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