjoy a new skill.

I probably won’t trade my fly-rod in, but it is good to know this dog can still learn a new trick.

More importantly it reminded me what it is like to be a student again. That just because something is so routine for me doesn’t mean it will be for everyone. The real lesson for me was to remember to put myself in my student’s shoes. That was certainly a lesson worth relearning.

You can read more of my columns at News Virginian.com.

American Sportfishing Association Elects Board of Directors Members

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Two good friends, Geoff Ratte and Martin MacDonald,  were elected to the American Sportfishing Association’s board of directors. Congratulations gentleman the industry is lucky to have you working on their behalf!

Here is ASA’s Press Release:

American Sportfishing Association Elects Board of Directors Members

Industry leaders will address a wide-range of sportfishing issues

Alexandria, VA – June 29, 2009 – Six members of the American Sportfishing Association’s (ASA) Board of Directors were elected or re-elected to fill three regional seats and three at-large seats. Their terms begin October 1, 2009, and they will serve two-year terms. ASA’s board members may serve three, consecutive two-year terms.

Regional seats went to Martin MacDonald, director of Conservation, Bass Pro Shops, Springfield, Mo., who will serve the South Central Region; Bob Eakes,president, Red Drum Tackle Shops, Buxton, N.C., who will serve the Southeast Region (re-elected); and Dick Pool, president, Pro-Troll Fishing Products,Concord, Calif., who will serve the West Region. Eakes was re-elected for a third, two-year term. MacDonald and Pool will serve a two-year term. Pool has previously served on ASA’s Board of Directors.

At-Large seats went to John Jilling, president, Wright & McGill Company, Denver, Colo. (re-elected); Geoff Ratte, Water Gremlin Company, St. Paul, Minn.; andDave Bulthuis, vice president of Sales, Costa Del Mar Sunglasses, Inc., Daytona Beach, Fla. Jilling and Ratte were re-elected to serve a third and second two-year term respectively. Bulthuis was elected to his first two-year term.

“We’ve got a great mix of talent, experience and perspective with the incoming Board of Directors who will compliment an already impressive group of individuals,” said Mike Nussman, ASA president and CEO. “The members of the American Sportfishing Association will be well-served by these dynamic leaders, industry veterans and steadfast advocates for the sportfishing industry. I look forward to working with everyone and thank them for their time and support.”

Martin MacDonald was elected to his first term on ASA’s board of directors. MacDonald plans to address introducing adults to fishing, general sportfishing education and economic vibrancy in the sportfishing industry. Bob Eakes, who was re-elected to his third, two-year term on the ASA board, plans to use his time on the board to continue to address angler access issues. Dick Pool, an industry veteran, was elected for a two-year term and has previously served six years on ASA’s board. Pool plans to address the association’s role in advocating for fisheries resources and the individual angler. John Jilling, was re-elected to his serve his third, two-year term. Jilling has been with Wright & McGill for 36 years, the last 11 as president. He has also served as ICAST Show Committee chairman. He plans to focus on angler access and recruitment and fisheries resources issues. Geoff Ratte was elected to his second, two-year term. He’s been with Water Gremlin Company for 33 years. For over half that time, Ratte has represented the sportfishing industry’s interests on many ASA committees as well as state and federal industry working groups and committees. He currently has a seat on the Sportfishing and Boating Partnership Council. Dave Bulthuis, elected to his first, two-year term, currently serves as ICAST Show Committee chairman. He plans to dedicate his time on the board to addressing issues that preserve and grow the sport and the industry.

The current members of the Board of Directors are; Jeff Pontius, ZEBCO Brands (Chairman); Jeff Marble, Frabill, Inc. (Vice Chairman); Gregg Wollner, RapalaUSA, (Secretary); Peter Foley, Boone Bait Company, Inc. (Treasurer);Randy Lemcke, Plano Molding Company (Immediate Past Chairman); Thomas Dammrich, National Marine Manufacturers Association; Ed Dinkins, Boy Scouts of America; Bob Eakes, Red Drum Tackle Show, Inc.; John Frampton, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources; John Jilling, Wright & McGill Company; Jay Jolly; Jim Lebson, G. Loomis, Inc.; Chip Powell, Mason Tackle Company; Geoff Ratte, Water Gremlin Company; Bruce Stanton, PRADCO-Fishing; Gary Zurn, Big Rock Sports; Ken Hammond, The Hammond Group (ex-officio); and Darrell Lowrance, (ex-officio).

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The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade association, committed to looking out for the interests of the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry a unified voice speaking out when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. We invest in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous as well as safeguard and promote the enduring economic and conservation values of sportfishing in America. ASA also represents the interests of America’s 60 million anglers who generate over $45 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for over one million people.

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ASA Communications

American Sportfishing Association

225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 420

Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 519-9691 ex. 222

asacomm@asafishing.org