It’s great to see Andy Rees doing a blog on fish species. I have known Andy for some time and, as well as having a great respect for his knowledge of fish from beneath the water, I also respect Andy for his knowledge of fishing from above the water too – he’s not a bad angler.

On reading Andy’s intro piece, I must say I did enjoy reading his quote from Izaak Walton. I have a copy of The Complete Angler here, amongst my many other books and I have to say if I’m not fishing I do enjoy reading about fishing. Angling for me has always been an obsessive business and reading about fishing when I’m not doing so, is a great way to feed this.

Aside from my usual reference books on rigs, tackle and all things fishy, I do like to read about anglers – their stories, their journeys, what makes them tick and so forth. The two great things about fishing are one, you can travel the world around and you’ll always find somebody who wants to (or needs to) catch a fish, and two, fishing always means something different to everybody.

This week I didn’t have much time so I thought I’d share some of my favourite angling quotes with you. These sum up for me what angling is all about. There’s a little bit more of that man Walton in there and a few other good ones too. I hope you enjoy them as much as I still do.

“The inhabitants of the watery elements are made for wise men to contemplate and for fools to pass by without consideration." Isaak Walton

Being in the Loop! It’s all so easy as a non angler to look upon angling as a boring, anorak sport, whereby it’s participants sit by a puddle, dangling a pole like a gnome. I think Walton sums it all up in these few lines. In fact it’s good that not everybody goes fishing!

“Angling may be said to be so like the mathematics that it can never be fully learned.” Izaak Walton 

Izaak was clearly an astute angler and in just a handful of words he sums up why I still fish today. The challenge, the chase and the piecing together of the puzzle, and when it does come together... there’s no better sound than the reel clutch doing its job! But yes fishing is like math – full of variable factors and things that must add up. But hey, there’s ye old computer software for that now! How timeless...

"They say you forget your troubles on a stream, but that's not quite it.  What happens is that you begin to see where your troubles fit into the grand scheme of things, and suddenly they're just not such a big deal anymore." John Gierach

How true. That’s the great thing about angling – getting outdoors and fishing is a great way to put life back in perspective. Whether its bank side, beach or boat fishing, there really is no better place than out there - in the middle of nowhere - to think things over. Nature has a great ear and you don’t have to say anything. In good and bad times there’s no better place to be, than by the water!

"There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process." Paul O'Neil

You have to laugh but O’Neil is right. That’s the great thing about nature – it (like mathematics) can never be harnessed. One day you win - the next ten the fish do. But aren’t the licks just as good as the kicks? If not then it’s time to find a different hobby!

"The best fishermen I know try not to make the same mistakes over and over again; instead they strive to make new and interesting mistakes and to remember what they learned from them."  John Gierach

Again you have to laugh. John Gierach, like Paul O’Neil sums up the pro-active angler for me. But hey, you do learn from mistakes and anglers that experiment and make more mistakes... will always learn more!

"Some go to church and think about fishing, others go fishing and think about God." Tony Blake

It’s that whole great outdoors thing again. This one reminds me of those days where nature makes your jaws drop by doing something spectacular, something perhaps a non-angler will never see. A pod of dolphin or whales... a kingfisher landing on your rod tip... bass busting on bait at silly o’clock in the morning...a sunset over an awesome stretch of coastline etc.

"I think I fish, in part, because it's an anti-social, bohemian business that, when gone about properly, puts you forever outside the mainstream culture without actually landing you in an institution!" John Gierach

“FISHING seems to be the favourite form of loafing.” Edgar Watson Howe 

And these have to be two of my favourites. I have met a lot of anglers on my journeys, and if there’s one thing I have learned, it’s that you do have to be a little mad to be an angler! And yep, Edgar is right - there if definitely no better form of loafing (!!!)

“We may say of angling, as Dr. Boteler said of strawberries, ''Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did''; and so, if I might be judge, God never did make a more calm, quiet, innocent recreation than angling.” Izaak Walton 

And a final one from our good friend Izaak, but I’m not too sure about calm and quiet – some fishing today involves extreme horse power and sophisticated technology, however I would agree that for a true angler, fishing is seductive and peaceful no matter how fast you’re cruising!

Angling - the strawberry of recreation – whatever type you’re into...

Here’s one for an excuse! I’m off loafing until next time.  

"Three-fourths of the Earth's surface is water, and one-fourth is land.  It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn." Chuck Clark