# Wanted: brilliant idea for a hobby that replaces angling/fishing. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 30, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374 "2014-04-30T16:59:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374/21 "2014-04-30T19:57:34Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > Photography, specifically nature photography, might meet most of the requirements. Wandering about in nature trying to get close enough to live animals to get a good picture is an interesting challenge. So is finding and photographing relatively rare flowers and mushrooms. I think this is the best answer. Wildlife photography can be as gentle and easy-going, or as thrilling and danger-fraught, as the photographer wants it to be, and as far as I can tell it still remains ‘socially acceptable’. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374/22 "2014-04-30T20:02:18Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > The sports fishing industry, at least in fresh waters, is very much like factor farming, where fish are raised in captivity then released to be caught. No it isn’t. That is true for a small number of trout streams, but it isn’t the norm. It’s just plain untrue for walleye, northern pike, largemouth or smallmouth bass, bream, crappie, etc. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374/23 "2014-04-30T20:08:30Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > … > kanicbird, indeed I wasn’t talking about fishers who fish in such a “PondsAreUs, catch a trout per hour or your money back” waters. … I’m not talking about that either, perhaps you are unaware that many sports fishing streams US are stocked with farm raised fish placed (dumped) in the streams for people to catch. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374/24 "2014-04-30T20:09:52Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > No it isn’t. That is true for a small number of trout streams, but it isn’t the norm. It’s just plain untrue for walleye, northern pike, largemouth or smallmouth bass, bream, crappie, etc. OK perhaps I am most familiar with trout which it is very common around here, even having guys follow the DEC truck to see where they dump them with rod and real ready to go. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374/25 "2014-04-30T20:14:31Z")
Is there a problem with the occasional fish getting hurt with a catch and release fisherman? Hell, I eat fish that I didn’t even catch. There are even fish, like those Asian snakehead fish that have ended up here in many of the US fresh water rivers, lakes, etc., that need to be put into extinction. I fail to see a problem that needs to be solved here. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374/26 "2014-04-30T21:35:30Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Birding? Yeah, birdwatching came immediately to mind. Inexpensive, nice camaraderie with other like-minded people, great internet resource and social exchange, and best of all, travel as much as you want with all the backcountry wandering and adventure, and never need to buy a non-resident license. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374/27 "2014-04-30T21:36:16Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > Technically it is crabbing… [catching crabs with only a string and bait](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_lining). > > Tie a chicken leg to a string and let it sink to the bottom. Once the crab discovers the delectable chicken he will latch onto to it, and then you [slowly pull up the string](http://web.vims.edu/adv/ed/crab/hand.htm) until you can net the crab. I’ve done this, in England. Good fun, and often yields an impressive catch. As for equivalents of conventional angling both satisfying to the angler and suffering-free for the fish – no ideas which haven’t been suggested by other posters, I’m afraid. ---
**Author:** ![SacFly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@SacFly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SacFly)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374/28 "2014-04-30T21:43:03Z")
Learn mushroom hunting. With minimal instruction it’s much, much safer than most imagine. It satisfies the hunter-gatherer urge and gets you out of the house and interacting with nature. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374/29 "2014-04-30T21:47:14Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > . . . They say they are mostly in it for the sport, and the peace and quiet of being outside in nature. > > I can understand that, and I do get the need for men who like peace and quiet, to have some socially acceptible alone outdoors time. . . > > …what would be a satisfactory and socially acceptable alternative for fishing . . .? > > Things I could come up with: > > -reading a book by the water > -practice some craft, like playing a flute or whittling wood > -fishing without a hook, > -operating some remote controlled boat like underwater camera thingy > -listening to music on headphones > > Anyone else any ideas? Composing music inspired by the water (a la Handel). Writing essays, poetry, etcetera inspired by the idyllic setting (a la Thoreau). —G! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374/30 "2014-04-30T22:03:00Z")
Catch and release is, according to Alaska Native culture, playing with your food and disrespectful to the animal. I agree. I took up both woodworking and guitar to amuse myself. If I want to go out into nature, I either sit and read, or I hike and take pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374/31 "2014-04-30T22:12:29Z")
Canoeing, climbing, hiking, swimming, sailing, bicycling, bird watching, gardening, outdoor painting, paintballing, skateboarding, etc. There’s no real shortage of outdoor activities that one can engage in, near or away from water. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374/32 "2014-04-30T22:15:04Z")
Learn how to make all wood bows and arrows. Very addictive once you get started so approach with caution. You can apply science, history, nature, physics, art all at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![SirGalahad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/71c47a/32.png) [@SirGalahad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirGalahad)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374/33 "2014-05-01T00:52:30Z")
Noodling. Or, photo safari to find Bigfoot. Neither hobby harms the catfish (your arm may get chewed on) or the Giganthropithicus. ---
**Author:** ![Inna\_Minnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Inna\_Minnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inna_Minnit)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374/34 "2014-05-01T01:08:44Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Hook’s fine, just skip the bait. Don’t use a barbed hook. How about photography? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374/35 "2014-05-01T02:04:49Z")
Get a motorcycle. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374/36 "2014-05-01T02:48:25Z")
Marine life conservation work. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374/37 "2014-05-01T07:36:40Z")
If you’re near the sea, you could go crabbing - no hook - just a bunch of old bacon rinds or other suitable bait tied to a piece of string and a weight - lower it into water near piers, etc and pull it up after a minute or two - the crabs are generally too stupid to let go until you’ve got them over the bucket. Release the crabs at the end of the session. It’s normally considered an activity for kids where I live, but that doesn’t stop me. The underwater camera thing sounds interesting. I’m planning a project like that myself (although just with an endoscope camera on a long pole). ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374/38 "2014-05-01T10:16:59Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > -operating some remote controlled boat like underwater camera thingy > Anyone else any ideas? > [@Mangetout](#): > > The underwater camera thing sounds interesting. I’m planning a project like that myself (although just with an endoscope camera on a long pole). I’m a fisherman who’s gotten interested in the underwater photography thing. I’ve been using one of [these](http://www.gadgetking.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/AquaVuScoutXLUnderwaterFishFinderCamera_FB4E/image.png) on my boat, but find it hard to see fish. I’ve recently gotten interested in searching for remains of submerged towns. Most of the lakes in Texas are man-made, and many have covered over whole towns. I found some sort of remains near the old site of [Preston](http://www.laketexoma.com/entertainment--four-ghost-towns-under-lake-texoma/296), but so far my finds are merely some oddly geometric returns on my boat’s sonar. I’m experimenting with a submersible “light-box” to send down with the camera, since the little infrared lights on it don’t illuminate very far. My first attempts at building it are working OK, with no leaks after 30 minutes at 40 feet. I’m gradually increasing times and depths. I’ll report back if I find and/or film anything interesting. My search for the alleged “giant catfish” along the deep part of dams has been fruitless. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374/39 "2014-05-01T11:15:53Z")
I rarely fish when I kayak. Sometimes I carry binoculars and do some birding. Sometimes I bring a camera and take pictures. Usually I bring a few beers and a joint. Cleaning up waterways is another on-the-water activity I do from kayak. When I paddle a local lake frequented by Amish guys I collect found bobbers/lures/etc and give my finds to Amish fishermen who are fishing for sustenance. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374/40 "2014-05-01T11:38:45Z")
Professional, full-contact picnicking. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-brilliant-idea-for-a-hobby-that-replaces-angling-fishing/687374.md?page=3)