| One of the best ways to relieve stress is to take | | | | used with artificial "flies" that mimic insects on |
| up a hobby. This is effective because it allows one | | | | which fish prey, present anglers with more of a |
| to take his/her mind off the things that are | | | | challenge because of the greater difficulty of |
| stressing them such as work, family, and other | | | | casting the line. |
| life situations. Fishing is an outstanding hobby to | | | | Remember, the measure of how successful a |
| take up if your aim is to relax and enjoy life a | | | | person is in fishing is whether they have a good |
| little. | | | | time. The idea is to relax, and not necessarily to |
| Getting Started | | | | catch a whole bunch of fish. Actually catching fish, |
| Fishing gear can cost anywhere between $10 and | | | | in fact, is a bonus and not an end in and of itself, |
| $10,000. A novice can keep expenses down by | | | | at least not for the casual fisherman. According to |
| buying combination outfits that include a rod and | | | | the American Sportfishing Association, the most |
| reel, line and lures. These are available at sporting | | | | common reason people fish is to relax. |
| good stores, tackle shops and online. A good | | | | Imagine yourself out on the dock of a lake far |
| resource for finding these items can be found at | | | | from civilization with nobody around except you |
| The number choices available in fishing gear can | | | | and the fish. It's early in the morning and the mist |
| be bewildering and intimidating. In just starting out, | | | | is still rising over the water and you can still see |
| keep it simple. A spinning reel is versatile, easy to | | | | your breath in the air. There is no responsibility, no |
| use and fun to cast. A baitcaster is mechanically | | | | noise of traffic, no smell of pollution, and no boss |
| different, but serves similar functions. With both | | | | to answer to for the time that you are escaping |
| types of reels, you can fish with artificial baits | | | | to your new hobby, fishing. Now is that a relaxing |
| called spinners, spoons, and plugs, as well as with | | | | vision, or what? That, my friend, is the Zen of |
| natural baits such as worms. Fly rods and reels | | | | Fishing. |