03-30-2017, 03:54 PM
Anthropomorphism.
The attributing of human characteristics and purposes to inanimate objects, animals, plants, or other natural phenomena...
Walt Disney was brilliant.
He did a disservice to many. Far too often we, as humans, attempt to give animals (and fish!) human characteristics.
We often times try to "out smart" fish. We try to believe that fish can think, and actually process decisions. We want to believe that they can "feel" and process "pain" the way we do. This is nothing more than anthropomorphic thinking.
A fish brain is about the size of a pea.
It is programmed to respond to stimuli.
Stimuli can be anything. For a human, stimuli might be what we call "pain". For a fish, stimuli might be some type of an object "swimming" in front of it. Why does it hit that object? Who knows -- food, aggression, fun, protection....could be anything, or nothing at all. It's simply stimuli. Why does a fish fight when hooked? Is it "pain"? Or is it simply a response to stimuli -- more simply put: a reaction.
the trick for anglers is not trying to trick the fish into confusing a lure with a natural bait. We fish lures all the time that do not mimic natural baits -- and often times they work very well!
The trick is to understand how to trigger a response to stimuli -- how to get a reaction.
Just like with any other group, and any other hobby, we always try to complicate things more than necessary. Fishing should be simple.
[signature]
The attributing of human characteristics and purposes to inanimate objects, animals, plants, or other natural phenomena...
Walt Disney was brilliant.
He did a disservice to many. Far too often we, as humans, attempt to give animals (and fish!) human characteristics.
We often times try to "out smart" fish. We try to believe that fish can think, and actually process decisions. We want to believe that they can "feel" and process "pain" the way we do. This is nothing more than anthropomorphic thinking.
A fish brain is about the size of a pea.
It is programmed to respond to stimuli.
Stimuli can be anything. For a human, stimuli might be what we call "pain". For a fish, stimuli might be some type of an object "swimming" in front of it. Why does it hit that object? Who knows -- food, aggression, fun, protection....could be anything, or nothing at all. It's simply stimuli. Why does a fish fight when hooked? Is it "pain"? Or is it simply a response to stimuli -- more simply put: a reaction.
the trick for anglers is not trying to trick the fish into confusing a lure with a natural bait. We fish lures all the time that do not mimic natural baits -- and often times they work very well!
The trick is to understand how to trigger a response to stimuli -- how to get a reaction.
Just like with any other group, and any other hobby, we always try to complicate things more than necessary. Fishing should be simple.
[signature]