No political posts fish related or otherwise for one week I say this as an controversial contributor to such posts.. Lets take a few to focus on whats really important.

I'll assume that you are being truly honest when you imply that you really do not think political issues and ideals are of any real importance but...

This begs the question...
What, in your opinion, are some of the things that are really important to focus on?

Plunker Of course political issues are important but here is the truth. We as anglers are too small of a goup to influence political decisions therefore by arguing about it we are really pissing into the wind. I dunno about anyone else but i am tired of getting wet.

Rob,

I certainly agree that anglers, as a group, will probably never play a 'major' political role but not because we are to small of a group but rather because we are much too diverse in our many ways.

We represent, with a few exceptions such as animal rights advocates, most every political, philosophical, ethnic, religious and occupational class. We number in the tens of millions and practice or aspire to learn most every imaginable angling technique. We have thousands of fishing clubs as diverse and contradictory in their membership, philosophy and purpose as the anglers they represent.

We even have a few organizations that seek to represent the angling community as a whole by sticking to the broad angling related issues aside from those issues important to special interests within the diverse angling community.

By joining and contributing to one of the many organizations that act as advocates for special interests we can promote those interests but when a special interest involves the exclusion of other interests we contribute towards dividing the community as a whole.

By joining and contributing to one of the few organizations that act as advocates for the whole community we do have the opportunity to move towards developing a unified political voice for all anglers.

Edit:
BTW: I am still wondering, what, in your opinion, are some of the things that are really important to focus on?

Plunker..

The special interest groups that i am involved with don't exclude anyone and have no desire to however we view the exsistence of wild fish runs as more important than sport angling opportunity. A major issue involved in this larger issue is hatcheries. Some people want the status quo some want even more hatcheries and more hatchery fish.
Most sport fishing organizations see anti hatchery issues as anti sprotfishing issues which they are not. it's the view of many , myself included, that hatcheries are the largest obstacle to recovering some fish stocks. especially steelhead and coho.
In that respect a sport fishing organization is no different than a group of gillnetters.
If a group opposes something that is good for wild fish because of lost sportfishing opportunity well I have very little to agree with that group on and am certainly not going to support them..


whats important???
Wild steelhead
fishing
keeping the quality of life in Washington

what lacks importance?
bringing more jobs to Washington
growing the population of Washington

Rob..your ISSUE is totally political...If things ever change here in Washington to the point where we totally toss out democracy you may want to run for emperor. Then you could have your own way on everything without having to put up with all those throngs of stupid idiots out there who disagree with you.

I hear ya Rob ... a little.

Unfortunately, given the state of affairs in this state ... politics relating to fishing are of utmost importance these days. The discussions might not change your mind or Plunker's mind (two of the most hard-headed ones here ) , but a discussion might get joe angler to write a note or maybe even show up at the Dec. meetings.

Whether you agree or not, if we involve one more, the discussion was worth it!

you make a good point Bob..

And admitidly although some may see my viewpoints as extreme some portion of it is just to get people to think about issues in a different way.
I guess i just get tired is all...

By the way depending on how my work goes the early part of this winter I might be up for booking a trip in March ( fingers crossed)

ps... plunker... we do have the animal rights contingency represented here as well. i hunt and fish but i am an unabashed supporter of animal rights and that is not hypocricy at all. "I stand for what i stand on"

Not gonna' do it, wouldn't be prudent, Rob. It can't be done!! After your first post that no political posts should be posted, every response is political!!