An ordinary day of fishin'

I'd studied the form guides, listened to wiser fishers than I will ever be, lined my trusty FC-5000, baited up, and re-consulted The Bass And You. It was time. The Stranglethorn Fishing Extravaganza awaited!

For those unfamiliar, the SFE is a true test of an angler's skill, and the rewards are great - from the legendary Arcanite Fishing Pole to the Hook of the Master Angler. Held along Stranglethorn coast, it attracts all comers searching to perfect their art, and catch a couple of stacks of rare Tastyfish.

I started in Grom'grol, and immediately joined the swarms of anglers with poles being tuned and tactics discussed. Ally gankers were having a field day before the competition started, taking down innocent twinks with glee. This didn't bode well for the competition itself - how can you fish when you're being one-shotted?

But, interestingly and perhaps surprisingly, once the fishing begun, the ganking stopped. Once again our humble pastime achieved what nothing else could, with Horde and Alliance monentarily declaring a truce...to fish.

I started well, finding and emptying a couple of pools all to myself. The Tastyfish squirmed in my bag and the rod twitched in my hand, as fish after fish was landed.

Pirates fish too

Before long though, the traffic started to appear. And so did the dubious tactics - this fellow was leaping about in the water, diverting attention and making it very hard to reel my bobber in when it jumped.

Side by side in perfect harmony

I had racked up about 17 fish when the competition ended - alas! But I could sense something else was out there, and fished on for a few more pools. There was something beckoning, something Nat Pagle had taught me about. Using a special Mormyshka lure, crafted from the finest materials, I landed the elusive Keefer's Angelfish.

So rare are these fish that the Fishbot 5000 in Booty Bay swapped it for something magical...

Lucky!

Nice hat

The SFE was a great experience, and there's plenty more rewards for those that are attuned. Perhaps some fellow Guildster's will join me next time - a competition within the competition!

Nat Pagle Is My Hero

Having spent no small amount of time learning the zen of fishing, today I decided it was finally time to meet the great man himself: Nat Pagle. Creator of the legendary Nat Pagle Extreme Angler FC-5000 "Limited Edition", this was the man who took the sport of fishing and turned it into an art.

My journey took me first to the murky swamps of Dustwallow Marsh, and thence to a small isle off the West coast of Theramore. As I swam toward Mr Pagle's island home, my nerves were clattering at the thought of meeting the Great Man. Before approaching him, I changed into my best gear, kindly supplied by Fugg for this very event.

Will you marry me?

He was everything you could hope for in a Human. Which is not a lot, I suppose, but just look at that casting action. That gruff visage. Those shoulders. We chatted, and he illuminated more than one fishing secret in our time together. None more salient than: "I reckon you just need to be determined - determined enough to sit on your duff for hours at a time, doin' nothin'." Of course. Of course!

He set me a mission - to catch the fabled Feralis Ahi, a Sar'theris Striker, the Savage Coast Blue Sailfin, and the elusive Misty Reed Mahi Mahi. With his words of wisdom in mind, I travelled far and wide to find these mystical fish.






As I fished each location, I pondered. The Feralas Ahi too me 8 minutes, and more than 17 fish to land. Instead of calm, I started to feel confused - and when I moved onto the Striker, it was over 11 minutes and 34 fish - double the fish! But on the flight to Grom'gol for the Sailfin, something opened in my mind. It was like a door to a new philosophy of fishing. 5 minutes and 12 fish later, I had it. I finally saw the Pagle Path. The final fish, the rare Mahi Mahi, was landed with a single cast. A single flick of a now unstoppable wrist.

I returned, in my Tuxedo this time, to Nat - he insisted on first names now that I had reached enlightenment - and provided him his fish. It was a great moment to see the glint in his eye as he recognised a fellow Artisan.

Mr. Pagle's Reward

He left me with words that will long stay with me, and which ring true in the heart of all Those Who Fish: Ain't it amazin' what you run into in an ordinary day of fishin'?

FtH! Stroeb