Made to Wade
There is a small “splinter group” of anglers that are true minimalists. This group is genuinely a different breed. For some of these anglers, this may be a release valve, others may be introverts, or it could just be the solitude of the experience. It is hard to find anything that will make an individual more “one with nature” than wade fishing.
A wade angler must have all of the fishing skills as boating and land based anglers . They must also have the intestinal fortitude to know, not if, but when, they will be injured fishing. The geographic dangers alone would dissuade any “normal” person. Situational awareness is paramount, always on the lookout for strong currents, oyster beds, debris in the water, and deep holes. This is just the “tip of the iceberg”, there is also the probability of painful, maybe even deadly encounters with jellyfish, catfish, stingrays, sharks, and a plethora of other unfriendly creatures.
Wade anglers are not only searching for fish, they are searching for them in their environment. This type of angling is more akin to hunting than fishing. There is nothing like a huge blowup twenty feet in front of you when you are chest deep in water. These anglers must not only know how to fish, they must know how to handle fish in the water. It will certainly test ones “pucker factor” when something enormous on the line, doubles back and shoots between their legs.
To fish in this manner requires a “thrill seeker” mentality. Each time an experienced wade angler goes out, they are well aware of the dangers that may confront them. They also realize that there is nothing better than watching the sunrise while you are waste deep in water, getting ready to make your first cast! Get wild, get wet, go wade fishing!
Copyright: Paul Presson
