SECTION ONE
In Convergence, Perk Perkins of Orvis says, “When
you’re on a smaller creek and you’re out and think,
‘Wow, I haven’t seen anyone in like the last hour and
a half. That’s pretty cool.’ ”
Out west, we are seeing the effects of climate change
in our rivers. Water temperatures are climbing too
high to sustain trout. Algae blooms are happening.
Droughts are happening. Rivers are being closed to
angling because fish are too stressed by their own
elements to survive the pressure of fishing. We are
watching our resources disappear.
You may be wondering, like most of us, what you
can do. How does one person make a difference?
Travis Swartz has a good answer in Convergence.
“For me personally, what I’ve decided is, I’m going
to decide to listen to people that dedicate their lives
to understanding science. But I think that the most
important thing, if you know nothing about it, that
you can do is simply be willing to learn and have a
conversation, and not be angry. And not be weird
and unwilling to even listen,” Swartz said.
Collectively, we have to make changes as a planet
to address climate change. America must lead, and
sportsmen, who witness nature firsthand regularly,
can be at the forefront of that change.
Perkins said, “One thing fishing has taught me is to
be more observant.”
I don’t know what the answers are, but like Perk
and Travis, I want to be observant, to listen and
learn and not be angry. Most importantly, I want to
do what I can today so my great-great-great-grand-
children will experience my favorite rivers with
similar fish long after I’m gone.
See you down the trail ...