Sure, there are reports of recession, and some of the pandemic bandwagon anglers have gone back to the bowling alleys and shopping malls. But here are 5 reasons to expect heavy angling participation in 2023.
1) The West has snow, and that means good fishing water. That mainly includes the southern Rockies and Sierras. Reports elsewhere, from Montana to the Great Lakes and Northeast are mixed. But the areas suffering generational drought have gotten a good dose of moisture. Now, if it heats up and runs off too quickly or all at once, all that will mean is flooding. But a “normal” sustained runoff (what’s normal anymore?) will create ideal fishing conditions in many parts of the country that should last months, not days or weeks.
3) Companies are beefing up product lines. If you look at what Simms, and Orvis, Far Bank and others are cooking up now, it’s clear that they’re getting a handle on supply chain issues, and broadening the offerings more than where they were a couple years ago. Preseason shop orders are strong, especially for the small stuff like tippet and flies. That means the do-it-yourself anglers are loading up.
4) Guides are smarter about sustainability. It’s no longer cool to cater to only googans who just want to hammer as many fish as they can, by whatever means possible. Sustainability has been the undercurrent conversation I have heard more these past few months than ever before, and that means renewed emphasis on teaching, and mentoring anglers, and a movement away from industrialized fishing.
5) It’s already happening at the fly fishing show. By all accounts the Fly Fishing Shows from New Jersey to California, and especially Denver were off-the-hook popular this year. “Like school kinds with pent-up energy flooding out onto the playground for recess?” The bell just rang.
