Fishing

Angling is a method of sport fishing by means of an "angle" (fish hook). The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself can be dressed with lures or bait and a bite indicator such as a float or fishing bobber is sometimes used.

Bowfishing is the use of archery equipment to take fish. It has been historically practiced by indigenous peoples for subsistence (and remains so today), but since the late 20th century has become increasingly popular for sport fishing in the United States. Bowfishing cannot be combined with catch-and-release as the fish will be seriously injured. Thus you need to be sure about species (and size, if relevant) before shooting. In the U.S., bowfishing is mostly allowed only for "non-game" fish, including invasive species. Sport bowfishers use highly specialized equipment that is impractical (and perhaps illegal) for taking other game.

Fly fishing is a specialized type of angling where the casting weight is in the heavy line followed by a small nearly weightless tippet and a variety of area specific fishing flies which imitate natural accruing food organisms. This type of fishing is considered one of the most difficult to learn and tends to be very regionally specific.

When waters are covered by ice, fishing requires special techniques. Recreational ice fishing is usually by angling through a hole with simple equipment, but e.g. net fishing under the ice, fishing with a club on thin transparent ice and cutting out a trap in the ice are also practiced. Mind ice safety.

Ice fishing by angling is included in the right to access in most waters in Finland, and it is a common way of recreational fishing also in Sweden and Russia, for example. A special short rod with real and jig is used: the line is extended to suitable depth and the jig is moved up and down by jerking with one's wrist. The hole is usually made with an ice auger. Warm clothing is needed, as one sits nearly still for extended periods, without shelter for the wind. A foldable chair is often used, and skis, kicksled or snowmobile can be handy for reaching the fishing destination.

Net fishing is the preferred method for professional fishermen. As fishing nets are more intrusive on the ecosystem than hand-held equipment, they are often not appropriate for recreational fishing.

A method of taking catfish mainly used in the southern United States (almost all of the states where it's legal are in that region). The fisher reaches his or her hand into an underwater hole where a catfish is believed to be hiding, and when the fish latches on to the arm, hooks the hand onto the fish's gills and takes it out of the water. This method has its own unique risks apart from those inherent to water-based activities. The holes where spawning catfish may hide are also used by other forms of aquatic life that can cause serious or even fatal injury—such as snapping turtles, alligators, snakes, and beavers.

Sometimes called clamming or clam digging, shellfishing is way to harvest clams (edible infaunal bivalve mollusks) from below the surface of the tidal sand flats or mud flats where they live using a variety of tools from shovels to specialized clamming forks and rakes.

In addition to ancient methods of fishing from shores or boats, there are more modern spear guns and slings. Spear fishing is often combined with scuba diving and snorkeling to strike at hunted fish.

There are a wide variety of fish traps from traditional traps made from natural materials to more modern crab traps which are designed to be species specific. Generally these are left for a period of time and checked periodically for catches.

• Always handle fishing tackle responsibly.
• Make sure to look behind you before casting so that your hook will not catch a power line, tree, or another person.
• Don't leave your tackle lying on the ground. Someone may trip and fall on it, step on a hook, or even break your tackle.
• If a hook is deep inside of a fish's mouth, don't put your hand inside. Instead, use some kind of a hook remover to carefully remove the hook. If this doesn't work, cut the line as far back as you safely can to release the fish, if that's what you are going to do.
• Always remove hooks and lures from your line and store them in your tackle box when moving your equipment.
• If possible, consider carefully the type of weights you use, lead weights in particular have raised ecological concerns.

• Whenever around water, small children should wear a good (USA: approved by the Coast Guard; EU: ISO 12402:2006, check intended use) personal flotation device (PFD, lifejacket) that fits properly. Also adults should use one when appropriate, e.g. in boats.
• Be aware of Sunburn and sun protection and always wear sunscreen on exposed areas like your face, neck, and hands. The sun 's rays can damage your skin and give you a painful burn, and sunshine reflected from water can be surprisingly strong.
• Wear a hat. Hats keep your head cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They also can help keep the sun out of your eyes and protect your head from hooks during a stray cast.
• Protect the only eyes you have by wearing some kind of glasses. Sunglasses protect your eyes from hooks and the sun's harmful rays. Polarized sunglasses also help you see below the surface of the water to see fish and other objects.
• Shoes should always be worn whether fishing on shore, in a boat, or wading in the water. Stray hooks, glass, sharp rocks, and other objects on shore and in the water could cut your bare feet. In a boat, shoes designed to keep your feet from slipping in a wet boat could help prevent you from taking an unexpected dip into the water.
• Always dress for the weather and be prepared for sudden changes