The Basics of Fishing

Fishing is the sport of catching freshwater or saltwater fish with a fishing rod, reel, line, and hook.  Early civilizations fished with spears and traps, but also caught fish with more primitive versions of the hook and line that we use today.  How did fishing go from food to fun?  Well, as people became more proficient at gathering food, they could spend more time doing what they enjoyed.  And as anyone who has battled a fish on the end of a line knows, fishing is fun.  While fishing equipment improved throughout the ages, the Industrial Revolution brought the most changes, mass-producing rods and reels, as well as synthetic lines, that would make fishing easier and more productive.

Fishing is considered a great sport as you don't need a specific kind of athletic ability to master it, and it is suitable for men, women, and children.  Fishing is a wonderful family sport that is affordable, and you can fish wherever there are bodies of water.

While some people enjoy fishing as a way to calm nerves and relax, others love the competitive spirit of fishing.  Bass tournaments started in the 1960s, and are still enjoyed today by competitive fishermen.  As a matter of fact, tournaments made popular today's common practice of catching and releasing fish.  Today, many fishers don't catch fish to eat, but just for the sport of it.  These fishers religiously throw their fish back into the water once they are caught.

Whether you are looking to put dinner on the table or want to relax, whether you are fishing competitively or just want to enjoy nature with your family, fishing is a growing pastime.  In fact, according to the American Sport Fishing Association, there are an estimated 50 million recreational anglers in the United States today.

Fishing Resources

• Take Me Fishing
  
  Single source for information on fishing, boating and water conservation.  The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation seeks to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby increasing public awareness and appreciation of the need to protect, conserve and restore our aquatic resources.
  www.TakeMeFishing.org

The Sport of Fishing