Wade Bourne - Basic Fishing: A Beginners Guide

Fishing is a fun, healthy activity that anybody can enjoy. A catch like this mixed bag of saltwater fish will bring satisfaction to young and old anglers alike.

Fishing is enjoyed by more than 34 million Americans each year and most is done on quiet, out-of-the-way waters, either alone or in small groups. Fishing might lack the high profile of team sports, but it is one of the most popular recreational activities in America.

However, before getting started, why get into fishing? What will you gain by taking up this sport? There are many answers to these questions, because fishing offers different benefits to different people.

For most, its a healthy, fresh-air activity that can be enjoyed by anybody. Fishing is no discriminator of age, sex or physical skills. Anyone who makes the effort can find a place and a way to catch fish, and experience the pleasures therein!

Fishing provides a perfect setting for fun and togetherness with family and friends. Its amazing how fishing removes barriers between people and allows them to understand and enjoy each other. Fishing is an especially good way for parents to build a strong relationship with children.

Fishing is a good way to make friends. Anglers share a mutual bond and speak a universal language. When two fishermen meet for the first time, they have something in common to talk about.

Fishing is a good way to get back to nature. On the water, the pressures of modern life seem to drift away on the breeze. Its a great way to relax, to tune into the soul-soothing rhythms of the wind and waves.

Successful fishermen depend on skill instead of luck. Basic Fishing will teach you the basics you need to consistently make catches like this beautiful smallmouth bass.

Fishing offers suspense and excitement. Theres great drama in watching a bobber disappear underwater, setting the hook, then battling the fish up to the bank or boat. When you catch a fish, you feel the excitement of a job well done. Fishing provides feelings of accomplishment and self-esteem as you learn the tricks of the sport and how to apply them successfully.

Fishing teaches patience. It teaches perseverance and how to work toward goals. Ponds, lakes and streams can be natural classrooms for some very important lessons in life.

And last, fishing can be a source of nutritious, delicious-tasting food. There are few banquets as pleasing as fresh fish that youve caught, cleaned and cooked.

However, there is a warning that should be given regarding this sport! With all its benefits, fishing also carries certain liabilities. Itll hook you just like you plan to hook the fish. Itll cause you to crawl out of bed well before sunrise, travel long distances, burn enormous amounts of energy, and even spend large sums of money, all for the chance of tricking a simple fish into biting a bait. For many, fishing is truly addictive.

Understand, though, that you dont have to go to these extremes to catch fish. You can make this sport what you want it to be. Its not all hardship and effort and expense. If you so choose, it can be laidback and inexpensive, close to home and unsophisticated. This is one of the beauties of fishing. You certainly dont need a fancy boat, expensive tackle and baits, and the intelligence of Einstein to catch fish. You can keep this sport simple, or challenging. You decide!