Fishing, Good reasons to go fishing again

Fishing as therapy

Sport fishing is a form of therapy; it opens us up to reflection, relaxation and allows us to clear our minds by listening to the sound of the river.

Simply being close to water and breathing fresh, healthy air are essential to human well-being in the 21st century. This is one of the main reasons why large cities were first built near rivers.

Why spend so much time fishing?

As time went by, one question kept coming back to me: "Why do you spend so much time fishing, wading in a river trying to catch something?". My answer is a metaphor that we anglers use a lot: "There's a lot more to fishing than catching fish!", one being quite simply the river itself.

The answers to this question can be very varied, depending on the type of fishing, whether freshwater, sea or river.

Fishing for the environment

In the same way that good food purifies our bodies and keeps us young, the environment, the images, the smells and the sound of the river crashing against the rocks all help to cleanse our minds while providing inspiration, learning, spiritual meditation, relaxation and contemplation. My mind has never been as relaxed as when I'm near a river.

Lifestyle

Since the 20th century, we've been faced with the exponential development of our cities, new technologies and hobbies that have distanced us from our connection, dependence and understanding of the river and its magical qualities. But we're counting on this development in society for future academics to study and highlight the potential of this natural stimulant, this fuel for our souls and, in all probability, a new "miracle therapy"!

From our thirties to our fifties, activities such as jogging and cycling keep us fit, take us out into the countryside and contribute to our mental and physical well-being. As we age, however, we tend to slow down a little, looking at things in retrospect. For the most part, our daily lives move at a slower pace, our physical exercise is less aggressive, fishing and golf are more fashionable activities for people over 50. The reason for this slowdown is not only that our bodies are less fit, but also that our minds are less efficient, working harder and needing time to relax and recharge !

My own opinion

For me, personally, nothing is more effective than meditation through river fishing. The action of fishing gives me exercise; concentration is required to move in the river. My head empties and my mind marvels at the wonders nature has to offer!

I sincerely hope that, when the confinement rules are relaxed, anglers will once again have the freedom to enjoy our natural environment responsibly. I'd also like them to realize the immense happiness that comes from our passion for the rhythm of tranquility, communion with the river environment, the serenity of the lake and the sea, rather than television, reading, music or the computer.

Read our blog posts.