United States Federal Budget Will Close 9 Fish Hatcheries if Anglers Do Not Unite!

Friends, this blog could possibly be the most important information that I have ever shared with you concerning the future of sport fishing. Please take the time to read and help in any way to get the word out. I will place a facebook link at the bottom of the blog as well as many other links that you can print information to be given out. Please help the future of trout fishing. Get the word out to your representatives in congress, and your local fly shops, bait shops and anyone else that shares a passion for fishing and relies on the industry for their income. Trout fishing in the United States could become a memory as part of the new federal budget. The nine federal fish hatcheries are on the hit list for next year, and if the hatcheries shut down, it will mean much more than just less trout in local streams and tail waters. Six of the nine hatcheries that are set to close are located in the Southeast US. The economic impact from those facilities closing would be detrimental to outfitters, guides, lodging, restaurants and other businesses in the fishing communities who have centered their lives and income on tourism generated by these hatcheries and the fisheries that they provide. These businesses rely solely on the abundance of trout to survive. Paul ?Paw? Boyce of Tennessee Tail Water Trout, contacted me hoping that I could somehow influence WFN and readers of my blogs to help get the word out about the United States Federal Budget putting trout fishing in jeopardy, we need your help. In this blog and on Paw?s website you can find information, and printable PDF files to distribute in your area. In the words of Paw Boyce, a good friend and a Dale Hollow Lake tail water trout guide, ? It appears that if monies from mitigation stockings are not paid back to the US Fish and Wildlife service from the CORPS, TVA and others by next years fiscal budget these hatcheries will be closed as of Sept. 31, 2012.  It is all about a mitigation agreement with the TVA, CORPS and Bonneville water projects. In the late 50's the US F&W Service developed a mitigation agreement with the CORPS and TVA as a part of water and land restitution where construction of damns were built. As you will see (on Paw?s website) there is 7 cold water hatcheries to close including the oldest, Neosho National Fish Hatchery in Missouri, that was established in 1888. ? Along with Paw Boyce, the guides from KY section of the Cumberland River just north of Dale Hollow?s Celina Tennessee are putting together a "FIGHT" group. Bill Wilson (Black Fox Fly Rods), another fly fishing legend in the area and a life long friend of paw, has been on the phone with everyone in the Nashville and surrounding areas that are guides, fly shops, Gov. officials and interested in a cause. Please join me in helping these men preserve their life long passion for fly-fishing. When I first met Paw and Bill, their concern was the future of this sport and doing everything in their power to share it with the next generation. (Pictured above Bill instructs teachers how to build rods, and below Paw helps a young boyscout to earn a merit badge by instructing him how to tie a fly. Both men are involved in casting lessons, donating their time to preserve the sport they love.) Paw and Bill have done many things for the youth such as helping the state to establish fly rod casting lessons for elementary school students and fly rod building for the high school students, these men and many others like them have devoted everything to the future of the sport , only to be threatened by politics. Paw continues to report, ?I've talked with the people of Friends of Norfolk NFH, Nation Fish Hatchery, TU in Virginia. As well as the strongest TU Chapter in Tennessee, The Cherokee TU chapter in Johnson City.? These men are wasting no time getting the word out. Paw continues, ? Jeff Smith of Lealands Lures, a Arkansas Co. is heading a group of trout lure Manufactures to help in Arkansas. Bill Wilson and I met this man on our 2005 western fishing epic in the west lasting 6 weeks. Montana, Idaho, Arkansas, Colorado, Texas and where ever the truck crossed a river or pool. ? Now Ambassadors, Members, Pros, Guides, Fly Fishing Organizations and fishing enthusiast across America, we are asking you for your help and support in your area. In the links below contain information needed to help spread the word. Your efforts and support are greatly appreciated. Teachers, Scoutmasters, Community and Civic leaders I am certain you understand the need for our children to be able to enjoy hobbies like fly-fishing. I for one have fond childhood memories of visiting the Dale Hollow Hatchery on a class trip, as well as returning several years later for my children to see. The irony of this story is that I was contacted with this news the very day I received my first fly rod. I have yet to fish for a trout, just like millions of others, WFN gave me intrest in the sport of fly fishing, now I ask for help to preserve it, and the life long work of many anglers. Please visit Paw?s site:  http://www.tennesseetailwatertrout.com/ For information to help get the word out please go to: http://www.tennesseetailwatertrout.com/ Open the PDF files listed on this site, PRINT and POST them in county court house, your local grocery store, at the waters edge, Area News Articles concerning this issue:  http://www.baxterbulletin.com/article/20110222/NEWS01/102220328/0/SPORTS/Fish-hatchery-crisis-brewing-U-S-Fish-Wildlife-Service-wants-stop-funding?odyssey=mod|lateststories Other Links: http://www.state.tn.us/twra/fish/StreamRiver/stockedtrout/stockedtrout.html http://www.fws.gov/fisheries/nfhs/