OUTDOOR LIVING
Angling was the raison d ’ être that Duane ventured to Plummer ' s Great Bear Lake Lodge , NWT
A Fish-Eye View
Duane Radford Article and Photos
“ Many men go fishing all their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after ” — so says writer , naturalist , and philosopher Henry David Thoreau ( 1817 – 1862 ).
His observation raises an interesting question : What exactly is the desired outcome of this universally popular outdoor activity , if it isn ’ t a creel filled with fresh fish ? Are anglers actually flummoxed ? The ones I know don ’ t appear to be bewildered . I have lots of history with this particular activity , so I ’ ll try to put Thoreau ’ s thought into perspective with the relevant transformational experiences I ’ ve had during my lifetime .
As a former fishery biologist , I conducted a study back in 1975 on “ factors influencing the enjoyment of a fishing trip ” on east slope streams . I found that “ elements of the natural environment ( beautiful scenery , clear water , wildlife , and solitude ) are more important to anglers than catching big fish or large numbers of fish .” Now , that came as a surprise ! Fishing , it appeared , was the catalyst that enabled anglers to enjoy elements of the natural environment .
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