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Steward of the Week: Buddy Johns
By FishRecycler | December 14, 2011
Buddy Johns serves on the Recycled Fish 24 Hour Fish-A-Thon management team, and has done so since the inception of the program.
Buddy Johns has only been fishing for six years, but no matter the season, you can bet Buddy finds time now to be on the water.
He was born and raised in the hills of Pennsylvania where he enjoyed camping with his parents. Buddy loved it so much that his family purchased the campgrounds. Complete with its own private fishing pond, today Buddy organizes fishing derbies for kids, educating them not only on proper fishing techniques, but also on being stewards of our waters.
Buddy stresses the importance of getting our youth out fishing. He looks to the future and feels it is critical to get our kids off the couch and on the water.
“If the youth keeps fishing through video games instead of getting outside and doing it for real,” Buddy explains. “We will have nobody buying fishing licenses which in turn won’t fund our fisheries management programs. I’m counting on healthy waters and strong fisheries when I retire!”
He states that anglers buying fishing licenses fund our state operated programs, including fish stockings, habitat improvements and angler access sites. He feels that the key to keeping these programs going, we need to get our future anglers involved.
Buddy practices what he preaches. While we all enjoy our favorite sport fishing shows, he would much rather be on the water himself, specifically wetting a line in his “swamp”.
Buddy loves fishing so much that he’s done it for 24 hours straight! He’s helped organize and been an active participant in Recycled Fish’s 24-Hour Fish-A-Thon.
The 24-Hour Fish-A-Thon is an annual event where anglers throughout the United States designate 24 hours out of their busy schedules to fish nonstop. This raises funds for conservation and brings awareness of the issues that our waters face.
“The Recycled Fish 24-Hour Fish-A-Thon is the greatest way to reach out to anglers to not only explain, but SHOW them how to be great stewards,” Buddy says.
The Recycled Fish committee reaches out with helpful tips in the months leading up to the Fish-A-Thon that help anglers maintain our fisheries. The anglers have chances to win prizes before and during the event as well, but the prize Buddy is most proud of is the friendships he’s forged because of this event.
“The friendships gained from the Fish-A-Thon are absolutely amazing.” He explains. “Anglers have the opportunity to create strong friendships with other anglers across the country.”
The popularity of the 24-Hour Fish-A-Thon is only gaining momentum. It has grown significantly each year since it began, this past year’s event eclipsing the fund total of both previous years combined. It continues to be Recycled Fish’s top program for spreading the word of their cause and raising funds to support it.
Buddy asks anyone interested in learning more about the Fish-A-Thon to visit www.recycledfish.org. Click on Our Programs, then on 24-Hour Fish-A-Thon. Or if you’d like to hear it from Buddy himself, shoot him an email to Buddy@recycledfish.org.
As mentioned earlier, there is no off season for Buddy. In the spring he can be found on Pymatuning Lake or Lake Wilhelm. Summer he prefers his Geneva Swamp where he enjoys targeting bowfin. Fall he might be on Lake Erie, and in the winter? “Anywhere there’s ice,” he stresses.
No matter the season, no matter the hour, Buddy prefers to be on the water. And he enjoys meeting other anglers out there, encouraging anyone to introduce themselves.
“Look for the yellow truck,” Buddy says. “And don’t be shy.”
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