Now that professional BASS fishermen have gained audience with the President, can the Rapala lobby be far behind?

I’m just not sure any branch of government is ready for campaign contributions from rubber worm and smokeless chaw manufacturers, the Fly Fishing lobby is Old School – legislators are used to fine meals, finer wines, and envelopes slipped across the table in napkins.

Good Old Boys don’t play fair.

They neither look nor act like the Beltway crowd. Homespun wit is a better sound bite, and a firm sweaty grip on the handshake coupled with the use of two first names sure lacks sinister.

Bush pronounced it “a good, clean sport . . . that requires good conservation in order to make sure our fisheries are good.”

More power to ’em. I’m guessing that a guided trip on Lake Okeechobee will not even make the radar of an auditor, and compared to a chartered Parisian junket to foster better relations, will cost the taxpayers less to boot.

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