For as long as mankind has existed, people have been fishing. Fishing, along with the development of society, also developed the methods of catching fish. Life does not stand still, and new advanced technologies are introduced every day, allowing amateur fishermen to try different methods of catching underwater inhabitants. First of all, it should be said that ancient people considered fishing exclusively as a source of food (at that time, people did not think about the aesthetic pleasure of the fishing process).
Fish were caught by throwing primitives harpoons and stones. In the shallow water, he was dizzy with sticks. As humans developed, they started catching fish with spears. At the same time, the first fishing rods came into use (a thread (or braided horsehair) was tied to a thin stick, at the end of which a hook cut out of bone was attached, on which a bait was placed).
Who needed fishing in ancient times
Since ancient times, food production has been the main occupation of man because there was no other way to survive in those harsh times. In addition to gathering fruits, roots, berries and grains, ancient people hunted both on land and in water. Over the past thirty thousand years, devices and fishing itself and fishing methods has changed a lot, but the essence of these techniques, as before, are three basic actions: find the fish, kill it and get it out of the water.
Fishing methods in ancient times
In the past, as now, there were several ways to catch fish, for example, ancient people used to stun fish by throwing heavy objects: stones or sticks. It was also common to catch fish with a spear, a special pointed stick that was used to pierce the fish near the shore. Ancient people learned to weave nets from bamboo and vines, and fished with hooks, although the latter were made of stones or animal bones, attached to the end of a thin stick with the help of woven horse hair.
As you can see, modern man still uses the same fishing methods that were invented many thousands of years ago. It's just that fishing gear has undergone many changes. Now it is enough for a person to go to the store, where he will see a wide range of accessories for every taste and need. No more making your own fishing gear. Humanity's interest in fishing has not faded at all, despite the fact that this activity is no longer a vital source of human food. Today, fishing is not only a pleasant rest and relaxation, it is equated to a sport. Currently, fishing is divided into amateur, industrial and sport fishing.
Modern fishing
Today's fishing equipment and techniques allow catching a large number of fish of various sizes, from perch to pike and catfish. Modern technologies provide the angler with various options for rods, baits and other accessories, which make the fishing process efficient and interesting.
Fishing rods. Today, there are many rods that are much lighter than their predecessors and at the same time stronger. There are different options for catching "different size" fish, fishing in different ways (jig, twitching, trolling, etc.). The products are very plastic and functional (easy to cast, catch and retrieve fish).
Baits. If earlier they used live bait (worms, maggots, live fish), today fishermen have various artificial baits that perfectly imitate the movement of fish. Available in all sizes and colors.
Sounders. Underwater cameras are manufactured, echolots allows you to know the situation under water one hundred percent. With their help, you can easily see the topography of the bottom, the vegetation and, most importantly, determine whether there are fish in the desired place. It is a great helper for fishing that gives a huge advantage.
In general, fishermen today are equipped with everything they need to fish effectively and enjoy the fishing process.
Amateur fishing
Amateur fishing is accessible to almost every resident, illegal and uncontrolled fishing remained in the distant past, and today its norms and methods are strictly regulated by law. The set of tools of a modern fisherman is so wide and modernized that there is practically no chance of not hooking a fish. In the past, catching fish required a lot of physical effort. Besides, it took a lot of time to prepare for this "ceremony" alone. At first, our ancestor had to make tools, weave a net, because there were no strong, proven materials like today's. Half a century ago, only elite, professional fishermen could afford to catch pike on artificial bait. Lusters were heavy and expensive, often falling apart under their own weight. The fishing rods were made of bamboo.
Today, silicone fish are available in as many different colors and sizes as your heart desires. Also, the fisherman can purchase a very modern, light spinning reel. All that remains is to enjoy the caught fish.
With fishing now available to everyone, the fish population was threatened with extinction, and fishing had to be restricted by law. So that people can continue to enjoy the fishing process without harming nature.
Sports fishing
In Greece and Rome, fishing was considered an art and pastime for the wealthy, and ancient books recorded fishing competitions. In 1496, in the book "Treatise on fishing with a hook" the abbess of the monastery Juliana Berners first spoke of fishing as the best sport for gentlemen. Gradually, this type of competition developed in Europe, and later came to America, where competitions with spinning are very popular. In 1952, the International Fishing Sports Association was founded in Rome. It is based in France.
Over the centuries, fishing rules and equipment have changed. But the basic rule remains the same: "Caught fish are weighed, measured and released." The philosophy of the sport of fishing promotes a careful approach to the planet's fish resources. The catch-and-release principle applies here. In some countries, a certain fee is provided to the sports community for the fish caught.
What is the difference between an angler-athlete and an amateur. The hobbyist has a wider choice of baits, there are no restrictions. The angler-sportsman must follow the rules. For example, when spinning, only baits described in the rules can be used. Only one hook is allowed per fishing rod, while recreational anglers and bottom anglers may use multiple hooks.
Now fishing competition is becoming an increasingly popular sport. Sport fishing in each country has its own characteristics. Spinning has become America's favorite sport. In America, this sport has been commercial and can earn considerable sums of money. Japan produces the best rods and reels in the world due to high technological development.
How to become a sports fisherman?
First of all, you just need to start fishing, constantly practicing it and mastering new fishing techniques. Do not forget about the theoretical part - you need to learn about the habits and characteristics of different fish. It will be useful to find out information about the characteristics of various reservoirs. Try using different baits to experiment in fishing. Find like-minded people and share your experiences with each other.
What are the fishing methods?
Float fishing
Float fishing is the most common in our country. Most anglers started their fishing journey with float fishing. A floating fishing rod consists of a fishing rod, a reel, a float, a weight and a hook. The floating rod can be equipped with a reel or it can be without a reel.
Feeder
The feeder is designed for catching fish from the bottom. When fishing with a feeder, the angler casts the feeder to the same point to create a feeding area that will attract a variety of fish.
With the feeder you can catch various peaceful fish: bream, roaches, carousel, carp, rope, gorse and many other casualties.
You can read more about feeder fishing in my following articles:
Spinning
Spinning is fishing with artificial bait. Spinning fishing is about casting and passing the bait. The movement of the bait in the water layer reminds the predator of a live fish and provokes an attack. Spinning can catch almost any predatory fish living in our reservoirs: pike, perch, trout, starling, salmon, shad and even catfish.
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