DEERFIELD — Anglers travel from far and wide to cast into the waters of the Deerfield River and its many cold water tributaries. When sportsmen and women visit the region, they buy restaurant meals, stay at hotels, hire guides, visit local stores, fill up their gas tanks, and more.
Now the local branch of Trout Unlimited plans to measure the economic impact of fly fishing in the Deerfield River basin. The group has built an online survey, and is encouraging anglers to log in and answer a few questions. The survey can be found on the group’s website. The goal is to understand how fly fishing boosts the economy. The statistics will be shared with government officials, conservationists, and other stakeholders. The purpose is to galvanize public and private support for protecting the Deerfield River and its feeder streams.
“Our effort is to demonstrate the importance of protecting and enhancing area cold water rivers and streams, for not only ecological reasons but also economic benefit as well,” said Kevin Parsons, the local chapter’s president.
