| Humans have a tendency to believe most animals | | | | shallow water. Some of them sit in big floating |
| are relatively stupid - especially fish. When anglers | | | | pieces of wood or inflated cloth farther out in the |
| believe fish have limited powers of observation | | | | water. |
| and intelligence, they tend to exclude the lessons | | | | STUDENT: |
| most schools of fish teach their young. When | | | | How do we know where the anglers are and |
| they do so, they continue to believe old wives | | | | what their hooks look like? |
| tales and misguided assumptions about fish | | | | INSTRUCTOR: |
| behavior. In particular, they underestimate the | | | | You will learn to see most of the anglers. They |
| capacity of the fish they are pursuing to practice | | | | are big globs of color that you can see when you |
| the hook-avoidance techniques that are a regular | | | | look up to the surface of the water. When you |
| part of a fishy education. | | | | see these big globs of color, you should not eat |
| If we humans were able to hear and comprehend | | | | anything you see nearby. You can also hear some |
| the information conveyed in fish schools, anglers | | | | of them, and you can see them stir up the |
| would be less likely to continue to make some | | | | bottom when they move around. |
| very traditional mistakes in pursuing their prey. If | | | | Their hooks are very frightening because they |
| we were to listen in, we might hear some of | | | | are carefully disguised with things that are very |
| these lessons from a fishy education. | | | | attractive foods. Some of the hooks are |
| LESSON I: FISHHOOK AVOIDANCE | | | | embedded in feathers, bugs, worms, and other |
| INSTRUCTOR: | | | | kinds of food. It is very hard to see the hooks, |
| These are all examples of fish hooks - single, | | | | so it is very important to look for anglers. |
| treble, barbless, and barbed. A fish hook is to be | | | | But there are some anglers you will not be able |
| avoided in any way possible. Fish hooks are | | | | to see. These anglers cover themselves with |
| inventions of the humanoid monsters who try to | | | | something that makes them invisible to us when |
| prey upon fish. These evil devices have a very | | | | we look to the surface. Fortunately, most of the |
| sharp pointed barb on the end. These can | | | | anglers don't know how to become invisible. So, |
| become caught in a lip, gill, or even your side if | | | | always watch for anglers and don't eat anything |
| you are in the wrong place at the right time. Their | | | | when one of them is nearby. |
| primary function, however, is to tempt you to | | | | We know fish see color. The eye anatomy of a |
| bite the "bait" they put on it and get the hook | | | | fish has been repeatedly studied and ample |
| caught in your mouth. Once a hook is attached, | | | | information about how they see and discern color |
| you will be pulled out of the water by means of | | | | is abundant. Anglers go to great lengths to choose |
| the line tied to the other end of the hook. And, | | | | the perfect fly when they are fishing. They think |
| once you are out of the water, you will certainly | | | | about the color, the shape, the design and the |
| die. | | | | way the lure moves in the water. |
| STUDENT: | | | | Many anglers, however, have not yet figured out |
| Does every fish that bites a hook die? | | | | that if a fish that can see size 20 fly floating on |
| INSTRUCTOR: | | | | the surface of a lake, it can also see a bright |
| No. Small, young fish are sometimes removed | | | | orange glob created by a 200 pound, 6-foot tall |
| from the hook and released back into the water. | | | | fisherman standing nearby wearing the latest |
| And there are some of the humanoid monsters | | | | trendy fishing shirt color. Successful anglers, on |
| who always release fish back into the water. | | | | the other hand, have learned to blend in with |
| These humanoids are called "anglers" and they | | | | nature and become invisible to their prey by |
| think catching fish on their hooks is fun. | | | | wearing water camouflage clothing. Some even |
| STUDENT: | | | | wear water camouflage that reproduces the |
| Are these anglers everywhere? | | | | patterns of light and shadow seen by fish as they |
| INSTRUCTOR: | | | | look to the surface. |
| No. Many of them stay close to the shore or in | | | | Stay tuned for Lesson #2 from a Fishy Education. |