Beginners Guide to Fishing

This book has a two-fold purpose. It is principally intended to help the beginner to a extraordinary Sport, whilst it is hoped that the more experienced Angler will find something to interest him, even if only to recall memories of some of his past successes and failures.

Fishing is the Sport which makes everyone equal; one could not mention any walk of life, a representative of which is not encountered, at the waterside, in the great brotherhood of Angling. The river's bank knows no social status; the humblest may share the day's sport with the highest in the land-with companionship and the chances of success being absolutely equal.

This Sport too, takes us into the pleasant places of the land, where peace reigns supreme and where we are at one with Nature. Daily worries are forgotten, whilst we watch our float quietly waterborne by a patch of weeds, whilst we confidently await the bite of a fish.

Our minds may be occupied in deciding how we shall put our tackle round the side of that bush without getting in a tangle in the branches. Further, we may be debating in our minds where the next fishing holiday shall be spent. Whatever kind of fishing we are doing, the result is the same, and we are relaxed and absorbed in our sport. It is almost possible to forget one's name and address, whilst trying to entice a wily fish into taking the bait.

To the beginner, and even to many experienced Anglers, our earnest request is especially to read, mark and learn the chapter on "the Angler's responsibility". The beginner may have the best intentions in the world to carry out what he has read in this respect until he arrives at the waterside, where he may even see experienced Anglers throwing back fish into the water instead of returning them carefully. He wonders why he has been recommended not to leave litter on the bank, when he sees some even among the veteran Anglers leaving untidiness behind when they finish the day's fishing.