| I just recently returned from our nation's | | | | fisherman has earned the right to adorn our |
| capitol.I would love to tell you I was there | | | | nations capitol??!!Is the salmon not worthy |
| stumping for protection of rivers and fish | | | | of overlooking congress and proclaiming it's |
| habitat, but alas I was really there building | | | | long and dutiful journey? Perhaps a rotting |
| a snowman in front of the Washington | | | | salmon would be a better representative of |
| monument.We all have our priorities.Actually, | | | | those who make decisions for us?? |
| I didn't really fly across the country to | | | | |
| build a snowman-albeit a worthy venture-but | | | | Is it too much to ask for a single carp or |
| to attend a training class for my real job, | | | | catfish cast in bronze to give glory to the |
| which OBVIOUSLY writing is not. While there, | | | | species that swam our waters and fed our |
| I took a little extra time and toured the DC | | | | explorers as we headed west? Or is the |
| area.Having last been there twenty-four years | | | | presence of "bottom feeders" in Washington |
| ago it was really interesting to note the | | | | hitting a little too close to |
| changes and general feel to the area.It was | | | | home??Hmmmm....Where are the statues |
| 1981 and the living was easy. Well, for us | | | | depicting our great fishing presidents--doing |
| anyway. I'm sure the countless homeless and | | | | what they enjoyed most?Where is Cleveland, |
| transient politicians weren't having such an | | | | Arthur, Hoover, Carter or Bush? They should |
| easy time, but I remember the visit as a | | | | be shown smiling with a big stringer of trout |
| completely relaxed time.We could drive up to | | | | by their side. Heck, Sonny Bono even has a |
| the base of the Lincoln memorial and "zip" up | | | | plaque, the least they could do is stick a |
| the steps and stand beneath the impressive | | | | red herring statue out there somewhere.The |
| hunk of rock that pays tribute to our 16th | | | | father of our country even made his living |
| president. Incidently, according to that | | | | for a long while off of commercial |
| bastian of accuracy--Wikipedia-- Abe was | | | | fishing--but they stick a bronze of a |
| never into hunting and fishing- even for | | | | freaking hippo up. How many hippos helped |
| food. Of course Encarta mentions he spent his | | | | relax our embattled leaders during times of |
| youth fishing and walking in the woods, so | | | | great crisis in this great country. Monica |
| I'm not sure we really know. Maybe he fished | | | | Lewinsky should have gotten a statue before |
| alot but set 'em free? | | | | that hippo got one!Every great cause starts |
| | | | somewhere, and if this has to be the time and |
| I guess that makes him one of the original | | | | place for this radical movement--so be it.It |
| "catch and release" advocates.Literally.He | | | | is time we put a fish in Washington.So while |
| did have a guy named SALMON Chase as his | | | | you are out there saving the whales and doing |
| Secretary of the Treasury, so we can also | | | | your part to control global warming, rest |
| safely say he was a supporter of | | | | assured that I will be doing my part to get |
| SALMON!!But-once again I digress.2005 is very | | | | the fishing world its long overdue proper |
| different in "the district".Barricades and | | | | respect.So how about it Mr. Carter--make sure |
| security checks everywhere, there is | | | | that if they ever choose to erect a statue to |
| certainly an air of tension and distrust all | | | | you in Washington, it includes a five weight |
| about. Of course some will say there has | | | | rod and a Rainbow Trout... |
| always been an air of tension and distrust in | | | | |
| DC. | | | | |
| | | | _____________________________________________ |
| Obviously, the post 9/11 safeguards are | | | | ______________________"The narrow and |
| necessary and I for one was only slightly | | | | ill-conditioned people who snarlingly count |
| miffed at the extra procedures that have to | | | | all fishermen as belonging to a lazy and |
| take place in order to insure everyones | | | | good-for-nothing class, and who take |
| safety.Besides, I like walking around the | | | | satisfaction in describing an angler's outfit |
| Smithsonian in my underwear.Seemingly, there | | | | as a contrivance with a hook at one end and a |
| is a memorial or statue for everyone and | | | | fool at the other, have been so thoroughly |
| everything in DC.Statues of FDRs dog, | | | | discredited that no one could wish for their |
| Einsteins hair(with the rest of him | | | | more irredeemable submersion." - Grover |
| also),buffalo, noble steads and even a | | | | ClevelandA.J. KlottAuthor, writer of fishing |
| hippopotamus stand proudly in bronze or | | | | humor, and "fly tack" peddler. A.J. writes |
| stone, but nowhere was there a tribute to our | | | | about the people,characters and modern day |
| finny friends.A national travesty.Are you | | | | events that surround the fishing world. His |
| telling me that at no time in our nations | | | | first book is due out in December of 2005. |
| history, not once, a worthy fish nor | | | | |