It appeals to those older, former anglers as well as to the parents with young kids who are looking for a quieter, safer world. That is no insignificant number of people, but sportfishing participation is not growing at a pace to match that of the population. Blame what you will. The world moves fast, and there are many other pastimes, hobbies and activities to occupy a Saturday morning. Boiled to their essence, though, few of those other recreational options offer so much for so little.
Fishing is at once physically challenging and mentally therapeutic.
It brings people together, brings families together. Fishing flushes the mind and purges the soul of unhealthy clutter. Now, for the other side of the coin. Enter the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which now wants the Boy Scouts of America to ditch its fishing-related merit badges. PETA's plea even tries to link recreational fishing with the sort of animal cruelty associated with FBI and American Psychiatric Association profiles of adult violent offenders.