America is Going Fishing Again!

While I’m no psychiatrist, I’m pretty sure that “stir” crazy is one of the most persistent and annoying kinds  of crazy.  Requiring us all to stay at home during the most beautiful spring in memory – COVID-19 has certainly driven us stir crazy for months.

Now, in early July – even as this persistent pandemic is forcing the postponement or roll-back of our ability to dine inside restaurants, gather at bars/or in crowds on beaches – there’s actually some good news for a change:

America has gone fishing again!

As the world’s most popular sport, done responsibly – recreational fishing is also one of the safest activities for these trying times.

Beyond tracking government mandates, we’ve noticed a surge in the number of anglers, as well as fishing guides getting out on the water again.

Whether it’s dropping a line in your neighborhood pond, or booking a saltwater charter off Florida’s Gulf or Atlantic coasts – fishing is opening up near you.

Here from the Guidesly Fishing News Network are stories of what’s going on in four out of fifty states across the nation:

Nebraska

More state park facilities (are) reopening According to the Norfolk, OK Daily News: not only are a wide range of facilities, activities in state parks across the state reopening, but the period for Paddlefish snagging permits applications is open till July 14.

Pennsylvania

As the coronavirus may have shut down much of Pennsylvania’s economy, an article in The Daily Item (Sunbury, PA) reports that fishing is thriving in the state’s Susquehanna River valley in an article titled: “Valley fishing shops, guides see uptick during pandemic.” A popular fishing destination, the waters of the Susquehanna are home to a huge range of different fish species including Smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, perch, crappie, pumpkinseed sunfish, bluegill, rock bass, brown bullhead, channel catfish, and more. Its piscatory plethora might partially explain why the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission saw "an unheard-of" 18.5 percent rise in fishing license sales in the last week of June 2020 (according to the article).

Upper New York State

Owner of Salmon Tracker, a business he describes as “Oswego’s Premier Sportfishing and Guide Service,” Captain Ed Kahler has been serving up wholesome fun for over 30 years. While the start of 2020 was painful for Kahler and other charter captains like Jimmy Samia of Ace Charters and Joe Orsen of TSI Charters, a mid-June NewYorkUpstate.com article titled “Lake Ontario fishing guides getting back on track after losing most of the spring,” paints a prettier picture for the latter half of the year. Capt. Ed told the article’s author (David Figura) that a recent party caught 10 fish, including king salmon, Coho salmon, steelhead and lake trout. Said Kahler in mid-June: at this point, (I’m) “booked every day from here on out – to mid-September.”

Colorado

With 1,000 miles of streams and rivers, almost 1,000 acres of high mountain lakes, 11,000 acres of reservoirs as well as stocked ponds, the fishing in Grand County, Colorado is just grand! With all those waterways to choose from, those in the know turn to “Fishing with Bernie,” a weekly column written by veteran fishing guide Bernie Keefe/published by SkyHi News (Granby, CO) – a free publication for visitors and residents of this scenic outdoors mecca in North-Central Colorado. Don’t worry – the local fish don’t care about the pandemic, according to Bernie’s July 7, 2020 Fishing Report: “Bug hatches are making rainbows easy targets.”

American Fishing: From Sea to Shining Sea When a politically-focused national newspaper like The Washington Post writes an article titled “Casting about for a pandemic-friendly pastime? Eight reasons to consider fly-fishing,” it’s clear that the passion for fishing has spread across the country!

How’s the Fishing Near You?
Recognizing Americans’ pent-up demand to get outdoors, since the pandemic began, Guidesly has posted and maintained a public portal displaying fishing regulations for all 50 states. 

For up-to-date information, visit Guidesly’s State Fishing COVID-19 Updates page and click on your state of interest to find updates around park closures, restrictions, and more to keep everyone’s safety in mind before making a trip to your favorite fishing spot.

Tight Lines!