Make Small Fortune In Fishing Industry...

....now there is a headline you don't see very often. In fact, I have never seen it.

Unless you start out with a large fortune and slowly pitter it away while in pursuit of our friends who live beneath the waves, most people don't enter the exciting world of the fishing industry to seek fame and fortune. There are rarely any recruiters from Salmon canneries knocking on your door as you bask in the glory of graduation from college, nor do you pick up a copy of Entrepeneur Magazine and find" fisherman" as a hot start-up franchise. Guys wearing lots of "bling" and chest waders rarely come sloshing into your business and hand you a business card and brochure claiming that: "for a $10,000 investment I can help you triple your income in thirty days...GUARANTEED!!"

In fact, I even googled "Make Money Fishing" and came away with 313 responses and the disheartening notion that if you choose fishing as a way of life--you are pretty much destined for a life of relaxed mediocrity. There of course are some exceptions, like tournament bass fisherman, or guys selling fishing adventures to Mars--but for the most part --if you have some startling epiphany that "I want to make my fortune in fishing"- you are barking up the wrong riffle.

Some other samples from the make money fishing offerings:

1. Russ Roy-- Offers up a slightly "tongue in cheek" article, stating that we fisherman can earn extra cash slathering stinky fish attractants and fish "sputem" on our jeans and then resell them on perhaps ebay as "designer fisher wear". Complete with fish hook holes. I only say slightly "tongue in cheek"--because they probably would sell -- especially in some posh Beverly Hills boutique on Rodeo drive.

"Oh dahling, those salmon roe encrusted Jordaches make your tush look devine!!"

Heck, throw in a "roostertail" 1/4 ounce zipper and I might buy a pair myself.

2. A New England commercial fisherman is selling his fishing operation--He is "grossing" about $80K per year and claims a "cash flow" of $53k. Asking price $105k.

The "hook" here is the benefit of leaving the rat race for the "open seas". I have to ask myself," does this mean he wants to re-enter the rat race??" Health issues force sale?? Wear funky woolen sweaters!

NO THANKS!

Oh and by the way-- it is a one man operation--so have fun running around that boat and giving orders to yourself, or you can hire someone and pretty much watch your $53k disappear.

No fortune there.

3. Make your own fishing lures-- This might give you some self satisfaction, or relieve some tension--which in itself might be a nice benefit for the rest of society- and I suppose if you can get $3.00 a lure you can actually triple your income as a current fly tier...However, I doubt you are going to make a fortune, unless you can break into a already saturated market of fishing lure producers or you live to be 116 and can sell them on ebay as "antiques".

I really couldn't find any bonafide "get rich in fishing" schemes, except for the tournament fisherman offerings, which pretty much isn't considered fishing at that point.

Not even an MLM scheme-- "You see, you buy 12 fish and send them to each of the Kingfishers in your UPLINE-- and then you move up from carp level!!" --"When you move to the top of the "pyramid anchor"and become a "Marlin" you will then receive 64,000 FISH in your mailbox!"

Are you in?

So I guess we fishermen will have to retreat to the "zen-minimalist" philosophy of : less is more, if we want to consider ourselves "wealthy" or "rich".

At least by fishing standards, we can consider ourselves rich in outdoor experiences, or having a wealth of fishing knowledge. Not to mention, that the Toyota Chinook camper is paid for!!

According to my good friend"Webster" fortune is defined as :prosperity attained partly through luck... AND who knows more about luck than a fisherman!!!

So, keep trying to sell those Rolex imatations, cheap pharmaceuticals, and"secrets" to success on ebay.

The competition is a lot less in:" the road to fishing riches" market. Which can only lead to a lot of "downtime", which can certainly be filled with..... FISHING!

Besides, I have never heard it said that: "the time spent selling cialis on the internet is not deducted from one's life"--have you?

A.J. Klott
Author, writer of fishing humor,and "fly tack" peddler.A.J. writes about the people,characters and modern day events that surround the fishing world. His first book is due out in December of 2005. If you need a laugh or a fun gift, visit his website at: http://www.twoguyswithflys.com