I'm 100% on the same page as Preacher, at least for his first few posts in this thread on conservation, barbless hooks, live bait, and electronics.

But I have to disagree with a couple of the statements in solotripper's last note, and not ... umm ... let him off the hook like Preacher did.

First and foremost, a $4 discount for outfitter permits is a subsidy, plain and simple, paid for by the taxpayers of Ontario. Canada has way too many handouts to special interest groups, and I can't let this get by without objection.

Yes, outfitters work hard at trying to make an honest living in an economically challenging business, but so do lots of other Canadians - should we give handouts to them all? Then who pays? I know I don't need to quote Karl Marx here, but I will anyway: "To each according to his need, from each according to his ability." We know how well that system works. Sorry, I'm starting to sound like Ayn Rand here. I'm not quite that right-wing on economic matters.

If you really agree with the position that parks should be for everyone, not just the rich, then you should support the budget-conscious visitors who buy or borrow a cheap canoe, tent, and sleeping bag, pack their own food, and do not spend any money on outfitters at all. I started out this way, and to all the other students, scout troops, church groups, and taxed-to-death Apu's taking a week off from the QuikkiMart, my only comment is "have a great trip".

Finally, what Canada's treaty Indians and Metis are allowed to do regarding live bait, motorized transport, and the like has nothing to do with conservation or Provincial park plans. This is handled at the federal level by the Department of Indian Affairs, but I feel my blood pressure starting to rise to the danger level again, so I will cut this rant off here and just say the issues are "complicated".