Fly Fishing /Economy

[Kype]

Apparently unemployment is on a rise here in Vermont.
How are things in Connecticut?
Will the economy change your fly fishing? FF took a big hit in the great depression.
Will the economy have a negative impact on our fisheries and rivers?
Any thoughts from those in the know?

Bobby

[Apache Trout]

Bobby,
I can only speak for Fairfield County. Not good.
In years past this area was usually fairly insulated from down economic times. This time around it is going to be very bad as many of the financial services workers that are getting let go live in this area. Most are hard working and honest but as in everything a few bad apples have ruined it for the many.
The economic mess was caused by years of excessive and unsustainable debt accumulation on the part of a number of consumers, businesses and government (state & federal).
Add to it the use of unregulated financial instruments like credit default swaps, etc. which were wrongly used as speculative instruments. Their original intent was to reduce risk but through speculation these "financial weapons of mass destruction" as Buffett calls them, have blown up with the collapse of the housing market. Now they don't know how to get rid of this radioactive mess on their books. Credit is the grease that keeps our economy moving and the credit markets need to be fixed.
All politics aside as this website is not the place for it, my biggest fear is that our national debt has risen to the point where the interest on the national debt is growing at a rate where we can't make any ground on paying down the debt. I hope I'm wrong and we can start to make a dent in paying this down.
I'm an optimist and always hope for the best.
As for the economic impact on fly fishing, my fishing and our fisheries.
For tackle shops & manufacturers I'm sure it is going to be rough.
As for my fishing, since I'm new to fly fishing and learning my fishing expenditures will probably increase. My work at certain times of year makes it hard for me to get out but I do my best.
As far as fisheries. Back when we were more of a manufacturing country a downturn may have helped the rivers & streams because less pollution would be going into the streams. Now we are more of a service economy and many major polluters have been shut down, I'm not sure how much an economic slow down will impact water quality. I imagine these things are hard to measure. Although, I could see less housing development near streams as a positive.
One downside is that groups like TU and the like, which rely on donations, membership dues etc... may suffer. Therefore less stream improvement projects maybe taken on.
If things really deteriorate economically, I could see poaching becoming worse of a problem as some turn to fishing for survival. Hope it doesn't get that bad.
Like I said earlier I'm an optimist even though quite a few of my family members have lost jobs or had their hours reduced recently.
We will get through these tough times but it won't be easy.
I wish everyone the best.
A.T.

[WhipFish]

I'll answer only for myself and say that my personal outlook is good. I spent the last couple of years accumulating all the gear I would ever need to fish just about every situation. I have enough tying material and hooks to last a decade and I even have a pair of backup waders. The only thing I have to buy this year is gas to get to the river (and a new bottle of sunscreen).

Unfortunately, I second everything Apache said. Times they are gonna be rough for those who make a living off of FF...the guides and the shops. With state budgets being in the red, I can see funding cutbacks to organizations that support fish & game.

However, I do think we are going to see a price swing on FF products. $700 for a rod and $400 for a reel are not uncommon figures. We all know this activity can be costly. Like everything else in an economic downturn, the companies that put out a quality affordable product will do fine while the others take a hit.

And if all else fails, I still have my spinning rods and can dig up some worms. Fish still like worms, right?

[murphq]

I think there are two arguments here, I'll give you both and you decide:

Will Fly fishing be affected?

Yes: Since people's overall income might be less then there will be less for fly fishing. I think the guides and shops will take a hit and will have to do something to stay a float. Ideas...offer different or cheaper services. Maybe lower price in hopes to make it up in quantity. Places like Orvis will take massive hits.

No: I think you can make the argument that people who fly fish are pretty enthusisatic about the sport and can easily justify spending at the same rate.

Fairfield county is/will take a hit. GE stock is falling faster then a size 10 split shot. RBS and UBS had layoffs. Unfortunatly there is more to come.

my .02

[Kype]

I understand basic economics. I have never been much of a businessman I have been a river rat more than anything else. I understand some good rod companies went out of business during the Great Depression. The sport really didn't come back until GI's returned after WWII, made some money, purchased an auto and headed to the rivers to fish after living very hard lives before and during WWII.
Do you think the economic slow down or recession is likely to put more pressure on local rivers? I am not sure but I tend to think we here in northern New England may see more out of state anglers as long distance travel slows. Do you think this is likely?
In an effort to produce inexpensive "clean" energy could we see an increase in hydro development? I know there are people here in VT biting at the bit to retrofit old dams on small tributaries and large rivers where ever the potential exists. There are even new dam sites being reviewed for development on the Connecticut River.
I thought I would ask your opinion on the situation as it could impact what we all hold dear.
Thanks for your replies.

Bobby