Matthew Sue shares positives to a favorite hobby
Water washed around my ankles, as I stepped into the surf. The roar of the waves, breaking on beach filled my ears. I grasped my rod with both hands and with one fluid motion cast into the oncoming waves. The lure sailed through the air until it dropped into the waves with a plop. I waited for it to sink, then started to reel the lure hoping that it would provoke a strike from a nearby fish.
Fishing has been a passion of mine for years, it’s one of my favorite things to do and I try to do it as often as possible. Although fishing may seem to many people, a simple pastime or hobby, it’s something more to me.
I enjoy fishing for a variety of reasons, for one it’s a family activity and I grew up doing it. However the reasons that fuel my love of fishing are things many people would find surprising. Fishing for me is usually a varied experience, a combination of adrenaline and relaxation.
The challenge of fishing is something I have found to be very appealing; you’re never guaranteed a fish and you have to use your knowledge and skills in order to catch something. But even if you are a good fishermen, there’s always the aspect of chance. Fish move and their habits may change; what was good yesterday may be horrible today.
Senior, Will Vander Kooi talked about why fishing was not his favorite activity. He has done some mountain lake fishing off of a boat in the past.
“I don’t enjoy fishing because it is a lot of waiting for a very low payoff,” Vander Kooi said. “I have not had the best experiences when it comes to fishing. Sometimes, you don’t catch anything and that’s even less fun. I’m not the type of person to be able to sit in silence for a long time and have fun with it.”
I also find that fishing is a very relaxing experience, as I often find myself alone in the wild. There is a certain peace I find in the wilderness whether it be standing in the surf watching the waves crash on the beach, or hiking through the mountains and listening to the sound of the wind rustling through the trees. Fishing has taken me places, I would not have normally gone and it has been a way for me to relax in the beauty of nature.
A primarily mountain fisherman Keegan Bloom ‘18 spoke about what aspects he enjoys in fishing. Bloom usually targets the various species of trout that reside in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
“I like fishing because it allows me to get away from the pressure of everyday life,” Bloom said. “I enjoy being able to relax for a couple of hours in nature and enjoy myself, I find it to be a very peaceful experience When I go fishing I usually go up in the mountains, it is really nice to see the beauty of nature.
Lauren Tucker ’18 spoke about the aspects of nature she gets to enjoy when she goes fishing.
“Fishing is relaxing and it’s such a great way to enjoy Gods creation, it is a great sport.” Tucker said. “It is a great way to get out in nature. I always fish with my dad, who is an amazing bass fisherman, he had taught me so much, and the time we spend together on the water is priceless.”
Another reason why I enjoy fishing is that you can get some good exercise while doing it. When I go fishing in the mountains, I usually have to hike in to where I’m fishing; if I fish in the ocean I often have to wade through surf or climb to my destination.
In addition to this, I have also learned some important lessons such as how to deal with disappointment. Often times when fishing I end up catching nothing. For example once I went fishing in the ocean off a kayak. To get to the location, my father and I paddled roughly a mile and then started fishing. Eventually the monotonous battering of the waves began to make me nauseous. To add to this misery it became clear that my uncle, who had his own kayak, was much more well prepared than my father and me. We ended up catching only a few small Sanddab while my uncle caught Rock Cod which were far more desirable and much bigger.
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These are the reasons that I find fishing so fun, you can get so much out of it. If you would like to try fishing you should go to your local bait shop or sports store for advice and gear. Also make sure to have a California fishing license if you are over the age of sixteen as it is illegal for people to fish without a license over this age.
For more features, read: 8th graders embark on annual outdoor education trip.
This writer can be reached via Twitter: @matthewsue1 and via email: Matthew Sue.