Fishing Chemistry

I had the opportunity to be exposed to chemistry subject when I was in upper secondary school. Chemistry was one of the compulsory subjects i needed to study in the science stream of upper secondary school. As a matter of fact, to be selected to continue in science stream for the lower and upper six (pre-university) during my time, you needed to obtain an aggregate of 9 or less credits in any of the three science subjects, namely, Mathematics, Physics, Biology and Chemistry from your MCE examination (Malaysian Certificate of Education) result. MCE was an equivalent qualification to the British "O" (Ordinary) Level. If you scored a distinction in a subject, you will get a 1 grade/credit and the grade number will go up when you do not score too well. A fail will receive a 9 grade/credit. So, to be selected and qualified to pursue in the science stream, you need at least a 3 grade in each of three science subjects mentioned earlier.

To be frank, Chemistry was the subject I feared most particularly the organic chemistry topic. With the little knowledge I gathered in my two years of lower and upper six classes, and despite the struggle in the Chemistry subject and the difficulty in understanding it, I managed to at least experiment and learned how certain chemicals reacted when put together. Some chemicals simply do not mix very well, for example oil and water, while some mixed so well that they form into a new substance, for example zinc with copper into brass.

I believe God has created each one of us very specially and truly we are made to have our very own unique likings and preferences for things in life. So the saying that goes, "one man's food is another 's poison" becomes apparent.

The chemistry, the special preferences which God has given us and many other factors also contributed to the people we like to associate with in our daily life. Ever heard of someone's commented, "I hate this guy and just do not wish to see him again" or "I really like this Mr X. When I am with him I feel like I've known him for years". To the extreme, I have heard of comment such as, "When I look at him, I feel like SLAPPING him!"

When fishing is concerned, the "chemistry" amongst the regular clique is no different. As a matter of fact, due to the liking each angler has in sport fishing, the "chemistry" to be able to mix and mingle becomes even more important. I've heard many comments in the course of my fishing trips with some of my regular keen angler friends and started to analyze why some of them simply refuse to continue going out fishing with one particular person after a few fishing outings with him.

Time is scares these days, and time waits for no one. So time becomes so important that anglers do not want to waste their precious time with people they cannot really click. In addition, passion is built in anglers that most of the time, they can be so mesmerized and engrossed during fishing sessions. The presence of that particular person they do not like to go fishing with may disturb their concentration and enjoyment of their hobby. Thus, anglers are very selective of who become their fishing mates.

Since we are all born special, everyone has a set of characters which are difficult to change in a short period of time. So, naturally, we humans just do not like to hang around with people who do not have characters or habits which do not quite suit our taste. We enjoy being with people whom we are comfortable with and who have common interests. Once, I have heard comment from a fellow angler, "The haruan was really big and it was as big as your thigh!" The fact that haruan in excess of 1.5kg is hardly to come by these days and by passing such comment is just going to rub salt into the wound.

So, anglers are a bunch of people with a set of common peculiar characters. Sometimes words cannot express.......