Читать книгу Fishing For Dummies - Greg Schwipps - Страница 11

IN THIS CHAPTER

Seeing the positives of fishing

Figuring out where to fish

Meeting common fish

Gathering the basic gear

Exploring fishing techniques

Catching fish, and taking the next steps

Nearly 50 million anglers walk among us in the United States, and while some are more dedicated than others to the hobby, all of them are gaining something positive from the experience. Fishing offers a chance to be near family and friends — a time to bond without the distraction of screens. Or it can be a time to be alone. To fish, you must consider the world of your quarry, the water, and that means imagining a world far different from your own. Catching fish is exciting. Sometimes it enables you to procure and prepare your own food. Sometimes it affords you the thrill of the hunt with the opportunity to return your catch to the water. Importantly, by purchasing fishing licenses and supplies, you can help fund your local conservation efforts.

Because I've been fishing for almost my entire life, and have been fascinated by fish from my first memories (there’s a photo of me wearing nothing but a diaper, holding a big largemouth bass my dad had brought home), people often ask me why I’m so captivated by fishing. Even though I think about fish every single day, the answer is a little complicated.

I think I fish for the same reasons so many others do: It’s a chance to connect with nature, to get outside, to be a small part of something bigger than my own schedule or routine for a while. I fish because I like hanging out in the places where fish live – being near water calms me. Fish don’t always behave the way I think they should, or follow my plans for them. The weather doesn’t either. I like that unpredictability because it forces me to react, to strategize, to ponder. I like angling because I like spending time with fellow anglers. I crave the excitement fishing offers. When I have a disappointing fishing trip (and what they say is true — there is no bad day fishing), I can’t wait to go again. When I have a great fishing trip, I can’t wait to go again.

I hope you can find something in fishing that sustains you, too. In this chapter, I give you an overview of this sport I love, from the motivation to get out there to an idea of where you should go to give it a try. Because there’s some gear involved, as well as skill and technique, I introduce you to these topics as well, so that you’re prepared to fish successfully.