Scales Come Off Misconception
Two terms are often loosely used in angling: Pole and rod, essential pieces of equipment. Holding every pole or rod is someone who thinks of themselves as a fisherman, while they actually are a sportsman. This writer recently discovered his true identity while angling for trout on an Oregon volcanic lake.
Briefly to clarify, a pole is a stick of varying length to which a line is attached, commonly with on a reel. A rod is also a stick of varying length, with a line attached, but always via a reel. Fish may, and are caught of both. Cost, quality, countries of origin vary, as does the skill required to coordinate stick, line, reel and the essential "tackle", aka fish's foe, the lures, bait holders, flies, weights, jigs etc to name a few. So much for the gear. Here is this anglers confession.
(This is not the eclipse, but smoke from nearby forest fires, about 150 miles from Madras OR, eclipse prime view city. Eyes burned and the sky did darken)
I thought I was going fishing. Many trips before, spanning half a century my tackle box rattled along, anticipating a day on the lake, or stream-side, even ocean-bound. Were I to be asked what I was doing, my obvious answer would have been "going fishing". I know now my words would have been wrong. In reality I was an active sportsman. Any fish caught would be secondary to the pursuit. Consumption has long become anathema to most sportsman. Catch and release is the sporting norm. In my locale, naturally occurring mercury rendered the catch and release even more appealing.
So what distinguishes a fisherman from a sportsman? For me and my two compadres it was partly pride. We could accept our 400 mile+ trek and low catches (I got one, the other guys 6-9 depending on technical definitions of catching) as gaining experience as sportsmen, rather than admitting defeat (failure) as hunter/fishermen. What is more, angling for trout alone is a cerebral game: Are they feeding on egg layers, emergers, wooly buggers, shady ladies or not at all? Sure, worms and salmon eggs can catch fish in some waters (not Oregon), but the sport of matching wits with a particular fish in a particular water body can transport an active imagination into realms ordinarily occupied by species with gills and scales.
Whether you use a pole or rod, fish or sport, keep on casting and take a kid along. You just may find another under your own hat!
