Hook, Line and Sinker

He's a rare catch, my husband.

Thanks to him, I have learned more about fishing than I ever dreamed possible, because to be perfectly honest, I never gave the sport much thought until I met him. Oh, I knew it existed, and I enjoyed going fishing with my dad when I was a kid, but I had never seen exactly how mesmerizing this particular sport could be.

Now I know.

Theoretically, fishing could be classified as a very thrifty sport: you can participate with a minimum of equipment, a fishing license, and a little bit of luck. It brings you close to nature, it can be non-competitive, and you may even have something to show for it, besides a sunburn, when you're finished.

That's the theory; your results may differ.

In reality, an obsessed fisherman can accumulate an amazing assortment of fishing rods, reels, lures, and lines; it all depends, he will tell you, on the type of fish he's going after. And in this assortment of gear, the fishermen will undoubtedly have their personal favorites, generally the grungiest-looking equipment they own, since it's used most frequently. A fisherman may even form a deep emotional bond with his fishing gear; some have been known to go into deep mourning upon losing a lucky lure. Bait fishing becomes even more complicated. Our finny friends enjoy a varied diet, at least during fishing season, consuming a buffet of worms, cheese, peanut butter and marshmallows.

But before you can lure them, bait them and catch them, first you have to find them. Some fishermen freely share the location of their favorite fishing spots; most try to hold something back, or give intentionally-vague directions. Most fishermen, you see, are protective of the source of their joy.

Still, fishermen do love to talk to others who share their passion. And fishermen can find plenty of help online, with resources like Fishing World.Net and the websites in their International Fishing Ring. Another fishy community is found at the Fishing Network, which features an e-zine and fishing reference articles.

For North Americans, Bootin' Rayz Outdoors has an excellent list of links for information about the various fishing regulations in the U.S. and Canada. The links there will tell you pretty much everything you need to know about fishing in particular regions, from licenses to limits, and the recreational and environmental benefits of catch-and-release.

While even novices can get a good background for fishing without ever leaving their computers, nothing can match the experience of fishing with someone already obsessed with the sport. Just a thrifty word of warning: the enthusiasm can be contagious.

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