Greg Schwipps - Fishing For Dummies

Enjoy Fishing For Dummies, 3rd Edition, and go fishing!

Part 1

IN THIS PART …

Getting to know the fish you're after

Understanding fish anatomy

Evaluating fishing water you’ve never seen before

Chapter 1

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.

Fish are alive, and although some studies suggest that they do not feel pain, at least not in a capacity anywhere near the way I do, they do not jump at the chance to be caught. Using your gear and more importantly your mind, you must outmaneuver the fish. This presents an interesting, constantly shifting challenge.

Obviously, fish live in an environment much different from ours. Understand, though, that they’re well-suited to that environment. With a few exceptions, they’re cold-blooded and possess a good sense of smell. They live in the water (you already knew that), have backbones, and pull oxygen from the water through gills. They are shaped to move efficiently through water (many look like torpedoes), using fins to navigate, and most are covered with scales. All fish are also covered with a slime-like mucus that protects them from disease and injury. (This is why you should only handle fish with wet hands — dry hands or a towel will remove this valuable slimecoat.) Fish don’t have external ears, but they do have internal ones and are highly sensitive to noise like the thudding of a boat hull. Fish possess a lateral line, running from tail to head, that they use to detect low-frequency vibrations. They use this organ to locate prey and evade predators, while also gathering information about water temperature and current. So fish might not share many characteristics with humans, but they’re a more than able opponent when it comes to people trying to outsmart them. They know their surroundings as well as you know your living room. Figure 1-1 shows a typical fish, with some of the traits described here.

© John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

FIGURE 1-1:Meet your average fish.

Every angler has a particular reason for pursuing the sport, and after a few trips out to the water you’re likely to figure out what it is you appreciate and enjoy about it, too. Whether you are after excitement, peace and quiet, or a healthy food source, fishing has something for everyone.

You probably already know this, but fishing is an outdoor activity. So the first reason to take up fishing is that it requires you to go outside. Some of us think that there’s something soul-supporting about being outdoors, especially in those places that are inherently wild and unmarked by humans.

Take up fishing because you need some time spent quietly by yourself. Or take up fishing because you want to spend quality time with your family or friends. Two anglers fishing in a boat, or wading their way quietly upstream, won’t be distracted by scrolling news programs, honking cars, or instant messages. Cellphones can be turned off, and social media can be ignored for a while. Whether alone or in a small group, fishing quiets the mind.

This is not to suggest that all fishing is quiet! When a monster fish thrashes near the boat, or goes airborne trying to throw the hook, the adrenaline rush the angler feels rivals that of a linebacker after a crushing tackle or a tennis player after serving an ace. It’s a physical sensation. (See Chapter 18to find out how to land that behemoth bass.)

What fishing provides me might be one thing. You too will find a way to make fishing work for you. If you crave excitement, fish in a way that offers it. If you seek peaceful, introspective time, fishing can give you that, as well. And no one will make you commit to one kind of fishing all the time. Your fishing can evolve as you do.

Our ancestors fished for food, and you can, too. Fish are great tasting and good for you, as well. Chapters 20and 21tell you how to prepare fish for the table, as I even offer you some proven recipes, allowing you to make wonderful meals of your fresh-caught fish.

Many people today care about where their food comes from, and we like the idea of eating locally grown food. Well, when it comes to sustainability, fishing is tough to beat. Fish are a renewable resource. Selective harvest will ensure that we all have plenty of high-quality food available forever, possibly from a source close to your home. As long as the water quality of your fishing spot remains good, a properly prepared fish can add a healthy option to your menu.