In
today’s edition…
Fact or Fiction
While many say fact, there
are a number that say trout fishing in Indiana and its economic impact is a
figment of ones vivid imagination. While figures don’t lie, some say liars
figure. As I have never considered myself a liar, go figure. The opinions
stated here are mine based on the facts and figures as I understand them. I
present them for what they are. My desire is to give anyone interested,
something to think about.
The economic impact is the
primary focus of my study. The social aspect is individual in nature, and
probably the most difficult to define. It undoubtedly includes an opinion
and any number of other perceptions or filters that define the satisfaction
(or lack of) derived from the pursuit of any given activity. Some suggest it
has no true tangible dollar value.
Next is the need to define
the parameters used in my study. I gleaned my figures from the Indiana Fish
and Wildlife’s web site License Sales Report for 2008. The 2009 numbers are
not yet available. I chose two regional fisheries. As I fish both often,
they are very familiar to me. The Pigeon River centered in Mongo (Lagrange
County) and the East Fork of the Whitewater River in Brookville (Franklin
County) are the focus of my study. Each geographic area is broken into two
parts. The first is the licensed anglers residing in any county contingent
to the fishery. Michigan borders the Pigeon River. Ohio is contingent to
Brookville. The licensed anglers residing in a fifty-mile radius, defines
the second portion of my study. The fifty-mile radius brings Ohio for Mongo
and Kentucky for Brookville to bear. Only the Indiana Annual Resident
Fishing License and Trout/Salmon Stamp and Annual Non-Resident Michigan,
Ohio and Kentucky Fishing Licenses and Trout/Salmon Stamp sales were used.
The sales figures from all other combination or special type fishing
licenses were excluded.
In 2008 there were 325,686
Annual Resident Fishing Licenses and 22,506 Trout and Salmon Stamps sold.
Michigan anglers purchased 1,820 Annual Non-Resident Fishing Licenses and
374 Trout and Salmon Stamps. Ohio anglers purchased 10,233 Licenses and 588
Trout and Salmon Stamps. Kentucky anglers bought 3,432 Annual Licenses and
117 Trout and Salmon Stamps. Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 break the numbers
down for the two fisheries I targeted. I find these numbers are significant
since most do not consider Indiana as a Trout fishing destination.
As discovered in both Appendix 1 and 2, the monetary value from the license sales alone would make any lottery jackpot winner proud. In 2008, the Resident License fees totaled $2,121,719.00, the Non-Resident fees totaled $230,440.00 and Trout Stamps totaled $198,590.00. Our IDNR collected a grand total of $2,550,749.00 from the license fees just from the two study areas. This is no small number. Now consider the local taxes paid and personal spending of the IDNR’s Fishery employees and families living in the study area. Don’t forget the Army Corp of Engineers and support personnel living in the Brookville area and to add the local support spending from these agencies. I can only guess what those numbers are. I am sure they are on par with the areas other commercial, industrial and farming contributions. Simply put, the money returning to the local community from these entities is significant.
The dollars coming from all anglers in general, and Trout anglers in particular, that frequent these fisheries appears greater than previously held. In Appendix 3 and 4, I analyzed a projected economic impact the trout fisherman might produce through their spending on any typical outing. The projected yearly totals of both the Trout angler and all other licensed anglers are detailed. My presumptions are based from my own fishing experiences through the years. I detailed this potential and drew my conclusions. I also think my projections are low with true impact being much higher.
To summarize Appendix 3 and Appendix 4, the fifty mile radius surrounding the Brookville fishery realized just under one-million dollars from all anglers. Trout anglers spent more than 112 thousand dollars. Those fishing the fifty-mile radius surrounding the Pigeon River contributed close to 1.7 million dollars to local economies in 2008. More than 229 thousand dollars came from the Trout angling group. That is 2.7 million dollars spent in two separate fifty-mile radius fisheries. The Trout anglers’ share of this pie is just under 342 thousand dollars. My gut feeling suggests the actual figures are much greater when all things are considered.
The social aspects are an individuals opinion based on their perception and understanding (or misunderstanding) of facts filtered through a lifetime of experiences and their belief (or lack of) in a God. It does not make them wrong. It is the foundation of their opinion. I consider myself a conservative by nature. I am not close-minded, nor immediately reject any reasonable attempt to change my mind. When I start doing that, I will have stopped learning and surely wither on the vine of life. More discussion regarding the social aspect is probably a subject for a future edition of “Riffles.”.
I would hope the local Chamber of Commerce Chapters take a look at the numbers put together by this crusty old Trout fisherman with the same open mind. It is something that might be of interest to them and may want to include with their own economic forecasts. Trout is not a four-letter word. For the individual reading this, may I suggest you don’t just take my word, do your own research. What you discover might prove interesting. If nothing else, check my math.
My conclusions continue to disprove any myth regarding Indiana and Trout fishing. We are indeed a true (and well kept secret) trout fishing destination. That is just my opinion, I could be wrong.
Until the next time, “May the inside of your waders (or boats) always be dry!”
Lynn
Trout and Salmon Stamps……………………..105
Dearborn County Annual Fishing Licenses…..2267
Trout and Salmon Stamps…………………….…60
Decatur County Annual Fishing Licenses…….1094
Trout and Salmon Stamps.………………………17
Fayette County Annual Fishing Licenses……..1841
Trout and Salmon Stamps.………………………24
Ripley County Annual Fishing License..……..1436
Trout and Salmon Stamps.………………………19
Rush County Annual Fishing License ..……..1079
Trout and Salmon Stamps.………………………19
Union County Annual Fishing Licenses………..534
Trout and Salmon Stamps.…………………….…13
Total Resident Fishing Licenses....…………..10665
Total Trout and Salmon Stamps………………..280
Ohio Annual Non-Resident Fishing Licenses…5116
Trout and Salmon Stamps………………………294
I divided the Ohio numbers in half because the two fisheries are located about 180 miles apart. Therefore the contingent county numbers equal:
Total Fishing Licenses…………….15781
Total Trout and Salmon Stamps….….574
When I include the Indiana Counties within the fisheries fifty-mile radius I can add 46336 Resident Fishing Licenses and 953 Trout and Salmon Stamps. When I include Kentucky sales of 3432 Non-Resident Licenses and 117 Trout and Salmon Stamps and Ohio numbers, Indiana’s license and stamp sales increase to a total of 65549 Fishing Licenses and 1644 Trout and Salmon Stamps. That is a significant number in any book.
Trout and Salmon Stamps…………………….…421
Dekalb County Annual Fishing Licenses………2961
Trout and Salmon Stamps…………………….…240
Elkhart County Annual Fishing Licenses..……10433
Trout and Salmon Stamps..…………………….1717
Noble County Annual Fishing Licenses….……4479
Trout and Salmon Stamps…………………….…329
Steuben County Annual Fishing Licenses..……3278
Trout and Salmon Stamps…………………….…292
Total Resident Fishing Licenses.….…………..25809
Total Trout and Salmon Stamps………………..2999
Michigan Non-Resident Annual Licenses………910
Trout and Salmon Stamps……………………….187
Total Fishing Licenses Sold…….…………….27621
Total Trout and Salmon Stamps………………..3373
The Indiana Counties within this fisheries fifty-mile radius include an additional 41087 Annual Resident Fishing Licenses and 4535 Trout and Salmon Stamps. Add the other half of the 5116 Non-Resident Licenses and 294Trout and Salmon Stamps purchased by Ohio anglers, the totals mass to 73824 Fishing Licenses and 8202 Trout and Salmon Stamps. Again a very significant number.
The average vehicle gets eight-teen miles per gallon.
Fuel costs average $2.60 per gallon.
Each angler would have one meal in the local eateries.
There are two anglers on each outing.
A soft drink or bottle of water and small snack for the trip home is purchased.
Incidental expenses are figured at $6.00 per angler. Bait, cigarettes, etc. I know not all anglers use bait or smoke so I will use $3.00 per angler here.
Anglers make four outings per year to the East Fork in Brookville.
One meal: $7.00 X 2 anglers = $14.00
Drink/Snack: $3.50 X 2 anglers = $7.00
Incidentals: $3.00 X 2 anglers= $6.00
In Appendix 1, I determined a total of 1644 Trout and Salmon Stamps were sold to angles in the Brookville area, I can then presume a minimum of 822 outings take place each year. That dollar amount would total $28,128.85. Multiply that by four outings, we total $112,515.36. A wonderful number in today’s economy and this is just from trout fisherman.
The round trip distance traveled averages fifty miles.
The average vehicle gets eight-teen miles per gallon.
Fuel costs average $2.60 per gallon.
Each angler would have one meal in the local eateries.
There are two anglers on each outing.
A soft drink or bottle of water and small snack for the trip home is purchased.
Incidental expenses are figured at $6.00 per angler. Bait, cigarettes, etc. I know not all anglers use bait or smoke so I will use $3.00 per angler here.
Anglers make four outings per year to the East Fork in Brookville.
One meal: $7.00 X 2 anglers = $14.00
Drink/Snack: $3.50 X 2 anglers = $7.00
Incidentals: $3.00 X 2 anglers= $6.00
When the money spent by the remaining licensed anglers is included, a little less than 1.5 million dollars was contributed to local economies. Adding in the spending associated with owning and operating a boat or tackle purchases significantly increases the total impact.