“Let’s take a step back here. Let’s talk in person. Let’s not read into what somebody says. And if we’re willing to say something online, let’s be willing to back it up in a conversation that is a reasonable conversation between two people. If people can start moving in that direction, we’re going to change a lot of things.”

This sentiment was shared with us from FishBrain Shane last summer following an online dispute over a proposed fee increase for permits to the Boundary Waters. The short version of the backstory is this: Paddle and Portage supports a fee increase for permits to the BWCA, and FishBrain Shane is less supportive of the proposed increase.

What could have led to an ugly, far too commonplace argument on Facebook instead transformed into a reasonable discussion between two parties with varying viewpoints. That discussion was shared on the Paddle & Portage Podcast last summer. Listen to the episode here.

The culmination of the discussion led to something tangible this winter: a fishing trip to the Boundary Waters in pursuit of lake trout.

Photo by Joe Friedrichs

First time BWCA visitor. Photo by Fish Brain Shane

FishBrain Shane and some of his friends, including some youngsters making their first ever trip to the Boundary Waters, traveled from the Twin Cities region traveled to the Gunflint Trail to go fishing with the duo from the Paddle & Portage Podcast.

Is there hope for people with opposing viewpoints to have reasonable discussion? Is there a better way to communicate than trolling on Facebook, where negativity runs rampant in a toxic pit of political tribalism and rage-baiting?

We believe so. And this is our evidence to support it.

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