GO FISH: A $24 BILLION A YEAR PASTIME

Herbert Clark Hoover, an avid angler and the first U.S. president born west of the Mississippi River, once said: "Presidents have only two moments of personal seclusion. One is prayer. The other is fishing And you can't pray all the time."

Many Americans apparently share Hoover's interest in fishing.

The nation's anglers provide a $24 billion boost to the U.S. economy annually.

"Overall, more than 35.6 million people spend an average of 14 days fishing each year," said Hugh Vickery, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in Washington, D.C.

Vickery said that according to a recent FWS survey on fishing, hunting and wildlife-associated recreation, each of those anglers spend an average of $674 annually on the sport.

About 20 million, or 28 percent, of those anglers are women.

Breaking it down, the study reveals that anglers spend $22.8 billion in trip-related costs, including $5 billion on food and lodging and $2.8 billion on transportation.

In addition, they spend $9.4 billion on equipment -- rods, reels, lines, hooks, sinkers, depth finders and other electronic fishing devices. Almost a million dollars ($974,000) was spent by fishermen for licenses, stamps, tags and other permits.

These staggering figures do not include young anglers 6 to 15 years old, said Vickery. Previous studies show there are another 9.5 million anglers in that age group, he said.

All this measures up to "big business" by any standard, and sharing in the pot are manufacturers and retailers of fishing, camping and outdoor equipment.

"During at least two months of the year, fishing supplies and equipment account for a big part of our sales," said Don Beard, of Beard's Sports Shop, 811 Broadway. "We start selling a lot of fishing tackle in April and it continues through May."

Bob Chapman agrees.

Chapman, who is with the angling department of Chrisman Outfitters, 34 N. Main, was busy this week.

"We specialize in fly fishing rods, reels and fly-tying supplies," said Chapman. "The season has started, and we expect to be busy for awhile."

Among local businesses that provide area outdoorsmen with angling equipment is JBR Outfitters, 2502 William, and Younghouse Distributing Co. Inc., a wholesaler of fishing tackle. Many department stores also feature fishing and outdoors equipment centers.

"There are a lot of fishermen in this area," said Beard.

"It seems there are more anglers every year," added Chapman.

They're right. Angling numbers have increased by more than 10 percent over the past decade.

The more than one million anglers in Missouri provide more than $675 million to the state's economy. Fishermen also provided $4.3 million to the state in fish restoration funds, which are awarded each year from the FWS.

More than 1.5 million anglers fish more than 40 days each in Illinois annually, making fishing one of the most popular outdoor activities in that state and providing a $1.1 billion boost to the state's economy. Illinois received $3.7 million from the FWS fish restoration funds.

Sport fishermen contribute more than $180 million to the FWS fund each year. These funds are generated as a result of a 10 percent excise tax on fishing equipment and three percent tax on electric trolling motors and sonar fish finders.

Anglers outnumber the nation's hunters 35.6 million to 21.3 million. "The survey showed 10.7 million big-game hunters, 7.6 small-game hunters and three million migratory bird hunters," said Vickery. "Hunters spend about $12 billion a year, or an average of $851."

The survey also reported another $5 billion in spending by hunters and anglers which could not be attributed solely to one sport or the other, said Vickery.

Getting equipped for fishing is not as difficult or expensive as a person might imagine.

"You can get started in fly fishing for less than $125," said Chapman. "That includes a good quality graphite rod, an adequate reel and fly line."

Or you can spend up to $800 or more for a rig, Chapman said.

"Some of the custom fly rods go for $485 to $595," he said. "A high quality reel can be priced at more than $400."

Once you have your fly rig, you can tie your own flies, or buy a number of poppers, or fly lures, for $2 to $20, adds Chapman.

A fly angler is ready to go with one of the rigs described above, unless he/she wants the outfit that a well-dressed angler might wear.

A special outdoor shirt can cost from $29.95 up; a rain suit -- with vented front, hood with visor and pants -- ranges from $50 to $250; and a good set of waders can go from $159 to $259.

Don't let these costs hold you back.

Anglers can find casting and/or spinning reels, starting at $15.95. Rods to go along with the reels can be found for $9.95 and up.

Also, there's always the old cane pole, hook, line and sinker which can "boat" many a fish.

Boating is another complete line of outdoors equipment. "Boat purchases were not included in the FWS survey," said Vickery. "Boat launching, mooring, fuel, and trolling motors were included in the fishing survey."

Also included were guide fees, public land use fees, and boat rental.

Survey findings reveal that 84 percent of anglers do travel some distances to pursue their fishing sport, but only 2 percent request the services of a guide.

Forty-four percent of anglers use some type of artificial lures; 16 percent have camping equipment; and 10 percent have subscriptions, or purchase, fishing and outdoors magazines.

Following are some of the costs involved in the FWS survey, which covered the calendar year, 1991.

-- Total fishing expenditures: $24 billion, an average of $674 for each of the 35.5 million anglers.

-- Trip related, food and lodging, $4.9 billion, average of $139 per angler.

-- Boat launching, mooring, maintenance, insurance, fuel, $2.1 billion, average of 61 per angler.

-- Fishing equipment, total -- rods, reels, hooks, lines, sinkers, $3.7 billion, average of $105 per angler.

-- Auxiliary equipment -- camping, binoculars, special fishing clothing -- $169 million, average of $17 per person./

-- Land leasing and ownership, $2.1 billion.

-- Miscellaneous -- licenses, stamps, tags, permits, magazines, membership in fishing clubs, and outdoor contributions -- $545 million, average of $32 per person.