Why Is It Called Angling?

[fishaholic18]

Yup, Striprman's right..Googled this up.

Angling is a form of fishing. It is often used synonymously with the terms sport fishing and recreational fishing, although subtle semantic distinctions exist among the three terms. Specifically, angling is the practice of catching fish by means of an "angle" (hook). The hook is usually attached by a line to a fishing rod. A bite indicator such as a float is sometimes, but not always, used. Frequently, the rod is outfitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook can be dressed with lures or bait. Generally, angling is thought of, principally, as a method of sport fishing but some commercial fisheries use methods which are quite similar.

[BigFish]

Thankyou gentlemen....I can die happy now!

[BassyiusMaximus]

I may be wrong however, I believe angling is about the angle of the line from the rod or rod's tip down to the fishes mouth, and in order to sucessfully get the fish to the fisherman, one had to change the "angles." That is, by pulling one way, then pulling the other, that by changing the angles, one can turn the fish and change the angle.

There are almost no angles on a hook save for the barb, only decreasing or increasing radii, math. There is math in fishing???

[JohnR]

My guess would be since English is based mostly on French and German that it might have root in the German word Angeln (Krispy can correct me if I'm wrong) - Angeln = Fishing.