Community Forums

ctcamper · 02-24-2008, 08:13 AM

Interesting read:
http://www.onthelake.net/fishing/openletter.htm

I found it buried in my bookmarks and it deals with something that I am in favor of.
I have spent alot of money over the years on duck stamps, hunting, fishing, bow hunting licenses, permits: many times that I purchased and never found the time to use. Of all the things I do I really love to fish. Nothing like a nice quiet time away from it all, tossing a line in the water. I prefer saltwater but I also love to catfish, or go after a lunker. I have seen some favorite hidden native brook trout streams disappear to development. I still get out fresh water when I can.
When I go camping I always bring at least an ultralight spinning setup with me for those campgrounds that allow fishing on private land in other states. Nightcrawlers are everywhere and fun to catch at night no matter where you are.
I have never understood in all our "united" states, there is no reciprocity concerning fishing licenses. I would be, very much, in favor of an added fee for a federal license with limitations, in order to be able to fish all over the US.
I find most of the fishermen in my state, barring those that just go out for opening day, are very responsible and practice catch and release with an occasional fish for the pan. I would assume this is the case no matter what part of the US you go to aside, of course, from a small percentage of exceptions. But , that is true with anything.
I do think it would work with a limit to fishing. Hunting is a completely different matter and would be too difficult to implement with all the different local gun laws. Plus you don't just drop things and go hunting like you do with fishing

I don't think it should be restricted to retirement age as there are alot of campers and rv'er now that are younger, and fishing is such a great thing for family activity.

Opinions everyone? Best procedures to go about this? I am not of retirement age yet but was thinking of writing aarp for a start.

ctcamper · 02-24-2008, 08:13 AM

Interesting read:
http://www.onthelake.net/fishing/openletter.htm

I found it buried in my bookmarks and it deals with something that I am in favor of.
I have spent alot of money over the years on duck stamps, hunting, fishing, bow hunting licenses, permits: many times that I purchased and never found the time to use. Of all the things I do I really love to fish. Nothing like a nice quiet time away from it all, tossing a line in the water. I prefer saltwater but I also love to catfish, or go after a lunker. I have seen some favorite hidden native brook trout streams disappear to development. I still get out fresh water when I can.
When I go camping I always bring at least an ultralight spinning setup with me for those campgrounds that allow fishing on private land in other states. Nightcrawlers are everywhere and fun to catch at night no matter where you are.
I have never understood in all our "united" states, there is no reciprocity concerning fishing licenses. I would be, very much, in favor of an added fee for a federal license with limitations, in order to be able to fish all over the US.
I find most of the fishermen in my state, barring those that just go out for opening day, are very responsible and practice catch and release with an occasional fish for the pan. I would assume this is the case no matter what part of the US you go to aside, of course, from a small percentage of exceptions. But , that is true with anything.
I do think it would work with a limit to fishing. Hunting is a completely different matter and would be too difficult to implement with all the different local gun laws. Plus you don't just drop things and go hunting like you do with fishing

I don't think it should be restricted to retirement age as there are alot of campers and rv'er now that are younger, and fishing is such a great thing for family activity.

Opinions everyone? Best procedures to go about this? I am not of retirement age yet but was thinking of writing aarp for a start.

DFR · 02-24-2008, 10:26 AM

I too love to fish but I do not see a "national fishing license" any time soon. I believe that the vast majority of people fish close to home and would be against another fee. I think that another reason would be in some states, the individuals that live in the state supplement their fish/game departments with general fund taxes. Currently, "out of staters" pay a nonresident fee which offsets the extra paid by in staters. If an additional "fee" was to be proposed, it would have to offset the amount paid with general fund monies. In my opinion, this would be cost prohibitive.

magic43 · 02-24-2008, 12:17 PM

As you know, license are not federal, they are state. I doubt that ANY state would be willing to give up the revenue generated by selling license. For example, if each state only got $5.oo, your cost would be a whopping $250.00.

I guess that is why most if not all states offer a seven day permit for only a few dollars. I too have bought many of these seven day permits.

ctcamper · 02-24-2008, 02:01 PM

What I meant to say was, in addition to the state's license that everyone would be required to get in each state, it would be nice to have a fed license for those who did travel and wanted to purchase it. A prerequisite of a state license would be mandatory. Maybe 50 dollars for an additional license good for all states and catch and release only.
I know here in the northeast it's expensive to fish other states, if I want fish in vermont for a week it's 30 bucks which is highway robbery. Ct is 16 bucks for 3 days. More than three days and you either have to get another 3 day permit or go 40 bucks for season.

Ray,IN · 02-24-2008, 03:41 PM

Game, and non-game animals, fowl, and fishing programs are partially funded by license fees, in addition to supplementing enforcement operations. I doubt your proposal will ever reach the serious stage in any state.

jfb · 02-24-2008, 06:30 PM

I unerstand that you can fish in the National Park system without a license....

ctcamper · 02-24-2008, 06:32 PM

Agreed of course that it will never fly as we are much too diversified from state to state to ever enter into agreeable terms.
Much of the revenue from hunting and fishing fees in my state of Ct is going into the general fund and not to the Department of Environmental Protection. The sales of licenses are down, prices have gone sky high for even residents. The DEP is understaffed and cannot procure the funds for more officers. Plus we are facing a new proposed fed saltwater license which will tax the DEP even further. I would be very surprised if this didn't happen in many other states.
I am not alone in this wishfulness. I have talked with dozens of fishermen in other NE states, as well as National Park employees ( some are free, some are not)that have agreed that the short term fees can be a bit steep, but it is next to impossible to change that. Many of my fishing acquaintances do not go out of state to fish and the cost of non resident licenses is a major factor. It is a shame as it also brings in revenue to those states as the fishermen spend money on hotels, campgrounds, restaurants etc...
It would be a good gesture by all the states, at the very least, to allow those of senior status, the availability of a free license.
Just food for thought and at the end of the day a bad day fishing, and hot dogs and beans at the campfire, is still better than a good day at work.

DFR · 02-25-2008, 05:24 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Just food for thought and at the end of the day a bad day fishing, and hot dogs and beans at the campfire, is still better than a good day at work. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
AMEN!!
Michigan is in the same boat (maybe a little worse) financially. Over the past two years the budget problems here have led to a severe reduction in the DNR and it's funding. Thiss has impacted both fish and game departments and the state park system with some closures and personnel being laid off. A new consideration being tossed about at the capitol is a license fee hike of up to 300%

As much as I like going elsewhere to fish, I could not justify an additional charge on those who do not travel. I for one will pay the nonresident fees where ever I go.