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Earlier this week I went fishing at a local pond. Within a mile of local residencies, the pond is stocked frequently. As I worked my fly line out onto the pond, looking around me, I had an interesting experience. For the first time, I noticed what a peculiar blend of people fishing enthusiasts are.
We come from diverse backgrounds, economic classes, and races. Some of us fish for sport, some of us fish for food, and some of us just fish to have something to do while we drink beer. But whatever the reason, fishing offers something to us all.
One of the things that makes fishing such an interesting sport is that it caters to all skill levels. You don't have to be a professional fishing instructor to have a good time.
I remember fishing trips with my dad when I was just a little boy where we rented a boat and fished all morning out on a lake. As young as I was, and even though my brothers and my dad had a lot more experience and knowledge, I was the only one to catch a fish. The truth is, no matter how skilled you think you are, it's still up to the fish which line to bite and which lines to pass by.
In fact, you can literally know nothing about fish, their feeding habits, the way they react to water pressure, etc., to catch some fish. Your average "Joe Blow" can toss a worm into a lake and catch a hefty sized dinner. That's what makes fishing such a great sport for children, it doesn't require an advanced degree in marine biology to coax some fish onto your line.
On the other hand, there is enough in the way of technique and skill to work on, to challenge the most advanced angler. There will always be bigger fish in more difficult surroundings waiting for you to match your wits with their own.
You don't have to be athletic either. It doesn't require any conditioning at all to sit in a boat and throw a line out. Even in the most strenuous circumstances, like river fishing where you often fight strong deep currents, don't require an amazing physique. You only need to be able to walk so you can move along the river. And even if you can't walk, there's always the lake.
Along similar lines, fishing is also affordable to almost everyone. Whether you are one of those rich guys that has to have the latest and greatest rods and reels, fish-finders, bass boats, float tubes, etc. Or whether you can only put down fifteen dollars for a K-Mart special combined rod and reel combo, fishing doesn't require a huge financial commitment.
For those who have the money and want to spend it, there will always be newer and better gear to buy. There are even collectors who don't ever use their equipment, they just purchase antique rods and reels with shocking price tags only to lock them up as investments.
On the other hand, there are those people like me who can only afford to buy fishing equipment every once in a long while. A little here and a little there. Slowly but surely our cache of equipment grows and our tackle boxes fill up until we only have to pay for replacements now and then.
For those just starting off, the cost is very affordable. Starting off at only fifteen dollars you can find rod and reel combos that aren't the best but will get the job done. Another fifteen or twenty dollars will buy all the bait and hooks you'll need for an entire season. And lastly you'll have to buy a fishing license. The price for the license will vary depending on where you live.
A final possible reason for fishing's allure would be the location. To go fishing, obviously, you have to go where there are fish. This usually turns out to be some of the most gorgeous places there are in the world. These streams, rivers, lakes and ponds provide not only entertainment, but also beauty and peace. A quiet day of fishing on a pristine high mountain lake, or wading through a stream shrouded by the canopy of trees can be like therapy for our bodies that have spent the work week in a chair looking at a computer screen all day.
But whatever the reason, and no matter how you do it, get out and enjoy this perfect sport.
Get out and fish. You won't regret it.
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