I never tried to write a conservation article before. I always
thought conservation was throwing a few fish back and
re-cycling your Foster Lager cans.
I have looked at small aspects of the problem and find that fly
fishermen as a group are behind the eight ball. The problem is
in the presentation.
Orvis is kind enough to send me their Orvis News every month
or so and I really appreciate it. They have an in depth involvement in
conservation issues that makes me glad I order a lot of my fly fishing
stuff from them. I never got a bad product.
The January/February issue of the Orvis News chronicled
the problem on the Rogue River in Oregon. We are ruining 200
miles of unique wild trout and salmon runs. What a sad thing.
The simple picture is that everyone wants the river's water. That
one sentence says it all. Orvis said it in two pages and threw in a
lot of support, but the basic fact stands. The fish don't have enough
water. Most won't read two pages chocked with facts just to
understand the problem. No water - no fish.
I will probably never fish the river but it makes me sad to see our
resources diminished. My niece, Sandra, hopes to fish the great
waters some day even if I can't. How can I sit back and kill her
chances.
If you want more details go to the Orvis
Rogue River Conservation page. Or email
Orvis they will
send you the issue. Donations are requested at: Orvis Water
Trust Rogue River Project, Dept. AR., Orvis, Route 7A,
Manchester, VT, 05254. (Supported by matching funds too.)
No money, no fish, no fly fishing life style. It's really hard to
catch a steelhead, trout or salmon in your bathtub. They just
don't grow there.
If we don't rectify the problem now the point will be moot in
the future. Without the wild runs the Rogue is just a pretty river.
Conservation stuff is not my thing as a writer, but someone has to
do it. I hope others more articulate can motivate the fly fishing
community to step up and get involved.
My mother asked me a week or so ago, "When the trout and salmon
are all gone, what will you do?"
What a sad question.
PS: Today it's Oregon - tomorrow it will be your stream - When
will you become involved? ~ Old Rupe
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