By: Robert Wiggers
In the same way a song can get stuck in your head, there are memories associated with fishing that as anglers we never forget. The reasons people enjoy fishing are as varied as the different techniques they use to catch various species. But if you had to narrow it down to the memory of just one moment that keeps someone coming back for more, it has to be the instant when a fish hits.
The bite of a fish on the end of a line has been described by anglers for centuries using any number of unique terms. Words like strike, nibble, tap, slap or hit are used in an attempt to convey the aggressiveness of the attack on the bait. Certain words have even become associated with specific species. Instead of “biting,” billfish “strike,” bream “nibble” and striped bass “slap.” The term “thump” must have originated from a freshwater bass angler after feeling a largemouth bass inhale a plastic worm.
Regardless of how anglers describe the actual bite, the word is always spoken with excited energy. The bite stimulates our senses, and depending on the situation, can be seen, felt, heard or any combination of the three. That feeling becomes ingrained into our subconscious mind, and whether we realize it or not, from that point on, we chase “the bite.” It’s addictive. And those who don’t fish would have a hard time understanding the sensation. The bite obviously doesn’t affect everyone. If it did, then there would be a greater number of individuals who take up fishing for life.
Patience has always been intrinsic to fishing. It’s the overwhelming anticipation of the bite that helps maintain that patience. The most devoted anglers can go hours, even days on end, without a bite, yet keep fishing. Whether the bite occurs without warning or is predictable, there is always that split second of surprise the moment it happens.
You could argue that seeing a bobber suddenly pulled under water in no way compares to the feeling of seeing a boil the size of a car created when a bluefin tuna takes a bait on the surface. Either way, there is still that instantaneous surge of adrenaline; it’s just at different levels depending on one’s perspective. However, fishing isn’t usually considered an extreme sport done for the adrenaline rush.
As anglers, we have all run across people who don’t share our passion. Sometimes it’s hard for people to understand why we choose to pursue what is often considered to be a leisurely activity that many consider “boring.” On the other hand, there are those who are content to fish every now and then. They enjoy it, but never have the desire to fish all the time. And if someone were to ask, “What is it about fishing that you find so appealing?” In the simplest form, it’s all about the bite. We are satisfying a primal urge. And as a predator, the bite is the moment of recognition that we are suddenly one step closer to actually catching our prey.
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