Let’s Go Fishing!

Is fishing part of your Father’s Day celebration? This fun outdoor activity gives kids and dads, uncles and granddads a chance to spend time together — maybe the best gift of all!

Anglers, or people who fish for fun and sport, think fishing is a great way to make memories and share good times.

The Mini Page went fishing for more information about this popular pastime.

Fishing for fun

About 49 million people go fishing at least once a year. Men, women and kids of all ages like to fish.

Fishers use different methods to catch their prey.

• Pole fishing is good for beginners or anglers who want to catch fish close to shore. The pole should be at least twice as long as your height.

• Fly fishing is used mostly for trout and salmon. The angler uses an artificial “fly,” made of hair, fur, feathers or other materials, that attracts the fish. He or she moves the rod back and forth in long

A fly for fishing. sweeping motions, letting out a little of the line at a time before casting it onto or into the water.

• Spincasting uses a rod with a reel on it. The angler controls the fishing line with the reel. It lets you store a lot of line and fling the bait farther out into the water.

Catching a fish

Are you ready to go fishing? Start with three simple steps:

1. Learn about the fish you are trying to catch. What does it eat? How deep does it swim?

2. Find out where you’re most likely to find that fish. Will it be hiding in plants underwater? Does it come in with the surf?

3. Figure out the right equipment to use. Fishing equipment is called tackle. Different fish are attracted to different baits and lures.

Calling all fish!

There are about 32,000 kinds of fish. Fish are animals that:

• are mainly cold-blooded. Their body temperature is the same as the water.

• have backbones.

• breathe through gills.

Saltwater fish, such as bass and flounder, live:

• offshore in the ocean.

• near shore off the coast.

•in estuaries, where freshwater rivers meet the ocean salt waters.

Freshwater fish, such as catfish and trout, live in:

• ponds • streams

• rivers • reservoirs (dammed-up rivers)