The year 2000 is just around the corner. For many, the advent of the new millennium on January 1, 2001 is an exciting event. For those who have lived through much of the past 70 years, it truly has been a century of discovery and advancement. I can remember as a little boy, reading books about what life would be like by the time the Year 2000 rolled around. Many of the predictions have come true while some are still afar off.
Unless you are part of a religious sect that has chosen not to embrace technology or are living as a cave hermit (if you are reading this, then you belong to neither group), rapid advances in science have affected our lives. Some of these effects have had a negative influence upon our lives with our environment suffering, the advancement of high tech weapons of war and especially for anglers in some places, the intrusion of industrial waste upon our streams and rivers.
On the other hand, we often take for granted the great positive advances technology has provided us with. With the Internet, we can stay in touch with distant friends and relations, air travel has increased to a point where it is more affordable for the average person to travel abroad, microwave cooking allows us to safely heat and consume our foods in a time saving manner, and of course there are many more benefits to numerous to mention.
Again, one of the benefits technology has had for anglers is the advancement of materials used in fishing rods and lures, better fly lines, waterproof clothing, and GPS systems to ensure we don't get lost as easily. As well, we have managed in some parts of the world to bring back fisheries that were almost dead and gone. Where I reside, some of the best fisheries are the Great Lake tributaries like the Credit River which, not that long ago, were considered useless for fishing.
As we approach the second millenium, lets pause for a moment and try to imagine what it will be like for our descendants by the time Year 3000 rolls around. What do you foresee as far as life on Earth? Do you think we will solve the pressing problems we presently have?
More specifically, what do you think will happen to the sport of fly fishing? What about the fish themselves? Will there be natural fish, or will we have developed some super sport fish? What about equipment? Tackle? Will we be fishing on some other planet?
The folks at The Fly Fishing Shop of Welches, Oregon, want to know as well. In fact, they are offering some pretty nice prizes for The 3rd Millenium Fly Fishing Cyber Art contest that they are sponsoring. The Grand Prize, consisting of a Sage 589-5SP fly rod, Abel T/R-2 reel, and Mastery fly line is valued at over $900.00. If you have some artistic bent, and have an interest in fly fishing, this is one contest that you might want to give some serious thought to!
According to the Press Release from FlyFishUSA, "in order to participate, simply let your imagination go wild and create a cyber-poster featuring an exotic location and species that could entice futuristic anglers to explore the galaxy in search of the ultimate fly fishing adventure. Just be sure your fish has fins and lives in some sort of liquid environment, and that any tackle and flies shown conform to today’todays standards.
If you think you could use some tackle worth $900.00, take a look at all the information you will need here and consider the contest!
Last Week:
The Muncher is a favorite of Ian James for carp, smallies, more. 
Thoughts of a Chicken Rancher. Doc tells it like it is.