Fishing
What would you say if I told you that fishing is one of the healthiest, easiest hobbies out there? Don’t believe me? Let’s see if I can convince you!
Physically, fishing is a hobby that gets you outside into the great outdoors. There’s guaranteed fresh air, vitamin D from the sun, wind, and time in the elements (Alberet, 2021). Time spent in nature is an invigorating, deeply rejuvenating experience and fishing takes you there by necessity. I mean, you can’t fish out of your uncle’s chlorinated pool now can you? Here’s the other part of the physicality of fishing that you may not have thought of. Fishing can be as strenuous or as relaxing as you want it to be. If you want to fish while sitting in a motor operated boat or while standing on the shore, go for it! Or if you want to aim to catch something bigger and fish from a self propelled kayak, canoe, or go ocean fishing, go for that!
Another physical benefit to fishing is that this is a hobby you can continue for the rest of your life. It isn’t the sort of thing you age out of. Unlike many sports which come with an expiration date determined by your level of health (or the condition of your knees, ankles, etc.), this sport welcomes participants of all ages from little kids learning with the help of an older child or adult all the way up to great grandparents.
Next up is the benefit to your diet. How many hobbies can boast about actually feeding you? This one can! Now of course, not all fish are created equal. The healthiest are salmon, mackerel, and trout. But other fish can also give you something to experiment with even if it’s less glamorous like catfish or bass. Fish is known to be packed with healthy nutrients for humans including stuff like omega 3 and vitamin B12 so a little more of that on your plate certainly isn’t a bad thing (Albert, 2021).
I’d be remiss if I also didn’t mention the mental/emotional benefits to fishing. Nothing will increase your capacity for patience like sitting on the water waiting for a bite. This is a fantastic time to appreciate the silence or have good conversation with a friend and connect in a relaxed, meaningful way. Being on the water has also been proven to have relaxing benefits. Moving water creates negative ions which are proven to boost the immune system and regulate sleep patterns (Albert, 2021).
Lastly, there’s the community piece. Fishing can be a solo sport or a group event. Get someone older to teach you their tricks or use fishing as an excuse to slip away and get some much needed space. Either way, fishing will help you tap into a place of mindfulness and connection, either with yourself, with others, or with nature (Albert, 2021).
If fishing is a hobby you’d like to give a try, ask around and see if anyone in your family has any fishing poles tucked away in an attic or garage that aren’t currently being used. Garage sales are a great place to snag fishing poles as well, and you don’t need a large body of water or expensive equipment to get started. Nearby ponds or lakes probably permit fishing, something a quick call to your state’s DNR can confirm. You’ll also need to secure a fishing license which can be obtained through the DNR for annual use or one time use.
Reference: Albert. (2021). Health benefits of fishing: Good for body and mind. Fishing Booker Blog. Retrieved from https://fishingbooker.com/blog/health-benefits-of-fishing/.
Challenges/Points:
Fishing is one of the best hobbies you can start as it can be continued throughout your lifetime and enjoyed either alone or with others.
Benefits of fishing include the relaxing effect of water, catching your own food, and the ability to push yourself physically or stay in a comfort zone.
If you want to try your hand at fishing, make sure to get a license from the DNR first!
Questions:
Did you ever go fishing as a kid?
Is there anyone you know who might be able to show you the basic ropes of how to fish?
What’s the part of fishing that seems the most appealing to you?
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