To the editor:
The March 2013 issue of Bassmaster magazine includes an article about a new law proposed by Maine Rep. Paul Davis, H.P. 37/L.D. 42, that would outlaw the use of all rubber or plastic baits for recreational fishing.
Every year for the past 16 years my pals and I enjoy our annual fishing trip to Houlton. We stay at the Stardust Motel and fish the lakes between Houlton and south to Danforth. We eat at area diners, buy fishing tackle, gas etc.; we spend hundreds of dollars apiece in Houlton every year. If plastic baits are outlawed we will no longer come. We love the area and would miss coming, but 70 percent of our fishing is done with plastic lures.
Perhaps Rep. Davis should be made aware of the loss of tourist fishing dollars statewide if this law passes. My pals and I always collect damaged plastics when used and can’t believe this is a serious problem. We also fish in Florida where they have thousands of tourist fishermen every year using millions of plastic lures. Why is this a problem in Maine?
Mark George
Virginia Beach, Va.
