Considering all the fishing-related Web sites, TV shows, books, magazines, catalogs, retail stores, clubs, T-shirts, bumper stickers and video games these days, it's obvious fishing has become a high-profile industry. One might surmise that expensive boats, specialized clothing, high-tech tackle, and all the other stuff we see is a pretty good representation of what fishing and fishermen are all about. But angling images and stories that find their way onto our TVs, the glossy pages of monthly magazines and even the weekly columns of local outdoor writers only represent the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the big picture of what fishing is all about.
What's not so obvious are the millions and millions of American anglers who never end up in the public spotlight. I'm talking about people whose annual fishing adventures might involve a few hours here and there sitting in a lawn chair beside a farm pond soaking worms for bluegills; or the family that rents a little boat to catch a couple flounder once a year; or the single mom who doesn't like fishing but takes her young son out on a half-day head boat because she understands that every child should have the opportunity to go.
The folks I'm talking about are the ones who could, and often do, go an entire year or more without ever wetting a line, but who would still like to have the opportunity to, every once in a while, sit or stand by the water with the hope something might swim along and take a bite. Even though by some definitions they might not be classified as true "fishermen," these are the countless citizens who are good old everyday folks who appreciate that they live in a country that allows them to go fishing. It's a privilege that's not always available in other countries and one that should never be taken for granted.