Today, outdoor recreation is a big business that includes multiple activities, different sectors and an annual contribution of $889 billion to the country’s economy. However, in spite of the sector’s size and diversity, the government is only involved in a few of these activities through licensing and registration processes. More specifically, participants in hunting, fishing and boating either are required to buy licenses or submit annual registrations to government agencies.
What is interesting about government-run licensing and registration processes is that not much has changed over time. Today, hunters, anglers and boaters can do much of the same things needed to get their licenses or registration online through agency websites; however, the perception of having to endure a bureaucratic process still exists. Additionally, the unspoken values that a customer gets in return for purchasing a license or registering his or her watercraft remain vastly under promoted. Besides securing the legal right to hunt, fish and harvest an animal or to use your watercraft, anglers, hunters and boaters also receive a bundle of lesser known rights, values and responsibilities – we call this bundle the hidden values of a hunting, fishing and boating. Unfortunately, these agencies have not effectively communicated about these values, which helps to create an ethically driven culture compelled by conservation behaviors that protect the environment, species and habitat.
Hunting and fishing all create impacts to the environment and the licensing/registration processes represent a critical part of a longstanding user-pay model that has funded conservation for over eighty years to help offset these various impacts. This federal-state-industry partnership has been a very powerful collaborative conservation model.
When hunters, anglers and boaters engage in a transaction with a state fish & wildlife agency, they exchange money to secure a legal right to hunt, fish or boat and harvest an animal or fish. Included within this right is the basic acknowledgement of a state’s authority to manage fish, wildlife and waterways and to abide by the various regulations that govern these activities. While this partnership has been very successful over the past eight decades, a lot has changed and now is the time to improve the partnership and maximize the hidden values of these activities to help elevate conservation.
The impacts that hunting, fishing and boating all create, their foundations are grounded in an ethical framework. While the framework differs between activities, the overall focus is on safety and conserving the environment. Unfortunately, with today’s culture of busyness and a lack of time; these processes have been reduced to financial transactions and the ethical conservation frameworks have become an afterthought.
Regardless of this reality, obtaining a license or registration is still key touchpoint to engage prospective customers in conservation. With the transaction’s exchange of legal rights for money, this specific interaction represents an ideal opportunity to promote conservation’s ethical framework. At the end of the day, these licensing and registration processes not only generate money, they also provide a critical opportunity to communicate with customers – in essence, these bureaucratic processes have an embedded communications platform that can be maximized to promote conservation.
Since we are now living in the age of internet, information has become much more accessible and technologies like smartphones have changed how we consume information and interact with one another. The federal-state-industry partnership that has been so successful in funding conservation needs to adapt and use this new technology to sell licenses, promote boater registrations and elevate the ethical culture that is so important to these activities.
Fortunately, a forward-thinking company, Pursuit has focused on these processes and has developed a refined smartphone application that allows state agencies to sell licenses, promote boater registrations while also elevating conservation’s ethical framework. Besides helping the states, the Pursuit also helps hunters, anglers and boaters by simplifying the licensing and registration processes with an organized license utility and real-time field-mapping program for mobile devices.
This new smartphone technology makes these processes much more accessible and the Pursuit app’s multi-purpose functionality and its communication capabilities can be leveraged as a targeted conservation messaging platform that helps sportsmen remember their obligations and ethics while in the field or on the water. Research shows that when organizations deliver repetitive messages at key points, the receiver is more likely to answer the call to action. With technology being part of our everyday lives, now is the time to take advantage of smartphone technology to help with the licensing and registration processes and elevate the ethical foundation for interacting with nature by pushing out the critical conservation messages.
Besides registering your boat and buying your license, hunting, fishing and boating all have specific and important conservation principles that influence these activities. Fair Chase, an ethical approach to hunting big game animals where the animals are wild and free-ranging, and not confined by artificial barriers is one of the more influential principles for hunting. In a similar vein, the practice of catch & release influences anglers to use this conservation practice to unhook and return to the fish to water. This maintains healthy fish populations and allows anglers to catch fish again. With boating, stopping aquatic hitchhikers is another influential conservation practice. Boats can inadvertently move non-native species to other waters, so it is important for boaters to clean, drain and dry their equipment and prevent the spread of these harmful species. Ultimately, with a growing population and interest in the outdoors, these ethics must be practiced vigilantly to help conserve game species and their habitat.
In addition to the conservation-driven values, a host of other values and benefits exist that a person gains access to when they purchase a hunting or fishing license or register their boat with their respective state agency. To effectively position this communications platform and to elevate the conservation ethics, it is important to highlight these other features. Below is listing of some of the other values and benefits that people can access when they buy a license or register their boat.
Access to awe – Nature is incredible and by purchasing a license or registering watercraft, people purposefully choose to access the outdoors, whether it’s the mountains, rivers, open space or wildlife populations. This choice gives us access to Nature, its beauty, healing powers and connectivity.
Improved mental and physical health – Whether you fish, hunt or boat, these activities require you to be fit and skillful in your engagement of Nature. Also, with incredible therapeutic value, Nature gets us out of our heads and into a world where we are part of something larger. Harvard and other research institutions show that Nature interactions are very beneficial to our mental health and hunting, fishing and boating get us into Nature and create connections to life all around us.
Stronger family and friend relationships – One of the best things about choosing to engage in hunting, fishing and boating are the relationships we have and the value that these experiences can create for them. With Nature, we see each from a different perspective and strengthen our relationships with each other.
An escape from everyday life – Modern day life is hectic and chaotic. We are under pressure to make money to feed our families and pay our mortgages. These pressures mount and create undue amounts of stress. By engaging in Nature, we can escape this chaos and rejuvenate ourselves with our escape from modern society.
A spiritual connection with other living things – Activities like hunting and fishing require concentration and skill. Once this mental stamina is built and the skills are realized, hunters and anglers begin to notice things around them, like the rise of a trout sipping a mayfly, the majesty of a moose in the wild or the wind whispering through the aspens. These experiences help you to appreciate Nature, it’s vibrancy and all of its creatures and it makes you want to share these experiences with others, because you begin to realize what is truly important.
Benchmade has always been known for producing top-notch knives, and the Hidden Canyon Hunter lives up to that reputation.
The build quality of this knife is exceptional. It features a full-tang construction, meaning that the blade extends all the way through the handle, providing added strength and durability. The blade itself is made from high-quality stainless steel, which not only offers excellent corrosion resistance but also retains its sharpness for a long time. The blade shape is a drop point, which is versatile and well-suited for various tasks.
The ergonomics of the Hidden Canyon Hunter are fantastic. The handle is made from durable G10 material, which provides a secure and comfortable grip even in wet conditions. The knife has a generous finger position and jimping on the spine, allowing for precise control during intricate tasks. The overall size of the knife is compact, making it easy to carry and maneuver, especially when field dressing or skinning game.
The Hidden Canyon Hunter has never been left home during pursuits. The blade arrived razor-sharp out of the box and maintained its sharpness throughout extended use. The drop point design allows for excellent control and precision when performing tasks like field dressing, skinning, and even light camp chores. The blade’s size strikes a good balance between versatility and maneuverability, making it suitable for a wide range of outdoor activities.
the Hidden Canyon Hunter comes with a sturdy and well-designed leather sheath that provides secure retention and easy access to the knife. The sheath can be attached to your belt, gear or for those of us who like quick access during ice fishing it can be slung around your neck, ensuring that the knife is readily available when you need it
Overall, the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter Knife is a top-quality hunting and outdoor knife that offers exceptional performance, durability, and functionality. It combines excellent craftsmanship, reliable materials, and a user-friendly design, making it a reliable companion for any outdoor enthusiast or hunter. While it may have a higher price point compared to some other options on the market, the Hidden Canyon Hunter is worth every penny for those who demand a high-performance knife that will last for years to come.
Here’s how to pick off trout in high-water streams with a simple nymphing rig. Also, be prepared to get soaked
From the bank, I pulled the knot tight on my dropper fly and looked out over the river, which sent a quick shiver of fear knifing through my excitement, like the feeling you have before you get on a carnival ride. The river was up, hurtling foam over the boulders after one of those long summer rainstorms that leaves wisps of steam spiraling above the fields—exactly how it looked when my grade-school buddy Jo and I first fished the spot, years ago.
Jo had a reputation as a tough kid. (Nobody pointed out to Jo, for example, that only girls spell that name without the e.) The river didn’t scare him. He hiked the worm box—filled with night crawlers we’d pinched in the rain the night before—from his waist to his armpits and cinched the belt across his chest. Then he dropped in and battled the current to a rock below a roaring plunge pool.
It was when he turned and motioned for me to wade in that his sneakers began to slide, and he started flailing in vain to catch his balance. The worm box popped open. Night crawlers sailed. And in the boiling slick below, where the fat morsels plopped and raced downstream, a yellow slab rose and parted the surface.
It was the biggest trout I’d ever seen.
After that, I wasn’t scared either. I jumped in and lobbed a crawler into the slot—and the brown crashed and bolted downstream. As I leaned into the fish, my sneakers shot in opposite directions, and I rode the current downstream, rod held high above the froth. But when I finally got my footing, the fish had broken off.
Upstream, Jo was laughing. Since we were both soaked, we spent that day wading or swimming to the river’s hardest-to-reach holes—and had one of the best days of summer fishing I can remember.
Make It Easy
In midsummer, I want to be waist-deep in heavy pocket water, when the river is up and the fishing turns on. I don’t lob crawlers much anymore—not because I think I’m above it. I just think flyfishing is more fun. And summer should be fun.
Summer should also be easy. It’s a nice coincidence that if there is good rainfall, pocket water can fish well through the hotter months. By then, I need a break from all the fussing that goes with slow-water dry-fly fishing, and pocket water is the perfect antidote. It’s one of the rare things in life where you can take the easy road and not give up any success.
Nice Grab: A solid brown trout comes to hand on the Upper Madison River. Brian Grossenbacher
The easy road, from a technical fishing standpoint, is to put a strike indicator above a subsurface fly or two on a 9-foot 5X leader and walk up the middle of the river, picking pockets left and right. You can make it more complicated. You can study the water as if reading it were a form of code-breaking. But why would you? The fish are in the slower spots next to the faster spots. And eager. Make a decent drift, and they’ll usually grab your fly.
Just about any pattern that looks like trout food (and plenty that don’t) will catch fish in pocket water now, but as a general rule, I think it’s tough to beat a weighted stonefly nymph with a Muddler Minnow dropper. If there are more rainbows than browns, I’ll swap the Muddler for a Woolly Bugger. It just seems to work better. Choose a pocket or seam, wade close, and cast above it with a little flick of your wrist to drive the flies under. High-stick them through the sweet spot, then let the Muddler swing down and across before you pick it up. If the trout don’t seem active enough to chase a streamer, switch to a small nymph or wet fly. That’s it. Work fast, and cover a lot of water.
And don’t be afraid to get soaked. Put on some wet-wading shorts and jump in. This might sound crazy, but after nearly 40 years of fishing pocket water, I’m convinced that when flows run high and fast, nothing increases the number and size of the fish you catch more than simply wading aggressively. I don’t say recklessly—you need to stay safe. And I don’t wear sneakers anymore. Studded wading boots help, and a collapsible wading staff is handy in the roughest patches. Just remember that in heavy water, it’s the hard-to-reach spots that hold the neglected, and often bigger, fish. And you can’t rely on long casts to reach them. With so many intervening currents, pocket water forces you to wade close, often real close, to get a decent drift.
Redemption Time
Back on the bank, I took one step into the drink and went in to my waist, then I fought my way to the slick below the roaring plunge pool where I’d lost that huge yellow slab years ago. Halfway into the drift, my indicator stopped. But this time the fish ran upstream instead of down, and I landed it in a shallow side eddy. My tape read 23 inches—the biggest brown trout I’d ever caught in a freestone stream, along with a nice dose of redemption. And I didn’t even have to go swimming. Summer fishing doesn’t get much easier—or more fun—than that.
Gear Tip: Take it to the Top
A big dry fly, such as a Stimulator, doubles as a strike indicator in pocket water. Orvis
Midsummer can have sporadic but good surface stonefly activity. So bring a handful of big, buoyant stone imitations, like Stimulators or Sofa Pillows. Grease them up and skitter them over the soft spots about an hour before dusk, or if you see big bugs popping. You won’t catch any more fish this way, but you’ll watch some big trout roll and slash. And as long as you remember to beef up your leader to at least 3X, you’ll land a few of them too.
Written by David Hurteau for Field & Stream and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.
The Simms Guide Classic Wader is a best-in-class fishing wader designed for serious anglers who demand the best in performance, durability, and comfort. Made from high-quality materials, these waders are built to withstand the toughest conditions and provide reliable protection and support while you fish.
One of the standout features of the Simms Guide Classic Wader is the use of 4-layer GORE-TEX Pro Shell fabric, which provides exceptional breathability, waterproofing, and durability. The waders are also reinforced with extra layers of fabric in high-wear areas such as the knees, shins, and seat, ensuring that they will last for many seasons of use.
In terms of comfort, the Simms Guide Classic Wader features a variety of thoughtful design elements. The adjustable suspenders allow for a custom fit, while the neoprene booties provide a snug and comfortable fit for your feet. The waders also have a flip-out pocket for storing small items like tippet, and the hand warmer pockets are lined with fleece for added warmth.
Overall, the Simms Guide Classic Wader is an excellent choice for anglers who demand the best in terms of performance and comfort. While they are a bit more expensive than some other waders on the market, the quality of the materials and construction make them well worth the investment. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or just starting out, the Simms Guide Classic Wader is sure to provide years of reliable use and excellent performance on the water.
We’ve been fishing the Sage Pulse 5-weight for nearly 3 years now and thought we should finally tell you that you should add it to your fly fishing quiver ASAP! The Sage Pulse 5-weight rod is a high-quality fly rod designed for versatile use in freshwater environments. It’s a medium-fast action rod that offers excellent performance for anglers of all skill levels, from beginner to expert.
One feature to love in the Sage Pulse 5-weight rod is its construction. The rod is made using Sage’s KonneticHD technology, which involves a unique blend of high-modulus graphite materials that increase strength, reduce weight, and improve accuracy. This technology allows the rod to be both responsive and sensitive, making it easier to cast and detect strikes.
The Sage Pulse 5-weight rod also features a beautiful, stealthy black spruce blank that gives it a sleek, modern appearance. The rod is equipped with high-quality components, including Fuji ceramic stripper guides and hard-chromed snake guides that ensure smooth line flow and minimize friction.
When it comes to performance, the Sage Pulse 5-weight rod does not disappoint. Its medium-fast action allows for excellent line control and accuracy, making it ideal for both short and long casts. The rod has a smooth and consistent flex, which makes it easy to cast with accuracy and distance. The rod also has excellent sensitivity, making it easy to detect subtle strikes and pick up on changes in the water.
Overall, the Sage Pulse 5-weight rod is an exceptional fly rod that offers excellent performance, quality construction, and versatility. It’s a great choice for anglers who want a high-quality rod that can handle a variety of fishing situations. While it is on the higher end of the price range for 5-weight rods, the Sage Pulse is a worthwhile investment for any angler who wants a reliable and high-performing fly rod.
