FACTS: Almost 60 million people went fishing last year, most of them in public waters. This is huge. It represents one-sixth of the U.S. population. In each case, there is a story to tell. Kids who went fishing for the first time with a father or grandfather (maybe even mothers these days)! Students from high school or colleges going out with their buds. People on vacation or those in fishing clubs like ours. Its easy to take those days for granted – the moments taken to stop by a lake after work, to visit a local lake, river or stream, to try to trick a fish with a lure or worm.

But public waters and access to them is not a given. Efforts are underway in House Bill HR-1 to sell off or transfer a vast areas of public lands. This item is hidden away among other parts of the bill that have recently gained exposure in the news media.

The Senate no doubt will revise the bill but at this time the other controversial items may well overshadow the potential loss of our parks, trails and wwaterways.

OPINION: Make your concerns known! If you value the future of our natural resouce recreational areas, contact your state Senators. Let them know.