What is the best part of catching a fish? Everyone has a different opinion. For some it’s the bite, the rise, the strike, hook set, or the drag. For some, it’s the TUG!
Fishing and Catching are two different things. Catching is simply an extension of Fishing. With enough Fishing, you might have some Catching.
The Best part of Fishing can be different. Anglers enjoy the sunrise/sunsets, wildlife, sounds of the water, other wildlife, companionship, fresh air, and much more. None of these means that you have caught a fish.
Catching means there is meat on the stringer, fish in the cooler, ripped lips, and stories to share. For Catch and Release guys, there is aa picture to go with the story, coup to count, and more fish to catch and count.
Catching fish brings joy to the angler. No one wants to get Skunked so catching a fish means success! During the fish “Catching” process, what is the best part?
Anglers are visual. Seeing the rise, indicator strike, bobber bounce, or running line means that you have a chance to hook up. Seeing a Bite is wonderful. Missing the strike or hook set is not a joyful moment. It does mean that you get another cast for quick redemption.
Taking a selfie is the moment of truth for some anglers. Pictures support mean bragging rights. This is when some anglers cheat by holding a fish closer to the camera or distorting the actual sizes. Because of this, we generally allow most anglers a 20% room for error.
Getting the fish into the net is a Big Deal for many. You can see thousands of fish in a net picture on Catch and Release fly fishing sites. These anglers must get some kind of thrill from this moment.
Some Anglers love the fight! Big fish pull hard, and the sound of a screaming drag is exciting. The bent rod and battle are proof of Catching a fish. There is certainly some Tug Addiction during a Big Fish battle.
For me, I love feeling or seeing the bite, holding the rod and setting the hook. When the hook is set and you know that a fish is on the line, is my favorite moment. Now the work begins. You need to fight the fish. The TUG at this moment adds to the excitement. Tugs never get old. Bigger and stronger fish TUG more. The memory of these great Tug of War battles is what motivates us to catch another fish.
We will never catch enough fish. There is always just one more cast. We will always need more rods, reels, and gear. It’s just part of the addiction.
No matter what part of Fishing has you hooked, enjoy!
Montana Grant
