Sure we spend an extra day on the water around Memorial Day or Fourth of July, but in reality, every day is a celebration. We anglers are blessed with so much open space, clean water and fish to catch. So this 4th of July, take your family on an extended fishing trip and catch 'em up.
To most anglers, a fishing holidays typically mean extended fishing trips. They might be long weekends involving a special day. In fishing families, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, and Father's Day are natural choices, with others falling around Fourth of July, Labor Day, Columbus Day, and Veteran's Day. When I think about it, Fourth of July might be one of the best fishing days of all.
Independence Day is a great opportunity to enjoy free fishing days. In states not applied, with a small cost for a fishing license we are free to roam throughout so many public waters in search of fish. We have the freedom of how to catch fish the way we want, be it with spin, conventional, bait, or fly. And on some days, like the real free fishing days, we do get to fish without a cost.
I fish in lakes and ponds for bass and panfish. I fish in the ocean for striped bass, bluefish and other inshore species. I fish rivers and streams for trout, and that variety is the spice of my life. I guess that's why I think every day of fishing is a fishing holiday. If going away on an extended trip, we can add other activities to the list. Camping goes well when combined with fishing. You can also combine angling holidays with kayaking, canoeing, hiking or mountain biking.
In many other countries, opportunities for good fishing days are not as easy to come by as they are here. The best waters are reserved, and it costs a tremendous amount to access them. On some of those watersheds, anglers are restricted in the methods used. Sometimes, access to fish the best waters means waiting on a list. If that's the case you'd best not get sick when your number is called; tough it out, for it might be another long wait until you get an opportunity to go.
We are thankful for clean waters managed for healthy populations of game fish. For the cost of a license we can move about the country and catch 'em up. I'm thankful for the opportunities we have in our country and will be grateful during my family's fishing holiday this 4th of July.
