Of all the world's enjoyments
That ever valued were,
There's none of our employments
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Of all the world's enjoyments
That ever valued were,
There's none of our employments
With fishing can compare.
- Thomas Durfee (or D'Urfey),

A stick and a string with a fly at one end and a fool at the
other.

A stick and a string with a fly at one end and a fool at the
other.

It is a silly fish that is caught twice with the same bait.

It is a silly fish that is caught twice with the same bait.

Old Peter Grimes made fishing his employ;
His wife he cabined with him and his boy,
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Old Peter Grimes made fishing his employ;
His wife he cabined with him and his boy,
And seemed that life laborious to enjoy.

To fish in troubled waters.

To fish in troubled waters.

The biggest fish he ever caught were those that got away.

The biggest fish he ever caught were those that got away.

For angling-rod he took a sturdy oak;
For line, a cable that in storm ne'er broke;
His read more

For angling-rod he took a sturdy oak;
For line, a cable that in storm ne'er broke;
His hook was such as heads the end of pole
To pluck down house ere fire consumes it whole;
This hook was bated with a dragon's tail,--
And then on rock he stood to bob for whale.

Fishing is boring, unless you catch an actual fish, and then it is disgusting.

Fishing is boring, unless you catch an actual fish, and then it is disgusting.

They may the better fish in the water when it is troubled.

They may the better fish in the water when it is troubled.