45 Million Patriots: An Army of Fishing and Hunting Advocates

Real angling patriotism isn’t a flag on your truck–it’s showing up for your fishery.

It’s the final night at Angler’s Alibi on the banks of the Alagnak River in Bristol Bay, Alaska. Tonight is the night that I make my speech. If all goes well, we’ll have fourteen new anglers signed on to support the Save Bristol Bay movement in opposition to the Pebble Mine.

Dinner has concluded, and dessert is being plated. I tap my glass and stand up to speak. After giving this pitch a few times, I’ve got it down. But this week is different. It’s the Fourth of July, which means I have a new angle to lean into–being patriotic. I proudly state that “not only is standing up for Bristol Bay protections the right thing to do as an angler, but it’s the right thing to do as an American.” The new angle lands, and we’ve got fourteen new supporters.

To this day, I remember that moment. It was the first time in my life that I felt like I could positively impact the future of this country. The first time I was a patriot.

Somewhere on Lake Aleknagik, running with the boys from Bristol Bay Lodge.

To be a patriotic angler, it doesn’t take much. All you have to do is show up for your fishery.

In my view, that involves educating the next generation, advocating for the protection of public lands and standing up for conservation issues that impact our waterways. It’s about making your voice heard, so future generations can enjoy the resources we often take for granted. The problem recently, however, is that even when we’ve emphatically made our voices heard, we’ve been sold out or undermined by the very politicians and big business who claim to represent us.

Connor is a 22-year-old angler from Wisconsin, and believes that “being a fly fisherman inherently means you’re patriotic. Patriotism used to mean that to a lot more people. It’s sad to see how far we’ve gotten away from that idea.”

Sean, who was born and raised in Fort Collins and learned to fly fish from his grandmother, put it like this, “I want to see hunting and fishing continue to be used as tools for conservation. I want to see traditions that have been passed down for generations preserved and strengthened.”

Connor, Sean and I are just the latest iteration of a core group of anglers unified by a desire to be stewards of our fisheries. A 2012 poll found that hunters and anglers skew conservatively–42% Republican, 32% Independent, 18% Democrat. But more importantly, 84% want the federal government to prioritize conservation and public lands management, regardless of party.

In an era where we can’t agree on anything, we somehow agree on this, and should lean into it. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reports that there are 44.6 million voting-age hunters and anglers. That’s an army of advocates who have barely begun to use their power.

Whit Fosburgh, past president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, described the ideologically diverse and increasingly fragile fishing and hunting conservation coalition this way in a recent article (Scientific American): “The problem is that our community hasn’t been necessarily well represented by our elected leaders.” The reason, he explains, is that the hunting and fishing community has not held politicians accountable when they vote against its interests. “Our community is to blame for it.”

“Our community is to blame for it.” That hurts, but he’s right. All too frequently, hunters and anglers allow themselves to be trampled on by politicians who claim to be outdoor enthusiasts, but at the end of the day, couldn’t care less about us.

A prime example is the soon-to-be ex-representative of Montana’s 1st Congressional District, Ryan Zinke. After campaigning on the backs of the outdoor community, Zinke folded like a paper airplane on the topic of public lands and the rights of hunters and anglers, while he was the Secretary of the Interior. Most notably, Zinke pushed President Trump to significantly reduce the size of both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments. This sent shockwaves across the outdoor community after Zinke described himself as the “Teddy Roosevelt conservationist,” and who rode into Washington on a horse his first day in office…

There are 45 million of us who believe in public lands, the right to fish and prioritizing conservation. We have power, command respect and can demand action.

“Don’t tell me you’re a hunter or angler and then vote to sell the ground out from under me. We read the bills. We watch the votes. And we’ve got long memories,” says Anthony, a Gen Z Colorado native who’s hunted and fished the state his whole life.

To properly activate the power of 45 million anglers is no easy task, but as true fly-fishing patriots, it’s our responsibility to make it happen.

What does that look like? It’s going to be different for every one of us, but I bet you already know where to start. For me, it was standing up at a dinner table in Bristol Bay and asking fourteen of my fellow anglers to sign a postcard.

If you don’t know where to start, begin by getting involved with groups like Trout Unlimited (TU), Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA), or the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP). They will let you know when your voice is needed, and they’ll give you the tools you need to take action when the moment is right. For example, in April of this year, the Senate voted to repeal the 20-year mining ban protecting 225,000 acres of the Superior National Forest watershed upstream of the Boundary Waters. TU is taking a stand against this, and you can make your voice heard here.

The new definition of patriotism in the outdoors and fly fishing is no longer covered in the fleeting mirage of an American Flag or “God Bless America” bumper stickers. It’s showing up to make a public comment, adhering to Keep Fish Wet principles, taking a veteran fishing, educating the next generation on our sport, participating in community events that leave the river better than we found it and so much more.

It’s recognizing that we love this country, we love the resources held within its borders and we’re willing to do what it takes to protect them.

What did I miss? Where did I go wrong? Let me know in the comments.

Also, if you’re a next-generation angler, we’d love to hear from you. Shoot me an email @ watsoncliff23@gmail.com to share your thoughts and join our WhatsApp group.

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Cliff Watson grew up in Wisconsin and now roams the Western U.S. like many other displaced Midwesterners. He has fished commercially in Alaska, hitchhiked with a fly rod through South America and developed some thoughts along the way. He writes about fishing, culture and the human experience. Give his Substack, Kudos, a follow. You’ll be glad you did.