Responsible Resource Stewardship
by Ryan Wilson
If you eye the bed of my truck after most of my fishing trips, you’ll probably conclude that I wasn’t in any condition to drive home. You might also be suspicious that the space in my cooler where all that beer was, is now filled with more than a limit of trout. Don’t worry folks, you can relax. There’s no reason to call the state trooper or NC wildlife, because those beer cans aren’t mine (well, most of them anyway) and I didn’t run through nine tubs of worms today. I was just taught at a young age, that responsible resource stewardship is as integral a part of our sport as leaky waders and “Shoulda been here last week.”
I’ve been called a few names in my life, but “Hippie” has never been one of them. I’m as quick to roll my eyes at the stereotypical tree-hugging, tofu munching, earth mother “environmentalist” as the next red-blooded American meat eater. However, as a lifelong angler and hunter, I proudly assume the mantle of the “Original Conservationist.” I believe to my core that as sportsmen, we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard and to take an active part in maintaining our wild lands and waters. After all, if we don’t, who will?
Our public lands & waters are open to a diverse array of uses and users. Especially this time of year, our favorite fishing spots will be shared with tubers, swimmers, kayakers, BBQers and all manner of out-of-state tourists. While it’s important to remember that non-anglers have just as much right to be there as we do, it’s fair to say that not everyone who visits these spaces treats them with the respect and care that you do. For example, there was so much scattered trash at Wilson Creek after Memorial Day weekend, I’m pretty sure I saw a tear rolling down the eye of the Native American cutout at the Mortimer country store.
Unfortunately there are some anglers in our ranks who are part of the problem. We’ve all encountered people who think that it’s ok to take fish, but leave trash. If that’s you, then be better. If you think it’s ok to take out a stringer of trout, while leaving an empty bucket of night crawlers and a Cheerwine bottle full of dip spit on the side of the stream, then you don’t deserve a share in our wonderful outdoor resources. Stay home instead. Our public access is already limited and bad behavior by fishermen will cost us even more.
For the vast majority of us that are good stewards of the resource, there are some very easy, very painless ways to make a positive impact. Make a trash bag a core part of your fishing pack. I’m not suggesting that you spend your whole day picking up after others, but leave every spot that you touch just a little better than you found it. Pick up a can here and there, cut out that bird’s nest of 12lb monofilament, set a good example and don’t be afraid to show others how to do things the right way.
Joining and supporting groups with a focus on conservation, like Trout Unlimited and the Carolina Fly Fishing Club, is another great way to actively support stewardship. Whether the scale is local or national, organization makes our voices that much more impactful. Support can also fit your lifestyle and budget. Whether you’d rather donate or spend a weekend stocking fingerlings, these groups provide an avenue for meaningful service.
We are truly blessed to have the quality and availability of public waters here in the Carolinas. Between the endless miles of wild trout water, loaded stocked streams, lakes, salt and warm water rivers, the diversity of fishing opportunities here is virtually second to none. However if we want to maintain quality and access, it is the responsibility of the angling community to hold itself to a higher standard. We need to set an example of stewardship and self-police our own by calling out bad behavior. If we don’t take the lead, then someone else will and we may not like what that looks like.
Ryan Wilson is the Owner and Operator of Madison River Fly Fishing Outfitters in Cornelius, NC. If you’d like to hunt for wild trout, tailing carp, or smallmouth bass this summer, please contact him at madisonriverflyfishing@gmail.com or call at (704) 896-3676. Check us out on Facebook: Madison River Fly Fishing Outfitters or on the Web: www.carolinaflyfishing.com