[stukayakfish]

OOOOHMm. Ok there isn`t a philosophy section so...... back out if your brain hurts.
Does a tree make a sound if it falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it? The answer is PERCEPTION. And perception affects reality.
So.. get ready for word association.
Bass Boat.?
Bass Boater.?
Did SPEED jump in your head ?
How bout FISHERMAN.?
Tournament fisherman.?
Offshore fisherman.?
Kayak Fisherman.?
Think of all the different kinds of Anglers there are. And how you see each one. Alot depends on whether you`re in the forest or not.
It`s not hard to just look at a boat coming in the parking lot and guess what type of fisherman they are. I`ve met people who only fish the bank. Some only a certain species of fish. Some only salt water or fresh water. Some 100 pct. release, some total catch batter and fry.
IF there actually is ANY point to this I think it is to recognize the commonality we all share in the joy of the water and the hope of the next cast. We are all variations on the same theme.
We should also realize that NOT everyone on the water is there to fish.
Be conscious of the perception you give . On and off the water.
If John Q. Non-fisherman has something bad to say about fishermen.....
What is it?
What`s the saying? You never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression. We need to make sure a few fisherman of one type don`t make a stereotyped bad impression for the rest of us. We gotta get along amongst ourselves and with the rest of the people on the water.
Impressions affect laws. Bad impressions get restrictions and no piece of the pie. Hunters are affected the same way and they got smart enough to shun anybody riding through town with a deer on the hood. I don`t want fisherman to ever gain a bad image. 99 plus percent of assault rifle owners have never committed a crime with a firearm but the PERCEPTION of legal, responsible gun owners has been distorted by a few well noticed wackos. Let`s don`t let that happen to fishermen. When the boat landings are condos, game law enforcement, stocking and other programs are gone, and recreational fishing taxes are tapped for the next political expenditure IT WILL BE TO LATE. Now MY brain hurts.................. Ya`ll think about it.