Gone fishin’!

Drive along the shores of the Bosporus Strait and you will see many fishermen -- young and old -- the majority usually male. Some have rods and others just have a fishing line that they toss back and forth into the sea. Reminding me of my brothers, it brings a smile to my face. It makes me laugh.

I wonder what they are fishin’ for?  Are they fishin’ for something in particular?  Dolphins are the only fish I’ve ever seen jump in the water there. With the tackle they are using it couldn’t hold the weight of a dolphin. I can’t imagine that they are fishin’ for dolphins. Maybe they are hoping to snag some mackerel.

Surprised? Yes, dolphins swim in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. You can still spot one of these nimble and smart creatures from the shore if you know what to look for: a sudden flash of a dark grey dorsal fin cutting through the water. You may see another. Then you may see a pod of dolphins leaping and diving, trying to navigate the dangerous obstacle course.   

Dolphins in the Bosporus are doing their own fishin’. The dolphins use the strait as a natural trap for catching prey fish, just as people do.

Back in the States, men like my brothers are busy talking about the Bassmaster Classic.

The Bassmaster Classic fishing competition brought bass fishermen to Pittsburgh from 22 states, as well as one fisherman from Africa, to fish the Three Rivers for bass lunkers. All the competitors in this year’s competition agreed that it was tough fishery when it came to landing 12 inch-plus bass. They grow bigger down south.

  It’s all in the tackle and figuring out which bait to use. “It’s also important when you bury the barb in the worm to Texas rig it and leave it next to no concave or convex play in the worm as this robs freedom of motion from the back end of the bait,” claims Mike. “Mount the bait properly, and you’ll get the maximum freedom of movement in the tail,” adds Jamie. Wow! I was impressed with this sophisticated fish talk and bamboozled by the jargon.

During the second day of competition, Aaron Martens moved into first place. He had figured out which bait would make the fish bite.

The Web and bookstores have scores of fishin’ magazines. There is a fishin’ channel on television.

You will find many good bass fishing articles, bass fishing tips and stories here to help you increase your knowledge, enjoyment and success in largemouth, smallmouth and striped bass fishing. With Big Bass Journal under your arm, and rods, reels, lures, clothing, gear and more as well as listening to the Outdoor Radio Network, you are bound to catch some!

I learned that others can also fish: Women’s competitions, Jr. Bassmaster competitions and kids’ competitions are also held.

Can you imagine centuries ago what the Bosporus must have been like? It would have been a remarkable sight: wild dolphins against the backdrop of shipyards and centuries-old Ottoman palaces.

What about today?  On a windy point called Üsküdar, on the Asian side of the Bosporus, clusters of weather-beaten fishermen hurl their fishing lines deep into the channel.

Or a young boy and his grey-bearded uncle climb into a small wooden fishing dinghy and begin to make their way by puttering away down the Golden Horn to their favorite fishing spot.

In America, fishermen have their Mercury motor fishing boats equipped with special equipment to detect where the fish are They are decked out in their fishin’ gear with their tackle boxes full of do-it molds, fishing hooks, bulk plastic worms, spinner blades, lure skirts, fly tying materials and much more.

If any of these fishermen tried the other one’s techniques they would find it memorable and have a few tales to tell when they got back home.

We have to face the facts: we live in a different world today. Fishing is universal. Even though different fishing approaches are used, for most enthusiasts it is a hobby as well as a mode of escapism: Just like fishermen, ironically, the dolphin or the bass are rightfully wary of their dangerous world.  

Also, even the fish are laughing!