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Posts: 389
Location: Presque Isle Wisconsin | Jim, Dont ever think that people from Illinois, Indiana,Iowa or any other State are not welcome to fish the waters of Wisconsin. Ive heard all that flatlander and Fib B.S. all my life up here. Our economic survival in the northern tier of the State depends to a very large extent on Your presence, and of course your dollars.Over the years Ive made so many life long friends from Chicago and other areas that have helped my business and family that I would have been hard pressed to survive doing something I love. Im not sure where that unwelcoming mentality ever started , and Im sure at least some of it is good natured in intent, but every time I hear it I go off on my personal philisophical rant about the three killer B's. BORDERS-BELIEFS-and BELONGING;but thats another story.Suffice it to say that all of our resources should be shared,nurtured and enjoyed by any people with a love and respect for them. |
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Posts: 32935
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Exactly the same sentiment from the folks here in Rhinelander. Tourism is an important portion of our economy. I don't care WHERE the 'tourists' come from, just so they show up! Welcome, each and every one of you. Fish, hunt, snowmobile, boat, camp, hike, and vacation with us, we'll do our best to make you comfortable and see to it you enjoy the area. I have heard the same about the Wisconsin folks when in Illinois, with the names and silly stuff attached. The way I look at it, this is the USA, no matter where one is in the country. If you think the border rivalry is bad here, you should see what the folks from New Mexico say about the folks from Texas. Nothing better to do, I guess! |
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| Daggone good pos
Edited by Sponge 6/26/2007 6:19 AM
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Posts: 335
Location: Orland Park | Thanks, fellas. I hope I didn't insult you, but I have heard it from residents up there. My wife and her family are from Wisconsin. Her brother, who still lives up north, has told me some stories how many northerners dislike us coming up there, hunting in their state, taking all the trophy bucks south of the border. He said he knows people who go out of there way to make us feel unwelcome. I see this as true sometimes. Not from business owners, but from people on the water......Jet skiers, and especially other fishermen! Cutoffs are common up there, and it's always from a resident. I would never cutoff anyone in your state, let alone my own, but I promise you that some locals have no problems cutting off someone if they have an IL on their boat (I said SOME locals). My brother-in-law is an honest guy, so I have no reason not to believe him.
This is a true shame. Like I've said, I love it up there.....it's God's country. The muskies are just a bonus to a trip. But the muskie fishing is getting better everywhere else, including Illinois.
Let me ask this question..........the people that voted no........do they think that tourism will be unaffected by these "no" votes? Obviously not. And for those of you who are for higher limits......do you think this "no" vote will affect tourism dollars? |
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Posts: 32935
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The 'no' vote probably will have very little negative impact on tourism dollars here. Believe it or not, this isn't a hotbutton issue with most folks coming up here. To us as really serious muskie trophy anglers, yes; to most others, no. It was the locals who defeated the measures, by about two to one. Managing the waters they live, fish, and recreate on themselves for 50" plus muskies is obviously not as attractive to them as it is to most serious muskie anglers. Will some of the muskie anglers go elsewhere? Sure. Will a good number fish here anyway? Sure. WIll big muskies still be caught here? Sure, the release rate is very high here. Not as high as I would like to see it, but WAY better than it was a few years back. I live in Wisconsin, here in the North Country. The old rivalry between the bordering states continues, but not anywhere near as bad as described. I have never seen a 'local' intentionally get in the face of an angler because the boat tag says IL. More often than not, the guy who cuts you off would cut me off, too. They plain don't know any better. |
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