No, seriously. It may sound like an excuse some guy would make to his wife to let him skip something deemed more important to go fishing on the weekend, but it's actually a legitimate claim to make. Fishing is a healthy activity, plain and simple. You want to be healthy, right?
Aerobic benefits
Wading through rivers and flinging lures is actually pretty good aerobics and good for your overall cardiovascular health. Breathing all that fresh air doesn't hurt, either.
Low impact exercise
Walking to your favorite fishing spot or wading in water while fishing is low-impact as opposed to jogging around the block which can do a real number on your knees. You get all the benefits of moving without the wear and tear on your joints.
Maintains flexibility
Fishing involves a lot of small and intricate movements. As you get older, you may find that some of these finer motor skills start to deteriorate, but fishing can help them stay sharper longer. You’ll also use a lot of muscles that don’t normally get a lot of work, especially those in your arms and back.
Increases Vitamin D levels
Sunlight and the Vitamin D associated with it are tremendous health benefits to being outside with a fishing rod in hand. Hundreds of studies now link Vitamin D deficiency with significantly higher rates of many forms of cancer as well as heart disease‚ osteoporosis‚ multiple sclerosis, and a long list of other conditions and diseases. Because make upwards of 90 percent of our Vitamin D naturally from sunlight exposure to our skin, it's a no brainer that being outdoors is a health benefit all of its own.
Improves mental health
Fishing calms your mind down, plain and simple. Being out in nature, far away from the stress of life lets your brain relax and focus on one simple task--catching fish. If that isn't enough, consider that simply having fun is a hugely underrated health benefit.
Taking time out of life to go fishing can work wonders for every area of your life and make you a happier person to be around.
"Honey! I'm off to fish, er, exercise!"
