Until this group gets rolling - I thought I would just start another topic.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joe Keith on April 26, 2013 at 2:15pm

They are aware at BASS . There was an article in a recent , possibly last October or so . Bass Times paper that mentioned it . I'll see if I can find the issue and the Author.

Dana Steiner said:

Jon,

I questioned this on a previous post. I asked what the FLW and BASS was doing to help support our cause. As a life  member of BASS and a member of FLW, my initial response was nothing. However I feel this was an incorrect emotional response on my behalf. We all realize that both of these organizations have been instrumental in helping to maintain our fishing freedom. I'm not sure that they are even aware of the latest attacks on our groups here in Washington. I would hope that every affiliated club is sending e-mails to the national level, updating them on our current struggles. We as members of the organizations also have an obligation to keep them informed. I sent a e-mail to B.A.S.S. and the FLW this evening requesting their support. As much as I'm prepared to drop the gloves and go bare knuckles, I'm exercising caution not to alienate our allies. I cannot express enough, our need to pull any and all resources from within the fishing community to help combat these attacks.

It's time to start thinking about choosing some leaders to lead our charge. I know that I would like to see individuals like yourself, Gary Stiles, Marc Marcantonio, Gene Batey, Don Hogue, Russ Baker, Ron Hobbs, Jordan Doucet, Mark Byrne and numerous other quality individuals take the lead. Yes, I'm prepared to answer the call if the masses feel I can help. Many fisherman within our group are crying out for someone to take charge and lead them. If we can find the right leader, the membership and support will grow. Anyone else want to help contribute names of candidates that could help? Remember that it's important that we find a way to have representation from both sides of the mountains.

Permalink Reply by Gene Batey Jr on April 29, 2013 at 9:05am

Dana Steiner said:

Come on. Are you all just going to sit back and lick your n*ts. Who do you want to see step up and help fight all this crap? I'm actually embarrassed to not see more people join this group. Not a single response from either one of the state federations, how pathetic.

Marc Marcantonio has spent countless hours fighting for your fishing rights. I think it's time we all step up and give this dedicated man a little help. Marc, I apologize for the weak and I thank you for all your hard work. 
 
Dana Steiner said:

Jon,

I questioned this on a previous post. I asked what the FLW and BASS was doing to help support our cause. As a life  member of BASS and a member of FLW, my initial response was nothing. However I feel this was an incorrect emotional response on my behalf. We all realize that both of these organizations have been instrumental in helping to maintain our fishing freedom. I'm not sure that they are even aware of the latest attacks on our groups here in Washington. I would hope that every affiliated club is sending e-mails to the national level, updating them on our current struggles. We as members of the organizations also have an obligation to keep them informed. I sent a e-mail to B.A.S.S. and the FLW this evening requesting their support. As much as I'm prepared to drop the gloves and go bare knuckles, I'm exercising caution not to alienate our allies. I cannot express enough, our need to pull any and all resources from within the fishing community to help combat these attacks.

It's time to start thinking about choosing some leaders to lead our charge. I know that I would like to see individuals like yourself, Gary Stiles, Marc Marcantonio, Gene Batey, Don Hogue, Russ Baker, Ron Hobbs, Jordan Doucet, Mark Byrne and numerous other quality individuals take the lead. Yes, I'm prepared to answer the call if the masses feel I can help. Many fisherman within our group are crying out for someone to take charge and lead them. If we can find the right leader, the membership and support will grow. Anyone else want to help contribute names of candidates that could help? Remember that it's important that we find a way to have representation from both sides of the mountains.

Permalink Reply by Gene Batey Jr on April 29, 2013 at 9:28am

WOW

Permalink Reply by Gene Batey Jr on April 29, 2013 at 9:52am

I will make a call to BASS today,

Permalink Reply by Russ Baker on April 29, 2013 at 12:10pm

Dana,

 

I understand your call for action on this matter is not only important to you as well as the rest of us but some of us are a little busy (understatement) right now with TBF Qualifiers, NW TBF Divisonal, Jamboree Prep, Running two companies, etc,etc.  I personally do not have time to sit on my computer and read all WAFISH posts. I just heard about this today from a fellow Bass Federation Nation representative. Hopefully you now have a better understanding as to why I have not responded to your posts. Instead of attacking both Federations for not responding on your time line take the time to pick up the phone and call us we will be more than happy to see what we can do to help. 

I will personally forward any and all correspondance on this manner to Tom Melowitz so he can put on the TBF website and contact TBF/FLW National for their input.

Russ

Dana Steiner said:

Come on. Are you all just going to sit back and lick your n*ts. Who do you want to see step up and help fight all this crap? I'm actually embarrassed to not see more people join this group. Not a single response from either one of the state federations, how pathetic.

Marc Marcantonio has spent countless hours fighting for your fishing rights. I think it's time we all step up and give this dedicated man a little help. Marc, I apologize for the weak and I thank you for all your hard work. 
 
Dana Steiner said:

Jon,

I questioned this on a previous post. I asked what the FLW and BASS was doing to help support our cause. As a life  member of BASS and a member of FLW, my initial response was nothing. However I feel this was an incorrect emotional response on my behalf. We all realize that both of these organizations have been instrumental in helping to maintain our fishing freedom. I'm not sure that they are even aware of the latest attacks on our groups here in Washington. I would hope that every affiliated club is sending e-mails to the national level, updating them on our current struggles. We as members of the organizations also have an obligation to keep them informed. I sent a e-mail to B.A.S.S. and the FLW this evening requesting their support. As much as I'm prepared to drop the gloves and go bare knuckles, I'm exercising caution not to alienate our allies. I cannot express enough, our need to pull any and all resources from within the fishing community to help combat these attacks.

It's time to start thinking about choosing some leaders to lead our charge. I know that I would like to see individuals like yourself, Gary Stiles, Marc Marcantonio, Gene Batey, Don Hogue, Russ Baker, Ron Hobbs, Jordan Doucet, Mark Byrne and numerous other quality individuals take the lead. Yes, I'm prepared to answer the call if the masses feel I can help. Many fisherman within our group are crying out for someone to take charge and lead them. If we can find the right leader, the membership and support will grow. Anyone else want to help contribute names of candidates that could help? Remember that it's important that we find a way to have representation from both sides of the mountains.

Permalink Reply by Joe Keith on April 29, 2013 at 1:11pm

I just read on Bassmaster .com the Top 100 Bass Lakes in the nation The Columbia River Ranked up 4 from last year to 21st in the nation according to their polls.

What that means is that someone at BASS knows about us and our plight.

The Author is James Hall . I will send him an email today explaining what has and is happening regarding this and see what happens.

Permalink Reply by Mark Maderos on April 29, 2013 at 3:14pm

I know that the local TBF and BASS senior leadership's are both busy with earning a living at a job, plus babysitting all the things that come with the volunteer position of being the TBF and BASS state president.  Not to mention that Wash. is hosting this years TBF divisionals.  Maybe we should look into having a PAC or something along that line within these organizations to assist with putting political pressure on or local and state governments.  The people passionate about issue's then would have a reputable organization behind them to assist in the local and state issue's that are important and not just be "one" voice.  Next time I see Russ and Gene I will mention it to them.

Mark Maderos
 
Dana Steiner said:

Jon,

I questioned this on a previous post. I asked what the FLW and BASS was doing to help support our cause. As a life  member of BASS and a member of FLW, my initial response was nothing. However I feel this was an incorrect emotional response on my behalf. We all realize that both of these organizations have been instrumental in helping to maintain our fishing freedom. I'm not sure that they are even aware of the latest attacks on our groups here in Washington. I would hope that every affiliated club is sending e-mails to the national level, updating them on our current struggles. We as members of the organizations also have an obligation to keep them informed. I sent a e-mail to B.A.S.S. and the FLW this evening requesting their support. As much as I'm prepared to drop the gloves and go bare knuckles, I'm exercising caution not to alienate our allies. I cannot express enough, our need to pull any and all resources from within the fishing community to help combat these attacks.

It's time to start thinking about choosing some leaders to lead our charge. I know that I would like to see individuals like yourself, Gary Stiles, Marc Marcantonio, Gene Batey, Don Hogue, Russ Baker, Ron Hobbs, Jordan Doucet, Mark Byrne and numerous other quality individuals take the lead. Yes, I'm prepared to answer the call if the masses feel I can help. Many fisherman within our group are crying out for someone to take charge and lead them. If we can find the right leader, the membership and support will grow. Anyone else want to help contribute names of candidates that could help? Remember that it's important that we find a way to have representation from both sides of the mountains.

Permalink Reply by Rodney Heupel on April 29, 2013 at 9:46pm

I have written many letters to my elected officials on the issues that effect us anglers. It seems only the offices of Patty Murrey and Maria Cantwell have ever given me a reply. More of us anglers need to be involved, strength in numbers.

Permalink Reply by Marc Marcantonio on May 2, 2013 at 9:28pm

I am encouraged seeing this interest and willingness to help.  I will admit that over the past 20 years I sometimes have felt very lonely in Olympia and at WDFW trying to influence fishing legislation and policies.  Still, fishing has been such a good influence in my life I continue to feel compelled to do my part to make it available to everyone in the future.

Believe me, I get it.  I realize we all have so many competing things in our life, and very little time to invest in politics regarding fishing.  We like to fish to get away from things like politics, and we feel we shouldn't have to defend our fishing rights, but we do. 

It isn't just fishing.  If you haven't been paying attention, there are many who are attacking many of our ways of life.  In my full time career as a drinking water professional, I have spent much of the past four months in Olympia fighting for our ability to use drinking water from our wells.  You would think something as basic and life-important as drinking water would be non-controversial, but you would be terribly wrong. 

There are many who don't care if there is enough water for people, and in fact use water in hopes of preventing people from living in Washington.

Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. I will be back in Olympia, to participate in a bill-signing ceremony with the Governor on an important piece of legislation concerning water.

The reason I bring this up is that like the fishing community, the drinking water industry for too long has spent their time doing their jobs, and not paying attention to politics.  Then one day we all realized we can't even use our own water for our own survival without permission and wasteful expense by beuracrats in Olympia and State agencies.  We finally woke up and got involved.  We also lawyered up as that is about the only thing that really gets people's attention.

We need to work together to protect our interests, or we won't be fishing much longer. 

If anyone knows of good attorneys that have a passion for fishing, please let me know who they are.  We also need to raise funds to pay attorneys and get our message out.  We also need to use the press to our advantage.  We also need to be prepared to work with other fishing organizations.  We get great support from ASA and will continue to do so.  They were huge in the lead tackle issue.  But we need to get in with CCA, Trout Unlimited, Puget Sound Anglers, etc. and we need to learn how to work together to preserve our right to fish, and to shape fish policy at WDFW and in the Legislature.