Local moms feel the lure of fishing

As seen in The Ventura County Star

 

Bonding activity also helps introduce kids to the outdoors

By Betsy Crowfoot, Correspondent


Logan Kovarick, 10, was eager to catch his first fish.

Standing on the dock at Lake Casitas, the Carpinteria boy proved a tenacious angler, repeatedly throwing his line against the wind into the choppy green water — pausing only to gasp at the outstretched wings of a great blue heron soaring overhead.

An hour into the outing, Logan had nearly perfected the art of casting, unlike Rebecca Crowley, 14, of Thousand Oaks, whose last furious pitch dislodged the bait from the hook, launching it back in her face.

"Ewww!" she squealed, peeling a six-inch nightcrawler off her cheek.

"Rebecca got worm-slapped!" roared Coco Crowfoot, also 14, of Carpinteria, and the whole group crumbled in laughter.

Welcome to the unpredictable world of moms, kids and the great outdoors.

Fishing and camping have traditionally been Dad's realm. But today, nearly one-quarter of America's children are being raised by single moms. And with that shift has come a disruption in tradition.
Without fathers or grandfathers to bait the hook or set up the tent, more and more children are missing the boat — literally and figuratively — on the great outdoors.

Studies, such as a 2002 report from the University of Florida, have indicated that exposing children to the "complex and dynamic" natural world helps them grow up to be stronger, more flexible adults; with a keen sense of stewardship for the environment.

Author Richard Louv called current trends toward sterile, controlled play, the source of "nature-deficit disorder" in his book, "Last Child in the Woods." Reuniting youngsters with their natural surroundings, he said, is therapeutic for both kids and Mother Earth.

So a handful of intrepid moms and youngsters recently set off for Lake Casitas in search of fish, adventure and a new legacy.

Just 10 minutes north of Ventura, the 2,500-acre reservoir was close, convenient and accommodating. Park Services Officer Rob Weinerth met the group, introducing himself to the youngsters as "Ranger Rob," and helped select the menu for the day: a buffet of nightcrawlers, mealy worms and mackerel.
With the aid of several park hosts, he showed the kids how to attach hooks and bait to a cache of loaned rods and reels, then advanced to the tricky art of casting, and intermittent checking of nibbled-off worms, rebaiting and recasting.

"For kids, fishing can be hard because they're impatient," admitted Jan Kovarick, Logan's mother. "But this is one of those situations when you've got a lot of time for things to come to the surface. If parents and kids have anything to talk about, this is the time to do it."

'The cool factor'
 
While Jan was looking to connect with her son, Connie Crowley was seeking to "increase the cool factor."

Her teenage daughter Rebecca, and her son Maxx and his friend Harrison Merritt, both 12, "got a kick out of the idea of me taking them fishing because it's out of the general mom mode," she said. "I want them to know that certain activities are not gender-based."

Although no one was catching, the group wasn't deterred. The boys alternately fished or skateboarded along a roadway edged with poppies and lupine. The girls giggled as an overly curious mallard tried to steal Coco's lure. Fast-moving clouds decorated the sky, and the lake turned a frothy green.

Despite the idyllic setting, there were few visitors. Attendance at Lake Casitas has steadily declined over the past decade, said Ranger Rob, who identified competition from extracurricular sports and activities as the culprits.

"Parents aren't taking their kids fishing anymore," he observed.

Concurrently the fishing industry has bemoaned a decline in the sport, as reflected in sales of licenses. Thirty years ago, more than one in 10 Californians carried a sportfishing license; nowadays it's less than 3 percent, with just 1.4 million issued in 2005. License fees have increased $10 in the past decade to $34.90, prompting more people to opt for an $11.30 day pass.

The promise of fish
 
To encourage residents to try their hands at fishing, the California Department of Fish and Game sponsors two license-free days each year (June 10 and Sept. 23 in 2006). And private recreational entities like Lake Casitas continue to lure anglers with the promise of fish, fish and more fish.
In addition to trout and bass, Lake Casitas is regularly stocked with Florida bluegill, black crappie and catfish, according to Ranger Rob, that the average person can catch with ease.

"It doesn't really matter what you catch," explained young Harrison. "You can catch anything, and you feel really proud of yourself."

"It's an adrenaline rush," Coco said, recalling her initiation as an angler.

"At 30-something, I still remember my first fish," Ranger Rob said. "I was 4 years old, fishing off a pier in San Luis, and I caught a big cabazon. My dad helped me bring it up because it was too big.
"It's still exciting to catch fish, and be with friends and family when you do it," he continued. "I've made it out on the water 60 to 90 days a year since I was 12. For our family it's a lifestyle; we'll probably be fishing until we die."

Predictably, Ranger Rob was the driving force behind annual Kids Fishing Days at Lake Casitas. Free events aimed at getting kids hooked on fishing included casting games, prizes and ponds jam-packed with Trout. Most of the 333 youngster who attended March 25 caught their first fish ever.

Eric's Tackle Shop in Ventura provided hooks, line and sinkers for the event. "I love to see kids fish," said proprietor Eric Huff. "I don't know too many kids who go out there, who don't end up loving it once they catch a fish. They go berserk!"

For youngsters like Logan, still awaiting that sweet moment of success, the payoff is worth the wait.
"I bet it'll feel cool," he whispered shyly, looking forward to that rite of passage.

"Just being out here, letting Logan cast a few times, has been worthwhile," his mom added.

"Anything that gives kids a little more confidence in handling something they've never done before is just awesome."

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Reprinted courtesy of Ventura County Star.

 Copyright 2006, Ventura County Star. All Rights Reserved.

Baiting the hook: Sportfishing needs to lure new followers

As seen in Pacific Coast Business Times  Outdoor Recreation

By Betsy Crowfoot Special to the Business Times Bordered by ocean on two sides, speckled with lakes in between, the tri-county region is an angler’s paradise.  But there’s trouble in paradise, according to some area businesses, which have reported a declining interest in recreational fishing. Sales of fishing licenses—the leading barometer—have continued in a 20-year downslide. And the backlash is being felt by related businesses, forcing the industry into an upstream battle for survival. Nationwide, California ranks second only to Florida in the economic impact of fishing, according to a 2002 analysis by the American Sportfishing Association. Almost $1.3 billion in salaries and wages—43,000 jobs—are attributed to recreational fishing statewide, with related retail sales of $2.4 billion, plus $62 million in state taxes. But the number of ‘a-fish-ianados’ is slipping. In 2005, 1.2 million residents purchased fishing licenses, as opposed to two million, 30 years ago. “Back in the 1960s we established our name for Halibut fishing, White Seabass, White Sharks ... fish you’d consider rare now,” said Channel Islands Sportfishing, or CIS, Assistant Manager Jeff Morgan. The company, which has operated for five decades under various names, has relied on repeat business from both outside of the region and within, to keep revenue up as customers and fish populations waned. “There’s less fishing now than there was,” Morgan said, with “aggressive advertising” helping to weather the storm. “We’re putting it out there quite a bit.” Recently CIS exhibited at the Fred Hall Fishing Tackle and Boat Show, and began radio and billboard advertising. Expanding to whale watching has also helped keep their business afloat. Saltwater fishing accounts for about 60 percent of sales at Eric’s Tackle Shop in Ventura, where owner Eric Huff said he too has taken a hit as a result of tighter governmental restrictions on species and habitat, including the Channel Islands Marine Protected Areas. “Things have gotten tougher with all the closures. The season shuts down; we have practically two months of inactivity,” Huff said. They have expanded into bird hunting ammunition, and begun more robust marketing, including more industry shows and advertising. Another factor Huff observed is a marked decline in the number of young anglers. “Fishing isn’t cool anymore. Kids are into extreme sports: they want a quick thrill, something that doesn’t require patience.” In response, Huff supports children’s fishing programs, including the mid-March Kids Fishing Day at Lake Casitas. He supplied all the hooks, lines and sinkers for the free daylong angling event. “I don’t know too many kids who can go out there and not end up loving it. Once they catch a fish they go berserk.” “I love to see kids fish,” Huff said. “It’s fun, and it’s the future of my business.” Getting kids hooked on fishing is a key focus for Lake Casitas Park Services Officer Rob Weinerth too. “Parents aren’t taking their kids fishing anymore,” he said, blaming extra-curricular activities and the hectic pace of family life. As a result, Weinerth has spearheaded children’s fishing days, and increased the number of easy-to-catch, self-sustaining fish species at Lake Casitas. “Western Florida Blue Gill, Black Crappie and Catfish are fish the average person is able to catch,” he said, increasing the level of excitement that will lure future anglers. In addition, Weinerth said they’re dedicated to maintaining the world-class bass fishing that keeps them on the front page of the fishing news, and a prime destination for tournaments. “We run as a private enterprise, so we don’t get tax money per se,” Weinerth said. “All the money we spend comes from user fees, so if we don’t make it, we don’t stay open.” He hoped current programs would continue to attract newcomers to the sport, despite continually increasing license fees. Even as the number of licensees has decreased, California’s Department of Fish and Game has upped fees annually. The current cost is $34.90: a far cry from the $3 annual fee 30 years ago—when one-in-10 Californians carried a license. Huff insisted the requirement for fishing licenses is a case of detrimental double dipping. “There’s a 10 percent excise tax built into anything fishing-related manufactured in the U.S.,” Huff explained. “When you buy a pack of sinkers, 10 percent is supposed to go to the fisheries.” One fishing manufacturer who’s found a niche that hasn’t lost its luster is MacDaddy’s Lures. The Shell Beach company, founded by retired jewelry designer ‘Mac’ McBurney and Teri Conrad, produces luxury lures of precious metals and gems. “The fish just love diamonds and rubies,” announced McBurney, who said the company’s solid gold, engraved and jewel-encrusted lures and flies are meant to be fished with. “They’re lucky.” Prices start at $20 and skyrocket to $1 million and, “orders are pouring in,” McBurney said. “Holy Mackerel!” he said. “The response surpassed our wildest dreams.” Regardless of the level of interest people have in fishing; the fish are biting. According to United Anglers of Southern California President Tom Raftican, “The fishing is pretty good out there now.” Raftican pointed to record halibut and largemouth bass, landed in California waters recently. “We’ve got great fisheries going on. You can’t judge fishing overall by one species or one region. Are some areas hurting financially? Yeah. But there are more people out there saltwater fishing, overall in California, and the fishing is great.” For tri-county businesses, the challenge will remain getting the word out, and luring a pool of new anglers in years to come.