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Fishing is big business. Did you know that more people fish than hunt in the United States and the audience is growing? According to the 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation researched and prepared by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other partners, more than 33 million Americans aged 16 or older fish our waters. This was up from 30 million in 2006. The total annual impact amounts to $41.8 billion spent on trips, licenses, and equipment.

The Monongahela and its tributaries share in this number. We wanted to get a better idea of fishing along the Mon, so we talked with Dennis Slagle, both an angler and community advocate. Dennis is actively involved in the River Town Program and other efforts aimed at leveraging local waterways as community assets.

Dennis fishes the north and south branches of Ten Mile Run, which he says is stocked with trout and smallmouth bass. Why does he fish? “I do it for the exercise. I like to get out and walk, wade the stream. When you fish the river, you’re fishing a different kind of fish.”

Fishing “Holes”

According to Dennis, some favorite fishing holes along the mid-Mon include the mouth of Ten Mile Run, Greene Cove, and below the Maxwell Lock near Brownsville. Anglers have reeled in everything from catfish and walleye to smallmouth bass, sheepshead, sauger, and muskie. (The photo above is of angler Josh Haley, with a 41 pound, 46 inch muskie he caught in the Mon.)

Adrenalin Rush

Dennis also clued us in on another sort of fishing taking place on the Mon. Guided night bowfishing trips are now offered by the charter outfit Nocturnal Addiction Bowfishing. The company offers trips on just a few waterways (Ohio, Pymatuning Lake), and the Mon (launching from Fredericktown) is one of them. Their trips start at $125 a person.

For others, traditional fishing tournaments and derbies offer enough of a rush. The Washington, PA Bassmasters host tourneys on the Mon (Dennis says they’ve put over a hundred boats on the river some years). And this weekend - Saturday, July 16 - the Marianna Outdoorsmen Association is hosting its 2nd annual M.O.A. Catfish derby. The catch and release tournament will run from 4-9 p.m. in Marianna. The cost is $15 for members and $25 for non-members. This includes a BBQ and prizes for the largest and most fish caught. Call (724) 986-5708 for more information.

Community Impact

In addition to the economic impact referenced earlier, fishing can and does play a role in stewardship and community-building. We thought you would enjoy this great video produced by the Maxwell Basin Recreation Area. With programs like Kids’ Fishing Day, watershed monitoring, canoe races, wounded warriors fishing events, conoeing and fishing classes in local schools, and stream clean ups, it’s so very clear that fishing and water recreation are used to connect area residents to local waterways. Recreating leads to appreciation, and appreciation results in stewardship. And this is what’s needed to continue to promote and protect our waterways.

Boat Launches

If this post has got you running for your rod and tackle box, please come fish along the Mon. Bring a kayak or canoe for an especially serene experience. Here’s a list of boat launches and marinas in the area. We don’t know about you, but as soon as we’ve posted this, we’re going to set our “out of office” message and let people know we’ve “gone fishin.’”