OVER recent decades, angling has transitioned from a bait-and-catch exercise to an activity in complexity.
The bait-and-catch-it form of fishing is long gone.
In these days of catch and release, the old maxim of hooking to cook seems politically incorrect.
Especially if you read some of the gibberish published on the internet and in magazines.
Most anglers I know fish for the sport and a feed.
These anglers fish for tomorrow in that they take enough fish for a meal and return the rest, even when fishing regulations allow them to take more.
Fishing is not difficult when you stay with the basics.
For some reason, there are many experts who want to complicate matters.
In all pursuits, there are degrees of difficulty.
Surely catching a fish on a piece of rubber impregnated with fish attractant is easier than catching the same fish on a hard body lure or fly that relies on appearance and action to incite a strike?
Lure and fly presentations are more difficult than threading a worm on a hook but not because they are complicated.
What makes the first two styles of fishing harder is that they require practice and attention to detail.
Hard-body lures and flies are about reading the signs and then casting accurately followed by a presentation that encourages a strike.
Learning these techniques takes time on the water but we all begin somewhere.
During school holiday periods most tackle shops will tell you stories of mothers with children who want to go fishing but don't know what to do.
Until recent times there was no alternative but one of the nicer aspects is the push to involve children, including those with disabilities, by having Go Fishing days and building access-fishing platforms that cater for everyone.
It's very different from the good old selfish days that I grew up in, when "I'm alright Jack" was a common catchcry among angler groups.
On a cold, wintry weekend on July 3, Lillydale Lake turned into a fishing hotspot with a Family Fishing Day that attracted more than 200 local participants.
These events encourage and educate the community.
Importantly, there is expert instruction for novice anglers, which this time was provided by the Yarra Valley Flyfishers and Fishcare volunteers.
I like that a group dedicated to fly fishing is willing to return to its roots in an effort to boost fishing participation, even when the methods are not in keeping with their own pursuit.
There is nothing further from casting a dry fly on a clear mountain stream than putting bait on a hook and fishing in a pond.
To be sure there would be enough fish in the lake, Fisheries Victoria released about 800 rainbow trout.
Activities at Lillydale included knots and rigs, casting practice and putting it all together by fishing for the trout.
More than 50 trout were caught on the day, with many children catching their first fish.
A week or so later, 10 clients from Scope Bendigo endured cold weather in an attempt to catch one of 400 rainbow trout released into the Kennington Reservoir.
Scope is a not-for-profit organisation providing services to thousands of Victorian children and adults with all kinds of disabilities.
Organised by Fisheries Victoria, three talented participants were delighted to each catch a trout.
Fisheries Victoria executive director Anthony Hurst said the all-abilities access fishing platforms allowed wheelchair-bound participants to take part in the action.
Members of the Bendigo Legions Angling Club and Bendigo Police Angling Club provided the group from Scope with expert instruction and the Bendigo Flyfishers volunteered their time to assist with the fishing activities.
It's all about fishing for the future, and giving something back to a sport that gives much pleasure.
