I’m conducting research focused on the conservation of freshwater fisheries in the United States and Canada for my PhD. To date, I’ve gathered nearly 2,000 survey responses from recreational anglers regarding threats to their fisheries and potential conservation solutions, yet the dataset is currently skewed.
Approximately 60% of these responses are from fly anglers targeting trout in regions such as Utah and Colorado, compared to only about 15 to 20% of the responses from bass anglers. There are even fewer responses from recreational anglers that are targeting catfish, walleye, pike, panfish, or other warmwater species.
This disparity is not merely a statistical issue — it poses a serious conservation concern that could have lasting implications for the management of popular target species and the waters they inhabit.
Why This Matters To Me
Before I explain why this matters, let me introduce myself. I’m not just a researcher asking you to fill out forms for “science;” I’m an angler myself. I grew up fishing the small lakes and ponds of Massachusetts, chasing smallmouth bass with my Dad. I’ve spent countless hours on the water pursuing bass, experimenting with topwater lures and soft plastics, learning how to fish structure, and observing how my favorite lakes have changed over the years.
I have witnessed lakes where I grew up struggling with droughts and invasive species. I’ve seen how shoreline development can destroy vital spawning areas. My personal experiences have shown me the consequences of poor management and conservation efforts for freshwater recreational fisheries.
I started this research to understand the perspectives of anglers across North America and to identify what actions we believe should be taken. This effort is not about publishing papers that remain behind paywalls, it is about ensuring that fisheries managers consider the voices of all anglers when making decisions about conservation priorities and funding.
The Problem: Warmwater Anglers Are Hidden
Here’s the truth: Bass fishing alone brings in billions of dollars every year and involves millions of anglers. When you include catfish, walleye, pike, and panfish anglers, warmwater fishing makes up the majority of freshwater angling in America. Still, these views may be overlooked in fisheries research.
But anglers at bass lakes in Texas, catfish rivers in Mississippi, walleye reservoirs in Minnesota, pike waters in the North, and multi-species ponds across the South and Midwest are underrepresented. Some states, recreational anglers from Mississippi, Kansas and Oklahoma have provided very few responses to the survey. These states have great fishing and passionate anglers but are underrepresented in my research. I’m trying to fix that, focusing my research on broader trends — not just fly anglers in western states and provinces.
Why This Matters to You
When state agencies allocate conservation funds, they rely on research. When federal policies address habitat protection, they look at data regarding angler preferences. Are anglers targeting warm-water fisheries being heard?
This creates a significant disconnect:
- Conservation priorities may favor cold-water species. Resources flow toward trout stream restoration, while bass lakes, catfish rivers, walleye reservoirs, and warmwater systems receive less attention and funding.
- Warmwater habitat decline may be overlooked in policy. The issues affecting your waters may not be reaching policymakers with the same urgency as cold-water concerns.
- The problems that warmwater anglers care about may remain invisible. You know your local fishery better than anyone. You’re on the water consistently. You notice changes in fish activity, when vegetation diminishes, and shifts in water clarity. That knowledge is valuable for management decisions, but only if it reaches the people making those decisions.
How This Research Helps
This survey examines how selectable environmental threats, like habitat loss, water quality, and invasive species, affect each other and which conservation solutions anglers think will work. It gives fisheries managers real data from the people who fish these waters, not just assumptions or outdated models.
When published, state agencies and conservation organizations may use this research to inform decisions about where conservation funding goes, which habitats get protected, and what problems get prioritized.
But right now, existing data tells them warmwater anglers either don’t exist or don’t care. We know that’s wrong, warmwater anglers might be some of the most conservation-minded people out there. We just need to show up in the data.
Your Turn
Take this 10-minute survey: https://umassamherst.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d5Od8inHHbEMWnI
That’s all it takes. Ten minutes could help ensure the next time your state allocates conservation funding or develops management plans, they’re basing decisions on what you actually care about, not incomplete data that ignores warmwater fisheries.
Share it with your fishing buddies. Post it in Facebook groups. Encourage other anglers, whether you fish for bass, catfish, walleye, pike, panfish, or anything else, to participate.
Warmwater anglers have always understood conservation. We practice responsible fishing. We respect regulations. We teach kids to care for the resource. Now we need to participate in the research that shapes how that resource is managed.
Editor’s Note: At Wired2Fish, we’re passionate about advancing the science and understanding behind fishing. We welcome researchers, biologists, and innovators who share our curiosity about fish behavior, aquatic ecosystems, and angling techniques. If you’re conducting studies, fieldwork, or research that could help anglers fish smarter and more responsibly, we’d love to hear from you. Collaboration between science and sport strengthens both, and we’re excited to spotlight new discoveries and data-driven insights in future features. Because hey, who doesn’t want more and bigger fish?
