Angling

Angling, from the Old English *angol* meaning "hook," is a method of catching fish by using a hook tied to a line to secure a fish by its mouth. While it is the primary technique for recreational fishing, commercial operations also use angling approaches like longlining, trotlining, and trolling. The line is typically managed with a fishing rod, which acts as a lever to amplify movements and increase casting distance by extending the swing arc. Rods were traditionally made from single pieces of hardwood or bamboo, but modern versions are often built from alloys, fiberglass, or carbon fiber, sometimes as hollow blanks to reduce weight. Many contemporary rods are multi-piece or telescoping for easier storage and portability. However, rodless methods like handlining exist, and some rod techniques, such as Tenkara fishing and traditional cane pole fishing, do not use a reel. Reels, when used, serve as cranking devices to store, retrieve, and release line.

The hook itself may be weighted with a sinker and is usually dressed with edible bait to attract fish, though inedible imitation lures with multiple hooks are sometimes used instead. Anglers often employ bite indicators—such as floats, bells, or quiver tips—to signal when a fish takes the bait. To begin, the angler casts the hook to a chosen spot, sometimes scattering groundbait beforehand to lure fish with scents. When a fish feeds by suction and swallows the baited hook, the hook point typically pierces the jaw, gullet, or gill, tethering the fish. The angler then sets the hook by jerking the rod back, retrieves the line to pull the fish in, and may "play" the fish by pausing or reversing retrieval to tire it out. The fish is finally landed, often with the help of a landing net or long-handled hook.

Different rod types suit various fishing styles. Spinning rods, casting rods, fly rods, and cane pole rods are among the categories, each optimized for specific reel setups or techniques. Popular game fish vary by region: saltwater anglers globally target billfish (swordfish, sailfish, marlin), tuna, trevally, and grouper, while cod and sea bass are common in Europe. In North America, freshwater favorites include bass, northern pike, muskellunge, walleye, trout, anadromous salmon, tilapia, channel catfish, and panfish like crappie, bluegill, and yellow perch. In Europe, Asia, and Australasia, anglers often pursue carp, pike, bream, tench, rudd, roach, European perch, catfish, and barbel—many considered rough fish in North America. Many regions require a fishing license, and size limits may mandate releasing fish outside a certain size range. Catch and release is increasingly practiced to conserve stocks and sustain fisheries.

Angling differs from snagging, which uses large, multi-pointed grappling hooks to pierce the fish externally, often causing severe injuries that hinder survival. Angling relies on small hooks and the fish voluntarily swallowing the bait.