This is an excerpt from an article by one of my favorite writers, Mike McBride from Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine. Usually when I read his stuff, I find myself nodding my head in silent agreement. Thought you might enjoy
Here’s another little quote that helped shape my whole direction, and indeed, along the lines of what this whole read is supposed to be about.
“An angler, sir, uses the finest tackle, and catches his fish scientifically - trout for instance - with the artificial fly, and he is mostly a quiet, well behaved gentleman. A fisherman, sir, uses any kind of 'ooks and lines, and catches them any way; so how he gets them it’s all one to 'im, and he is generally a noisy fellah, sir, something like a gunner.” -Dr. George Washington Bethune-1847
The “scientifically” thing captured me. I’ll admit I’m an information junkie, and of all the things I could have done in this short life, fishing has given me the highest excuse to dive in and try to discover the wonders of the world on a personal level. Think about it! As an “angler” we get to explore and use almost all sciences! Besides trying to understand the obvious predator versus prey behavior, all sorts of physics are involved as well concerning water, wind, temperature, and even our basic equipment. Mathematics is also huge, trying to calculate our highest percentage efforts and such. Never mind meteorology as we all have to become expert weathermen. And what about chemistry; with salinities, dissolved oxygen, and all sorts of other factors.
For me the whole game on the water is exploring, discovering, and using science to pit ourselves against eons of a fish’s survival instinct. The whole reward is just being able to “call it” more often, and to me, paints the difference between an “angler” and a “fisherman.” Angling hunter style makes life more interesting, and some of us even base our whole existence on the exercise.
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 st