Page 58 - MARVAC2023

Gone Fishing
According to the 2021 North American Camper Report, when asked about what they like to do while camping, 52 percent of campers responded that they like to go fishing – the most popular recreational activity. Hiking/backpacking came in second, followed by biking and canoeing/kayaking.
And with the number of households in the United States who go camping growing exponentially – and 54 percent of those house- holds containing minor children – fishing is the perfect outdoor activity to take up.
WHY IS FISHING SO POPULAR?
Honestly, it would be surprising if fishing were not the most popular outdoor activity for campers, since Michigan has a lot of fresh water on which to fish! Whether you’re looking to catch panfish for dinner or want to catch a big ol’ salmon, Michigan lakes and streams are home to a diverse lot of fish.
Fishing is a fairly easy pastime to pack for, as well. You can
fish from banks and bridges, no need to bring or rent a wa- tercraft if you don’t want to. All you need are poles or rods (depending on if you’re fly fishing or not), a tackle box that holds some basic gear (more notes on that below), lures or worms,
and – especially for kids – life jackets. Everything is lightweight and doesn’t take up a lot of room, which is ideal for traveling and camping RVers.
A lot of folks find the experience simply relaxing, as well as ex- hilarating. The sparkle in a child’s eye as they hook a fish on the line and reel it in is second to none.
WHAT GEAR DO I NEED TO BRING WHEN I GO FISHING?
We’ve already mentioned fishing poles, life jackets, and a tackle box. We will focus on what you should be putting into your tack- le box so that you can be ready for whatever is called for. Inside your tackle box, you should pack:
• extra fishing line • lures or flies
• bobbers
• leaders
• sinkers
• different sizes of hooks
• needle nose pliers
• stringer, if you plan to catch a lot of fish
• sharp knife
• ruler/scale (there are weight limits to certain types of fish) • a small flashlight
Jays
56 • 2023 MICHIGAN RV & CAMPGROUNDS
MichiganRVandCampgrounds.org