Conservation still a key

Conservation lies at the core of fishing. Whether you’re dabbling in a mountain stream or hauling long lines off the coast of the Carolinas, without some form of conservation, your future is gloomy.

In freshwater fishing, we take conservation for granted, especially in bass fishing. What started as an immediate action to ensure good fishing – catch and release – matured into one of the greatest freshwater conservation moves of all time. Without catch and release, our sport would already be a distant memory everywhere but on private waters.

But there’s more to conservation than throwing your fish back. Sadly, we seem to have forgotten that. A generation ago, organized bass fishing led the conservation charge nationwide. We all remember photos of Ray Scott hob-nobbing with President George H.W. Bush while discreetly getting his point across. There were fights for clean water, fights for sportsman's access and lawsuits against polluters.

A lot has changed since then. Fortunately, landmark legislation was enacted in the late 1970s that put our country on the right track in terms of watershed preservation. Anglers would be wise to pay attention to the Clean Water Act and other laws on the books, though, as they continue to be weakened and reduced all around us.

Regardless, the idea of bass anglers doing more for our resources seems to be gaining traction again within our industry.

My personal path has changed from die-hard basser to “conservationist," so I’m sure this trend is more polarized in my realm. Nowadays, my social media feed features habitat news instead of big fish photos.

But I’ve recently heard from more than one organization about their desire to bring conservation topics back into the sport.

Symposiums, workshops, grants and media are carving out a spot for the subject, whether it sells or not. Perhaps the decision-makers are beginning to question the future of our otherwise self-absorbed approach.

Initially, it may seem like conservation – self restraint, if you will – may hold the sport back. The approach is confusing. When many anglers think of an environmentalist, they envision someone attempting to put an end to hunting or fishing. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, it’s the most dangerous stereotype out there in terms of preserving our sport.

Many of the biggest conservation wins in this country have resulted from the hard work of sportsmen and their organizations. Ducks Unlimited is a shining example.

And in certain subgroups of fishing, we’re seeing an increase in the role conservation plays within the sport.

You’ll note this first in terms of catch and release ethics. Some groups not only release their fish, but refrain from holding them out of the water during the process. Tarpon, billfish and even many musky anglers are showing that the magic is in the catch, not the bragging.

Going a step further, some anglers are refraining from targeting fish during the spawn. In fact, angler groups are working to push legislation proposing fishing closures in areas known to concentrate important saltwater species during this period. Such self-restraint may be necessary as they watch fish stocks dwindle.

Moves like these are propelled by organizing bodies. Working now for a nonprofit group focused on fish and wildlife habitat, I see first-hand the advantages of being organized when getting things across the finish line. 

Regardless of what fish you pursue, you can do more for conservation of our sport. The first step lies in broadcasting the message.

Young anglers seem to have no concept of the conservation side of bass fishing. This is partly a result of the transition of our sport from an organized club affair to a broader-reaching competitive arena. During that transition, the major tournament organizations lost their conservation army from a lack of interest, overall.

We’ll need to bring today’s anglers back in the mix. Show them that the whole concept of fishing still relies on fish and healthy habitat.

Again, we take this for granted. Bass fishing seems limitless thanks to our huge reservoirs, strong fish populations and toss-em-back mindset. Things are good.

But they can go bad quick, believe me. As a reference, I’m surrounded by waters once referred to as the Bass Fishing Capitals of the World. I stare at 12-pound wall mounts in local fish camps where, today, a good fisherman struggles to catch a single bass.

What happened? The fisheries fell apart and we didn’t act fast enough. No one cared. They were off chasing a photo finish at the newest, hot lake.

Conservation must play an important role in our bass fishing. It must occupy a space in our mind of equal share with glittery boats, Morning Dawn worms and transducer placement.

Because conservation is not just a piece of the pie. It’s the crust.

Without it, all we’ve got is a pile of filling.

Joe Balog is the Executive Director of Mighty River Recovery, a nonprofit organization working to restore Florida’s St. Johns River. A former national tournament angler, product designer, seminar speaker and guide, Balog has worn just about every hat available to a professional angler. Today, he enjoys rehashing his experiences and adding veteran insight through his weekly Bass Wars column.

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