Fishing Activity Analysis

Activity Analysis on the Culture of Fishing

Ashley M. Smith

SUNY Downstate Medical Center

I was raised in Jacksonville, Florida; “the river city” as most natives call it. As stated by the St. Johns River Water Management Disctrict the city has this nickname because it is home to the largest river in Florida, the St. Johns. The St. Johns is also one of the two rivers in the United States that flows north (2013). Since I was surrounded by it my whole life, activities involving water were very common. One of my family’s favorite things to do is have a fishing tournament for Easter on my grandparents’ dock on the St. Johns River.

Around noon, my family and I head out to the dock. We each grab a fishing rod,

life vest, and sun glasses, while my grandfather grabs the tackle box. The tackle box includes fishing essentials such as fishing pliers, a scale, a ruler, extra hooks and fishing line, towels, a small net for catching bait and, of course, sunscreen. Once on the dock we each grab our own bait. Since we fish on the dock, we like to use live bait to attract fish. Usually we use shrimp or small fish called minnows.
We store the bait in small containers attached to the dock by rope. To pull up the bait bucket, I hand-over-hand grab the rope until it reaches the deck. Once on the deck, I take the small net from the tackle box and retrieve my bait from the bucket. Then I attach my bait to the fishing hook. To attach my bait to the hook, I grab the bait by the tail. I usually wear gloves because I don’t like the way the bait feels on my hands. Holding either the shrimp or minnow tightly by the tail in one hand, I use my other to pierce through the lips of the minnow or belly of the shrimp with the hook. Now my fishing rod is ready to be cast.
After attaching my bait to the rod, I find a place on the dock that seems comfortable and I cast my fishing rod. To cast the rod, I place it over my shoulder, with one finger on the bail of the reel. In one motion, I extend my forearms forward, bringing the tip of the rod towards the water and flipping the bail over to the other side of the reel to release the line. With my bait in the water, I patiently wait for a fish to bite. While the bait is in the water, I have to ensure that my fishing line stays taught and straight. I achieve this by slowly reeling in the fishing line using the handle on the reel and small wrist movements. When I feel like I have a bite, I start to reel in my bait faster to try and catch the fish attached to the hook. Sometimes the fish get away or they’re nibbling at the bait and don’t become hooked to the line. Knowing when to reel in faster comes with the knowledge of what it feels like to hook a fish. If I’m lucky, I reel a fish onto the dock and unhook it from my line with the pliers. Once unhooked, I take the ruler from the tackle box and measure the length of my fish. In the state of Florida, there are regulations on how long a fish must be for you to keep it. If the fish is not within the legal length, it must be released back into the river. At the end of the day we gather all of the fish we have caught, and the person with the biggest fish wins a prize. We all help clean the fish and go back to the house. I really enjoy being out on the water with my family and participating in this relaxing and exciting activity.
The activity of fishing can vary in many different ways.

My family fishes on a dock, but many people fish on a boat out on the water. Fishing can also vary with the type of bait used. My family uses live bait, but there are other types of baits and lures that fisherman use, such as worms or rubber lures. The bait used depends on the type of fish you’re fishing for and the type of water you’re fishing in. Rods also vary depending on the type of fish you are looking to catch, and the environment you are fishing in. My family uses carbon fiber fishing rods, but there are many different types such as fly rods, trolling rods and surf rods. Fishing is a great pastime and the many different variables help to make the activity

fun.
As defined in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, “client factors are specific capacities, characteristics, or beliefs that exist within the person and that influence performance in occupations” (as cited by the AOTA 2014, p. S7). One characteristic that is imperative for fishing is patience. I sometimes spend hours on the dock during our family fishing tournament without a hint of a bite, and other times the fish are really running and I catch multiple fish in an hour. This pastime is all about enjoying the scenery and the company you are with while being hopeful and patient. My family values this activity because it is a source of food. My grandparents grew up in a small, impoverished town, and one way to feed their family was through fishing. Even though their need to fish for food is no longer there, the enjoyment of the activity still is. Another client factor for this activity could be the person’s spirituality. Growing up, I was taught that God put animals on the earth for humans to use, and by fishing we are able to have a meal. This aspect of the activity could bother some people if they have a different belief system, so understanding the client’s beliefs and values is important when choosing any activity.

To be able to fish you must have certain performance skills, such as motor skills and know the specific process of the activity.

Some of the motor skills needed are coordination, stabilization, gripping and transporting. You need to be able to grip the bait in your hands while putting it on the rod, as well as grip the fishing pole once you have cast your bait into the water. Stabilization is also important. My family fishes on a solid dock, but some people fish on floating docks or on boats which makes keeping your balance essential for this activity. Transportation is an important motor skill when fishing. While fishing you have to be able to transport your bait from the bait bucket onto the hook, then you have to transport the hook and line from the top of the reel into the water, and then once you catch a fish you have to transport the fish off the hook and either back into the water or into storage. Even though there are many different processing skills to fishing I believe that coordination is the most important skill of fishing. While fishing you have to hold the rod in one hand, and turn the handle of the reel with the other all while maintaining your balance. You are constantly faced with completing multiple tasks a once, and coordination will help keep the activity running

smoothly
The activity of fishing has many performance patterns associated with it. Some habits that I’ve picked up while fishing are always holding the rod in my right hand and reeling with my left. Some of my family members always use a particular type of bait, while I tend to switch between what I use. Another performance pattern with fishing is the routine of baiting and casting. There are specific steps to bait the hook and cast the line in order to catch a fish. As described in the OTPF a ritual is a “symbolic action with spiritual, cultural or symbolic meaning (AOTA 2014, p. S8).” Some rituals that occur during our fishing tournament are my grandmother wearing her lucky sun hat and the youngest family member getting to pick their spot on the dock first. I know many fisherman who have their own rituals that they believe bring good luck on the river as well.
The activity of fishing could definitely be used as a therapeutic activity. Being outdoors can help boost someone’s mood, particularly if they are near a body of water. The water can be very soothing and serene, which may help to alleviate stresses a patient might have. The fine motor skills and repetition needed to fish could also help a patient regain these skills in a fun outdoor environment. The Walter Reed Army Medical Center introduced Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing for active duty army personnel and saw great improvement in their patients with this activity. The therapist noticed how fly fishing helped their patients regain their fine motor skills and balance, while allowing them to enjoy a scenic environment (US Department of Veterans Affairs, 2008).
There are many repetitive motions within the activity of fishing that could help a patient improve both their strength and fine motor skills. By pulling the bait bucket out of the water the patient would need to use upper body strength and balance. Repeatedly doing this activity could strengthen the patient’s shoulders, arms, forearms and back muscles. The process of reeling could also strengthen the patient’s wrist and hands. To work on the patient’s fine motor skills, a therapist could have the patient bait a hook, or even tie a hook onto the line of the fishing rod. Fishing could also help a patient emotionally. Some patients are kept inside for long periods of the day due to their conditions, but going outside for an activity could greatly improve their mood. Being near the water can also aid in the reduction of anxiety and depression because of its natural calming sounds.
Living in “the river city” has made me love activities on the water, especially fishing. This activity encompasses many performance skills and performance patterns that could be beneficial to therapy patients. I hope to have the opportunity to share this cultural past time of mine with some of my patients one day to improve their functionality.

References

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2014). Occupational therapy practice framework:
Domain and process (3rd ed .). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68(Suppl. 1), S1– S48. http://dx.doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2014.682006

St. Johns River Water Management District. (2013). The St. Johns River.
Retrieved from: http://floridaswater.com/stjohnsriver/

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2008). Fly Fishing Provides Therapeutic Benefits for Veterans.
Retrieved from: http://www.maryland.va.gov/publications/newsreleases/2008/02-13-08_HealingWaters.asp