Fishing the past, present and future

[Bobber Down 921]

There was a time not long ago, about 23 years ago, before the internet, when you wanted to go fishing you bought a map if one was available and made plans with a friend or friends to get out on the weekend and fish the lake of choice. If you needed specific information on the location or access points, camping areas etc before you went you needed to either drive to the library and search through a card index filing system to find a book which might or might not contain the info you were looking for or call the MNR and hope they could help or find a friend who had been there before. We had to rely on people and friends we had face to face interaction with to help with our fishing plans. We had to rely on our memory to keep information learned and pass it on around a campfire or two. Information took time to access and in many cases was learned by hands on experience, driving the roads and time on the water. How things have changed!

 

Now with the internet and Google a keystroke away a search brings you 400 million results in .50 of a second. How amazing is that! You can even buy fishing tackle or anything for that matter without leaving the house. Without coming face to face with another human being. In forums like this site anyone can ask questions about this lake or that, road conditions, access trails, ice conditions, slush areas, fish species, tackle etc etc the list could go on and on. Whether or not you believe the answers you get is another story. Everything you read on the internet is true, right! We also have GPS so we won't get lost and mark co-ordinates where we catch fish and hold us in an exact spot when the wind and waves are not in our favour. There are fancy fish finders which show us schools of info. Satellite photo's and google maps allow us to follow a road or river or zoom in on lakes for a general view. We leave home with a computer in our pocket. How things have changed!!

 

In another 20 years what can we expect. One can only guess at the possibilities. My guess..............Fish finders will become obsolete, replaced with an array of drones capable of scanning and showing the fisherman the exact real time location of all fish in the lake. The total bottom structure scan and water temps at depth. You will access the drone thru satellites via whatever hand held communication device has taken over from the iPhone or on a screen in your boat. Punch in your user id, password and co-ordinates and your set. You will still have to entice the fish to bite I think. How things can change!!!

 

How do you think things will change in the next 20 years?

[BearSlayer 7]

Probably we will be able to change the name to CATCHING from FISHING in the future or if certain groups would have it there will be no fishing or hunting at all.the only outdoor experience you will be able to have is watching old tv shows or looking out the window.