SADLER: Take someone fishing

A couple of weeks ago I was in Washington. This time for the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation’s board meeting.

While I have worked with RBFF over the years, this was my first meeting as a board member. For those of you not familiar with RBFF, it is a non-profit organization dedicated to growing participation in fishing, boating and aquatic stewardship.

Three things were discussed at the board meeting that I want to share with you. They relate, not surprisingly, to getting folks more engaged in fishing.

The first one is about Illinois becoming the first state in the country to recognize bass fishing as a high school sport. The Chicago Tribune had a story about it last month. According to the story, fishing teams have formed at more than 60 schools. There will be a state championship this spring.

At one school, 50 students showed up for a meeting held to just gauge interest in starting a team.

Think there are any bass fisherman coaching or teaching at Valley high schools? Think it might be something our high school kids would enjoy?

Over the last few years there has been increasing interest in getting kids reconnected to nature. The finger pointing at culprits like video games, safety concerns or “other commitments” that keep kids inside has been extensive.

But maybe we are to blame as well. Have we been making choices for our kids that take them away from the traditional outdoor activities like hunting and fishing? Have we given up on these sports in favor of theme parks, professional sports and travel teams?

There is nothing wrong with any of those activities. But I worry about the future of hunting and fishing if we keep making decisions that take the opportunities to participate away from the kids.

Think parents might be a little more willing to let their kids get back outside if it was an organized school event?

Oh sure, I know there are lots of logistics to work out and a bunch of legal and bureaucratic hoops to jump through. There always are.

This seems like a pretty good way to connect kids with nature and traditional outdoor sports. Sports they can enjoy long after they leave school. Maybe a discussion with the appropriate people at the high schools is in order. I think it is worth a try. What about you?

One of the other challenges we discussed at the meeting was getting people to introduce others to fishing. This has been a goal for RBFF since it was formed.

RBFF’s Anglers’ Legacy program, launched in 2006, is targeted to the country’s estimated 7.5 million avid anglers.

Through media ads and coverage, pro-staff and celebrity angler involvement and industry partnerships the campaign asks avid anglers to share their passion for fishing and promise to take one new person fishing each year.

So far, the Anglers’ Legacy program has signed on more than 65,000 ambassadors nationwide. That translates into over 100,000 new fishing licenses for states adding important additional funds to fish and wildlife management.

Maybe we can get some of those avid anglers here in the Valley to become ambassadors and help coach our kids.

As a professional fly-fishing instructor and a board member of the Federation of Fly Fishers I became an Anglers’ Legacy Ambassador a couple of years ago.

Last month the FFF launched a national pledge drive to promote Anglers’ Legacy.

The FFF will offer a half-price membership ($15) with every Pledge, to all new Ambassadors (not currently FFF members) and the newcomers they take fishing.

“The Anglers’ Legacy Pledge aligns perfectly with FFF’s mission of education through the sport of fly fishing,” said FFF President and CEO R.P. “Pete” Van Gytenbeek. “We’re pleased to be the first national fly fishing organization to participate in this important endeavor that promotes fishing, specifically fly fishing, to future generations.”

If you are a avid angler this is a easy way to share your knowledge with someone new. It is not a big commitment but it is an important one. You can take the pledge at http://www.takemefishing.org/community/anglers-legacy/take-the-pledge.

The last item of interest was RBFF new online social networking site. The site is called Fishington, “the fishing and boating capital of the internet”. If you are familiar with other social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, or Linked In you will be familiar with the look and feel of Fishington at http://www.takemefishing.org.

The new online community is tailored specifically to boaters and anglers. Anyone 18 years old or older can create a profile at Fishington and send messages to other members, share boating and fishing photos, make comments on your favorite boating and fishing spots and join groups.

As a big fan of the power of the internet I see social networking sites becoming more and more useful. Focused sites like Fishington provide members an easily accessible forum for sharing knowledge and experiences and have some fun doing it.

I think we all can do more to get kids and families connected to the great outdoors. These are some ideas that help that happen.

Editor’s Note: Tom Sadler is an avid fly-fisherman, guide and instructor and founder of The Middle River Group, an organization that provides diverse business expertise to the conservation and wildlife management community and the hunting, fishing and shooting sports industry.

Previously he worked in Washington with several conservation groups including the Izaak Walton League and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.

You can contact Tom Sadler by e-mail at