Go Fish!

Fishing is a lot like dating—you cast a line where you hope some sassy Bass is waiting to grab your worm. Of course, expert fishermen will tell you there's more to it than that, and there aren't too many people in the dating world who would disagree. A fishing date can be a relaxed time where you and your little Yellowtail can commune with nature. Hopefully, by the end of this date you'll be feeling more like Kissing Gouramis than Siamese Fighting Fish.

COST

From a few dollars if you have the poles and a boat or a pier where you can fish from, to a lot more depending on what you need to rent or buy.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

If you go fishing with a company that sets up fishing trips, all the equipment you will need should be supplied. However, if you want to head out on your own, here are some of the things you might find useful: fishing rods with reels that have the proper fishing line, a tackle box with the necessary lures, bait, sunglasses, sunscreen, needle-nose pliers, a pocket knife, a rain suit, a hat, food, something to sit on in case the ground is wet, a bucket to put your fish into, a first aid kit and A FISHING LICENSE. Fishing without a license can bring a hefty fine.

HOPELESSLY HOOKED

Believe it or not, there's a how-to video by former E.R. physician Jim Goldey that shows you how to quickly and painlessly remove a fishhook from your or your date's anatomy. Order How To Get The Hook Out by calling Bennett Marine at (800) 733-8862 or surf over to www.bennettmarine.com. Bennett Marine also has an incredible line of books and videos on everything from how to filet a fish to 100 Saltwater Fishing Mistakes and How To Avoid Them.

WHERE AND HOW TO FISH

Look in the yellow pages under "fishing," "bait," or "tackle," or find a sporting goods store that sells fishing gear. Call and ask where the best local fishing areas are.

For all things fishy—from how to tie a knot to where to fish—go to www.gorp.com.

Try www.bennettmarine.com/fishing_skills.html for videos on everything from rigging and trolling to teaching kids to fish,

A fine book for the fresh-water newcomer is Basic Freshwater Fishing: Step-By-Step Guide to Tackle and Know-How To Catch the Favorite Fish in Your Area by Cliff Hauptman, $16.95.

For people who are new to saltwater fishing, try Saltwater Fishing. Tackle, Rigging, How & When to Fish by Jack Zinzow, 3.95.

And then there's Black's 2000 Fly Fishing: The Complete Angler's Guide to Equipment, Instruction, and Destinations by Jim Black, $14.95.

TYPES OF FISHING

Most people will tell you there are five techniques for fishing: still fishing, bait casting, fly fishing, spinning, and trolling. Which you choose depends on the weather, water conditions, season and kind of fish you are trying to catch. It also depends on the type of equipment you either have or are able to borrow.

Still fishing is where you sit on a boat, riverbank or dock and cast your line in the water. This is the most common kind of fishing, and it's probably the most relaxing.

For those of you with a shorter and stiffer pole, bait fishing might do the trick. This is where you use the pole as a projection device to cast the bait to some magical place in the distance where you are sure the fish are waiting to bite.

Fly fishing is what you do when your rod is long and flexible and you believe that you can fool the average fish into thinking that a little piece of fur or a feather on the end of your hook is really an insect or minnow.

Spinning refers to a special type of reel where the spool shoots out without the reel moving. This allows you to cast lighter lures a longer way so the fish aren't as likely to know you are coming.

Trolling is when you are sitting on a boat and it pulls your lure through the water. This is also what people do in singles bars.