Be a SMART Angler One of the first lessons to teach a new angler is how to be SMART. Each letter of that word will help remind you how to have fun and protect the fish that we love to catch. Share your smarts with your new fishing buddies. S - Safety first! • Watch where you are swinging hooks while casting. • Be careful when walking around steep banks near the water. • Wear a life jacket when fishing on steep banks or from a boat. M - Manners are important. • Don’t yell on the water. You could ruin the quiet of nature that others enjoy. • Don’t bully people out of fishing spots if they were there first. A - Appreciate clean water. The fish live in water, and they have no place else to go. Litter tossed into the water can harm the wildlife that we enjoy while on the water. Neighbors may not let you fish on their land if you leave garbage behind. R - Release some of your catch. Do you really need to keep any or all the fish you caught? What will feed your family and friends? It may be better to release some of the fish you caught to keep the population going in the future. T - Teach others to be SMART anglers. Imagine that? You will gain a fishing friend, and they will know how to be SMART when fishing with you. 46 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • July/August 2013 PFBC Facebook: PaFishandBoat www.fishandboat.comhttp://www.fishandboat.com