When it’s time to go fishing, having more fishermen in the area is usually a bad thing. However, unity is strength for the future of sport.

One of the few bright spots that has happened in the past year and a half of COVID-19 is a shift towards people who enjoy the outdoors. This has been a boon to the fishing industry as people realize the value of social distancing on a waterway.

The economy benefited from the purchase of fishing gear and permits from sporting goods stores across the country.

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The increased interest in angling has led the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to keep the license fees at the same rate for 2022. The agency’s board of directors said due to the revenue generated by the increase from the number of fishing licenses sold in 2020 and 2021 and the continued strategic investment of surplus reserve funds, it has been determined that an increase in license fees is not required at this time.

For the 2022 season, the price of an annual resident fishing license will remain at $ 22.97 (including seller’s fee of $ 1.97) and the price of a trout license will remain at $ 9. , $ 97 (including seller’s fees of $ 1.97). Pennsylvania fishing license fees have remained the same since 2005.

In Pennsylvania, interest rose to approximately 249,000 more licenses and permits than the previous year.

According to the commission’s website, in 2020, Pennsylvania sold 911,575 general licenses plus 501,584 trout stamps, 26,373 Lake Erie permits and 84,842 combined permits for a total of 1,524,374 licenses and permits.

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A year earlier, in 2019, the agency sold 759,098 general permits, 422,236 trout stamps, 23,088 Lake Erie permits and 71,053 combined permits for a total of 1,275,475 permits and permits.

These numbers are good for the future of the sport as the commission needs funding for hatcheries, more public access areas and improvements along the waterway. Don’t worry about being overcrowded at your favorite fishing hole. Remember, Pennsylvania has more streams and lakes than any other state except Alaska.

This growing trend is also happening across the country.

The Outdoor Foundation and the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation have partnered for the 11th consecutive year to produce a “Special Fishing Report” to provide a comprehensive overview of general trends in participation, as well as detailed information on categories of fishing. specific fishing.

Their efforts revealed that “54.7 million Americans fished at least once in 2020, the highest number recorded since participation tracking began in 2007. The fishing participation rate has risen to 18. % of the US population, the highest rate in over a decade and nearly 9% gain from 2019.

The only bad news in the report is that people don’t have enough time or opportunity to go fishing.

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“Despite the higher number of fishermen and the increased participation rate, the frequency of fishing trips has continued to decline in the long term. In 2020, the average number of trips per participant was 18 trips, compared to 22 in 2008. This drop in intensity means that there are fewer more dedicated and more occasional anglers.

This means that we need to take the time to be outside and enjoy leisure time. Memories made on lakes and along streams are some of the best reflections we can have as athletes.

The good news is that the report found that 18% of the US population aged 6 and over went fishing at least once last year. This is an increase of 4.6 million fishermen compared to the previous year.

We need to make more people discover the fun that people can have as a family.

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The report reveals that fishing remains a male-dominated activity in 2020, with male participants making up 64% of total participants. However, this gender balance steadily shifts in the other direction.

Women’s participation was the highest on record, rising from 32% ten years ago to 36% in 2020. It appears from these statistics that more families are fishing, not just the man of the house.

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This group’s report and news from the Fish and Boat Commission reveals a brighter future for this hobby which on good days can provide nutritious meals for your family.

It’s up to each of us to invite more people to go fishing and to go more often to keep this trend going.

The weekend will soon be here; make your plans to visit your favorite fishing spot soon.

Brian Whipkey is the outside columnist for the USA Today Network sites in Pennsylvania. Contact him at [email protected] and sign up for our weekly Outdoors newsletter on your website homepage under your login name.