Fishing is More Than A Meal, More Than A Sport
- Justin Campbell
- Jul 30
- 3 min read
Fishing can feed a family and challenge an angler, but its real power may be in what it gives back to the mind, body, and people we bring with us.
By Justin Campbell | Equalized Outdoors
As we enter week four and conclude the waterline column, I want to take the time to let those of you who have not explored the water in on something that those of us who partake already know. It’s not sexy, so it doesn’t grab the headlines, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less impactful.
Filling the cooler with a fresh catch certainly gets the vibes flowing out on the water, and no doubt adds to the enjoyment. Even after the fishing has concluded, a fresh catch usually means getting together with the people that we love in our yards for a fish fry. Stories get told, and the memories live on. All while providing sustainable sustenance.
In a world full of fast-paced, want-it-now attitudes, fishing can force us to slow down and be present. Those emails can suddenly wait, and unless you’re looking for it to take a picture, you’ll probably have a hard time locating your phone. And the best part about that is the fact that it’s okay! No matter how busy we all are, we deserve the space to disconnect and just enjoy our surroundings.
It also gives us a chance to move our bodies quietly. Whether you’re putting in the miles on the bank to find the fish or standing on the bow casting repeatedly, it’s inherently better for us than hours behind the desk or on the couch. I’m even guilty of it myself. Tell me that I need to get up and go to the gym, and I’ll do it, albeit begrudgingly. However, if you tell me that there’s a creek back there with 20” smallmouth, but we have a 4-mile hike each way, I’m all in without second thought.
Even when it comes to the ever-elusive quality time, fishing is hard to beat in that area as well. We tend to think about children because fishing is fun and it’s easy, and I’d even surmise that fishing is America’s gateway to the outdoors. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s just limited to children. In fact, adults, young and old, can participate. Literally anyone can do it, and that’s the beauty of fishing.
I have an ex-girlfriend with whom I remain friends today, and I was her first “country boyfriend”. Fishing was one of our first dates, and she went on to accompany me on scouting trips and other adventures as well. It remains a part of her life to this day, all because of an unconventional date with a country guy.
Now, in closing, I’ll say the quiet part out loud. Maybe you’ve heard the saying a bad day on the water beats the best day at the office. Or at least some variation of that phrase. That’s because being outside, challenging yourself, and getting away from our devices is good for our mental health.
Sure, I don’t like getting skunked, which is fishing vernacular for we didn’t catch anything, but I’ll gladly take those hours instead of being at the desk. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me when my son even just asks to go fishing. That in itself is enough of a win for me, and at the end of the day, the little things are what it’s all about.
Fishing is what we choose to make it. It can be a meal, a memory, a challenge, a date, or even a profession.
So, the next time an opportunity presents itself, take that kid with you. Take that curious friend who’s been not so secretly waiting for an invite. Take the person who’s been in the concrete jungle their whole life. Give them a fishing rod and the opportunity. Then let the rest write itself.
The water has so much more to offer than just the fish.
And here at Equalized Outdoors, we’re just getting started.
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