SWMBO loved the above long weekend holiday snap on the Tongariro River trail circuit yesterday.

Just look at the intense inspection from the pillion passenger.  What a cutie!  There was no way I could get him to smile.  But what we are trying to illustrate above is this may be why biking has quickly become more popular than trout fishing.

These days young people need to be introduced to the fun elements at an early age – as early as possible before they discover all those other distractions..

When was the last time you noticed a group of young kids involved in trout fishing?  That is where the foundations are nurtured and built.  Look at the enthusiastic kids in the photos…

Have you ever seen a group of young anglers as enthusiastic as that?  When have you ever seen young anglers so enthusiastic, or ever?

Once again yesterday the number of bikers out-numbered walkers by over 4 to 1 and they outnumbered the fishos by a similar margin.  Biking is the new golf.

The average age of Tongariro anglers steadily increases every year.  Not a good sign for the future at all.  The Trout Centre Kids Days cannot do it all alone – moreso now it is being converted into a trout farm?

Meanwhile the wise men in DOC wonder why Taupo fishing licence sales continue to fall.    What have they done in the last decade to encourage kids fishing?   The basic building blocks to encourage young people into trout fishing are missing.  That is just part of the bigger problem.  Anglers recognise the issues but do not want to know the answer.  At this rate of decline and at this level of angler apathy all we will leave for the next generation is Carp Fishing?  Have a nice day…