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| Comparing the # of people involved in charity events to the number involved in MI is not a good one. Apples to Oranges. One saves lives, the other allows people to fish for a sport fish.
If you want to go there I could make the case that you are "being selfish" for not participating in every event that comes along (Relay for Life, Jump Rope for Heart, etc, etc). You never know when you are going to come down with some sort of illness. If you did not support the cause to further the research to find the cure, should you be able to take advantage of the findings funded by the time and effort I have given to these causes?
Edited by muskydeceiver 6/24/2008 4:59 PM
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| I'm not sure if anyone ever looked for or asked for a pat on the back or any recognition for their efforts to the resource, This is bigger than any one man or woman's interests or efforts.
The MI Chapter I belong to I would never consider a "Club", we are a "Conservation Organization", we are less concerned for the most part with the fish we put in the boat than the availability of opportunities for us and others to catch fish and have clean healthy water.
We work closely with the DNR and the MMA to assure those opportunities will exist, we have a large percentage of member involvement due to this mission, I'm humbled by their efforts and dedication to something that some would see fit to destroy and I'm a better man for knowing them and that's not B.S.
As we all know these times are very difficult, especially the financial aspect, I don't think anyone would expect a person to sacrifice the food on the table or your children's welfare for a ticket or anything associated for that matter.
Whats happening in MN will effect all of you no matter where you live or fish, Muskies are being used by a more effective, better connected group of a few men than ever before as a way to force legislation and overall fish management.
They are preaching to the masses that "Too many lakes are stocked and about the cost of raising these fish that are a recyclable resource unlike meat fish stocking for Pike and Walleye.
You need to decide no matter how you feel about Muskies Inc, what the fishery means to you and whats needed to maintain and grow our fishery.
Right now Muskies Inc, MMA and some individuals that refuse to hold membership in MI whom I respect greatly are working toward providing "ALL" those who fish in MN with a greater opportunity for Muskie, Pike and all species.
Ive never had a problem with those that don't support MI, that's their choice, I to refused to support it for many years till I saw some good changes and met some of the best conservation minded men on the planet that will dedicate 99% of their energy and time so we can have something better, their influence is seen every time you launch a boat at a landing that may never have existed or landed the fish of a lifetime that would have never been stocked without that dedication.
This is bigger than MI or any other group or fisherman, its time we work together and reap the rewards tomorrow, if you believe that you can make a difference you can and will, this is not a game or a joke to those that are trying to destroy your fishery.
We can work at fixing MI or creating another organization after we have secured our possibility to have that opportunity to fish, its in serous jeopardy as I post this, I'm not inflating the facts or distorting the reality, these guys are not going to stop till you are back to the natural lakes and they have the ability to spear them.
Then they will find other representation in WI, IL, IN, OH, IA to do the same they have done here, we need to fight them now, together, and show the public the truth about Muskies and the benefits to having some large Pike.
We're in this as one or we are in trouble.
In Solidarity
John Underhill
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| John,
Not to knitpick or be a jerk, but didn't you recently involve yourself with a long and drawn out discussion on the next bite's website about starting a new, NON-MI club to do the things that you didn't believe MI was doing? The crew of people that participated in this discussion had a long list of beefs with MI for being 'too many things for too many people' and that a better, more muskie conservation focused group was needed? |
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| i think Shawn and John's topic is not specific to Muskies Inc or any other club or organization, and in some ways discussion about whether or not Muskies Inc is the "right" organization is a distraction from more immediate and important issues relating to long-range support and expansion of the muskie fishery in Minnesota.
John's last post speaks to this very eloquently; let's give him the latitude to have separate opinions voiced elsewhere about Muskies Inc., and respond to his point that all muskie fishermen have a stake in what happens in MN.
club members are a good place to start, but the issues impact muskie fishermen, not just those who choose to be club members.
in WI we face the same thing every year with the spring hearings and low attendance/involvement by muskie fishermen to "vote their sport", both club members and non-members.
there are well-organized groups working to erode muskie fishing in what is arguably the best fishery on the planet.
the question is how do you mobilize _muskie fishermen_ to get involved?
In the case of people participating in MS walks etc., what is the percentage of the population that does this?
i suggest a better question is: "why does _anyone_ do this?" especially people who aren't personally impacted by the issue (MS, donating blood, AIDS, cancer, whatever...).
what gets people to participate in these activities?
it might be apples/oranges to compare these issues, but i suggest that their successful techniques (they raise a ton of money, wield political influence, etc.) for attracting and involving people are universal and can be applied with equal success to any issue, including fishing.
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| My issues were with the International office and the way they were approaching conservation issues and the Magazine, the local MI Chapters in MN are not the issue in anyway, these men and women are working very hard to make their chapters something to be proud of.
Muskies Inc International office has got to center themselves around Conservation as DU, NWTF, TU or their like do if they want to grow and make a solid impact on the availability and health of the resource.
Ive been moderately satisfied with the improvements Ive seen so far and very happy with the change in direction of the magazine so far, the last few issues were great focusing on the efforts of the chapters and C&R.
If I sat by quietly and said oh well there goes MI down the toilette without being critical of their mistakes in my view, I would also not be the guy complaining later.
MI is the greatest thing to ever happen to muskies in North America and I would love to see its expansion and it regain a foothold in MN and all of our states capitols, that is where the hard work begins and that's how we can help lay the brickwork for tomorrow.
If it takes critical action or ideas to accomplish this then so be it, if their were another Conservation Group for Muskies and Pike I would be a proud member of them as well.
I hope this clarifies my stance that I tried to make apparent on TNB but I'm often misunderstood  |
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Posts: 82
Location: Owatonna,MN | Well put John. Thanks Lambeau, for making his point. This has nothing to do with MI. It is about Muskies in Minnesota. The fact is there is a group of people in Minnesota who don't want any more Muskies stocked. Period. Never.Say it again. Never. Where do you think the fisherie would be in 10 years if there was no more Muskie management?? For the people who say they can't afford to contribute, I can't either (financially that is) Get involved with emails,letters, phone calls, etc. The threat is real. The threat is now. There are over 100,000 muskie fishermen in Minnesota alone, yet we can't get enough support to defeat 15,000 spear fishermen??? Thats pathetic.
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I agree with your sentiments Lambeau, the better question is "why do people participate".
I guess my point was even with a cause as noble and worthy as MS walks and Aids issues you still don't get most people to become active.
Even with the issues spelled out and with a presentable course of action, how do we get the majority of muskie anglers to stand up and be heard?
We're gonna have to figure that one out real quick.
JS |
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Posts: 8779
| lambeau - 6/24/2008 6:37 PM
.....
there are well-organized groups working to erode muskie fishing in what is arguably the best fishery on the planet.
the question is how do you mobilize _muskie fishermen_ to get involved?
.....
In case anyone missed the point Lambeau made above, there it is again.
Speaking for myself, I tend to look at those groups as sort of a fringe, faling to realize at times that WE are the fringe ourselves. Muskie fishing is but a small part of fishing, which is a small part of outdoor "sports" which is a small part of MN's tourism economy, which is a small part of...
Apparently those groups really are a threat to our fisheries. WHY??
Why are they more organized? Is not having muskies more important to them than having muskies is to us?
Are our egos and the divisions we create amongst ourselves our worst enemy?
I think to start with we need to realize that we're all in this together no matter who we are and where we're from. We need to stop making enemies out of each other. We are ALL muskie fishermen, and when something comes up that has the potential to harm muskie fishing, we MUST speak with one voice. In order to do that, we MUST first put aside our differences. I am willing to do that. Are you? |
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Posts: 34
Location: Forest Lake Minnesota | I don't think any muskie fisherman can be spoiled till you can go out any day and catch a fish as easy as if it were a bass or sunfish. This sport takes dedication and time. But I also believe that if you have more than 50 muskie baits than you can afford the 35.00 a year to be in Muskies Inc. just to support the muskie fishery even if you never attend a meeting, and don't care for some of there views. Open up your wallet you cheepskates. by the way i am a member of the North Metro chapter, I sell on average 75 raffle tickets every year and go to the winter meetings.
Good Luck,
Dave |
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Posts: 661
Location: Roscoe IL | fishermuskie - 6/25/2008 12:36 PM
This sport takes dedication and time. But I also believe that if you have more than 50 muskie baits than you can afford the 35.00 a year to be in Muskies Inc. just to support the muskie fishery even if you never attend a meeting, and don't care for some of there views. Open up your wallet you cheepskates. by the way i am a member of the North Metro chapter, I sell on average 75 raffle tickets every year and go to the winter meetings.
Good Luck,
Dave
This is the crap that turns people off & drives them away from joining any club or donating...
Good for you Dave, do what you want with your money & leave me & mine alone! I donate to United Way every week! |
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Posts: 1317
Location: Lebanon,Mo | Lets not forget the simple things we have today also, besides all the lakes that are stocked,clubs,and everyone that is involved in our sport.Look at our technology we now have.....The boats,gps,depthfinders that tell us what to do,high tech rods&reels,out of this world baits,even trolling books to tell us how deep were going.None of this stuff was around years ago.Some people take to many things for granted.I just enjoy being out there and maybe trying to make things work.I do what i can for our local club, trying to teach somebody new to the sport or donating items that will help support our fisheries. |
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