Alaska Follow Up

A newspaper in South Carolina reports on a trip to one of the unknown National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska, Togiak. I had the opportunity to spend nearly a week in Togiak several years back, and it is a jewel that does not deserve its anonymity, an incredible place of rivers, mountains, rugged shoreline, salmon, walrus, sea birds, bears and wolves. Unmatched fishing.

When I was in the Refuge, I was going to fly up to Kagati Lake, where these folks started their trip, but never made it there. Soon, I hope.

Read more here.

Kids Fishing

The Oregonian reports on efforts to get kids out fishing.

Youth fishing in Oregon, as in the rest of the country, has been dropping steadily for years: The number of Oregon anglers ages 14-17 has fallen by 45 percent in the past three decades.

Regional Blogging

We once camped on Traverse Bay, it was a beautiful place. Here's a blog entry from the Traverse City Record Eagle that gives some good tips to getting outside in that neck of the woods.

Explore the boardwalks through the sedge meadows at the Grass River Natural Area. I know, I know - everybody knows about GRNA. However, I suspect there are those among you who have not yet been there. Go. Just do it. Your children will thank you. (OK, kids being kids, they may not thank you this week, but just wait - when they have kids of their own they will THANK YOU.)

Here's a statement from the Island Angler Blog in Florida, telling us what to do and why. It's our responsibility--Right on.

Children who spend time in nature are more likely to have pro-environmental attitudes as adults. Time spent in nature with an important adult often shapes a child’s long-term environmental ethic. If this nature deficit continues unabated, we may face a dearth of environmental leaders, professionals, and advocates as we try to conquer future environmental challenges like climate change. Mentoring is but our highest goal and must continue through volunteers and all who are of interest to our future and that of our children’s, children’s future!

More on Hooked In

We wrote about Hooked-in a week or two ago. Here's another report on the program, with a hook to the issue of nature deficit.

More Fishing News

Check out Hooked-In.

This site allows folks to report what they've been catching, how big and where. Very Cool.

More here.

"Everyone knows that fishermen love to tell fish stories -- it's in our blood," said Joe Pych the website's creator. "Surprisingly, nobody offered a website that makes it easy to share fish stories in a fun and organized way. So, I rolled up my sleeves and built Hooked-in from the ground up to give every fisherman their own personal brag board."
Hooked-in makes it simple for fishermen to showcase their catches along with photos, maps, stories, strategies, and more.

Investment in the Future

Our eagle cam yesterday treated folks to an adult bald eagle hauling in a big fat catfish for lunch. And while it's still definitely winter, that site starts us thinking about fishing season.

I fished constantly as a kid, and look forward to some fishing on a river float trip this spring up in Maine.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has a good site up on youth fishing (one of many, many youth fishing sites), and it's worth a look. They consider kids fishing a solid investment in their future and that of our natural world.

More Recent Press

On fishing, from Gainesville.

Last summer while hiking along the Suwannee River to take sturgeon pictures, I encountered a group of Boy Scouts from South Carolina who were 11 days downriver. They were canoeing downstream to the Gulf of Mexico, camping in tents on sandbars; it was a trip they won't forget.

At night, they lay in their tents just after dark, listening to jumping sturgeon. The previous night they reportedly counted 800 splashes before falling asleep. No cell phones were allowed to break the spell. Regrettably, they didn't have a catfish trotline. However, they were getting a good lesson in the harmony found in nature.

and

Stranger danger from Cleveland.

"We need to stop wringing our hands about kids and computer games," said Louv, "and take them outdoors. . . . Clevelanders are lucky to have a fine park system where they can take their children to explore the outdoors. When you get Johnny or Judy outside, it is going to help their development."

Changin' Times

More from John Corrigan in Concord NH.

This is where Louv's philosophy of describing a better future rings true. How much better would the lives of pedestrians and bicyclists be if took a new look at snow removal priorities? Why does deep snow remain on the edges of major routes for days, while drivers can get around within hours after the snow stops falling?

As an addendum to John's essay, there's a new winter bike out there called the Pugsley that lets you cruise over snow and ice with ease...

More From NH

Outdoor writer John Corrigan writes about fishing and kids. Who wouldn't want to catch one of those landlocked salmon?

It was a day to reach out and touch ... well, something cold, wet and slimy. Some complain that we cope with this time of dwindling daylight and declining temperatures by turning our attention too quickly to the holidays.

Fishing

Patagonia has their new kid's catalog out. Here's a great little essay on fishing from that catalog.

A slight break in the weather. Not enough to bring the rivers into shape, but enough to send us out of the house and into a light but steady drizzle. We’ll put on our rain gear and venture into the woods. It’s not a fishing trip, but at least Skyla and I are going outside together.