Not even fishing immune from effects of coronavirus pandemic

As lakes and other fishing spots around the state close to promote social distancing, I have to wonder: Did we unwittingly contribute to this mess?

When coronavirus became an issue in California, I felt that fishing wouldn’t be affected that much; after all, we are experts at social distancing. I was encouraged to read reports that the state considered fishing a preferred method of social distancing.

I began to feel uneasy as the first closures happened at local lakes. I could see things beginning to gain negative momentum. That’s when I started to hear about anglers massing on the remaining open lakes. That didn’t sound good. I was now rethinking how things might turn out if this trend continued.

Of course, any post of a big fish at an open lake set off a rush to get there. More frustrated anglers ready to fish than ever before, springtime conditions and very few good choices left caused the same kind of situation that was causing folks to panic-shop toilet paper.

I fished San Luis on Saturday and I knew I was seeing the beginning of the end. I saw groups of three to eight shore anglers on almost every point from Romero past Dinosaur. In one case I saw four or five trucks parked on a beach with tents, grills, music and around 20-25 people. It was a big party and it broke every rule.

Everyone is wanting to get out and have a good time, but it has worked against us as anglers. For most, fishing is the release valve to manage stress. Who would have ever imagined a crisis that effectively shuts us off to something we depend on more than we realize. It has magnified how important fishing is to all of us, as well as how fragile and quickly our sport could be taken away.

Hopefully, our overall lack of compliance isn’t going to be considered when things reopen – probably incrementally. I’m sure that how we handle that will be considered carefully; it hasn’t been pretty overall. Like you, I am trying to be patient, wondering what the impacts on my fishing will be. Will there be a new normal?

I also hope we’ve learned some lessons from this time.

A few parting positive thoughts:

1. The fish are getting bigger.

2. No one else is catching your fish.

3. The fish will be hungry.

4. You’re not alone.

5. This too shall pass.

Stay safe. Never give up!

This story was originally published March 31, 2020 at 12:04 PM with the headline "Not even fishing immune from effects of coronavirus pandemic."