Jack Wollitz has written more than 1,700 opinion pieces about fishing and the outdoors.

Not surprisingly, the longtime Vindicator columnist used those articles as the foundation for his recent book “The Common Angler: A Celebration of Fishing,” which hit the shelves May 11. While those stories were the basis for the book, they weren’t the inspiration.

His passion stemmed from something else — the water.

“I believe it’s everything,” he said. “I really, really do. I note in the book that there’s something about the water that has almost a primordial attraction to us. At the risk of making some people (mad) who are more creationist versus evolutionist, I think we all have roots that relate to the water. It’s where life probably originates. I think we’re attracted to (the water). You can sit and stare at a river or a stream, a lake, the ocean, even a puddle, and there’s something fascinating about the water and what’s going on inside of it.”

Finding a way to put the appealing qualities of being on the water into words was one of Wollitz’s task in the book.

The 1971 Boardman graduate has had plenty of experience from which to draw. The avid fisherman started exploring the outdoors as a young child in the Poland area, near Yellow Creek.

He still vaguely recalls catching a large-mouth bass on a grasshopper in a quarry pond in New Springfield on one of his first fishing experiences. That moment “sealed the deal” for his love of the sport.

His passion grew when he and his father began taking an annual fishing trip to northern Michigan, and the overall allure of the water had taken hold of him by the time he was becoming a grown-up.

“Even as a young adult, I graduated from YSU, got married and got my first full-time job at the newspaper all in a span of about three months,” said Wollitz, who was an English major. “So, my wife Barb and I, we’re newlyweds living in an apartment in Boardman, and we bought a boat before we bought a house. Around that time is when it really became apparent that fishing was important to me.”

Wollitz had taken the bait.

Exactly what the bait is, well, is not easy to explain. That’s why Wollitz, who started writing at the Vindicator in 1988 and has had a column in the paper nearly every Saturday since then, didn’t try to describe his affection for fishing in 600 to 800 words. The 68-year-old “common angler,” who still goes out on the water at least twice per week and who, for years, battled the frosty Ohio winters to ice fish, wanted to go in depth as he illustrated the almost enigmatic journey that is fishing.

“That’s one of the things with fishing,” he said. “We build on every experience, but we still never truly master it. There’s always one more thing to learn, one more experience to gain. There’s always one more fish to catch, one more trip to take. A lot of the book is written around that kind of thinking.

“What is our fascination? Why are we driven to it? That’s really the essence of the book — it’s why we fish. It’s not how to fish. It’s not technical in any way, shape or form. It’s more about why we fish and why we’re passionate about it.”

That’s part of the reason Wollitz said the book isn’t just for fishermen, or, as he puts it, “common anglers.”

Yes, he reflects on many of his adventures in the wild, and other avid fishermen could relate to some of those exploits, but the book digs much deeper than the depths of a lake or river. It tugs at the core of what drives anyone to explore something they can’t necessarily explain.

“Anybody who’s passionate about something can understand the passion that anglers have,” he said. “It something that you truly become immersed in. You want to get better at it. You want to learn more about it. You want to do it as often as you can. Whether you’re a woodworker or a connoisseur of fine wine, or a writer, or a cook, a teacher, whatever you’re passionate about, I think that’s what we all share.”

Some people are driven a little further than others, and Wollitz profiles three “super anglers” in the book.

They are all from the area — John Breedlove (Girard), Chris DePaola (Austintown) and Sammy Cappelli (Poland). He delves into the intricacies of what makes them a cut above ordinary fishermen. He tells their compelling stories and captures the essence of what helped them become stars in the angling community.

Wollitz also discusses his own fishing qualities: his favorite places to cast a line, times of the day, seasons and everything in between, including fun moments on the water with his wife, Barb. Yep, she can fish too. Her appreciation for the sport is, well, different.

“She enjoys catching more than fishing,” he said with a chuckle.

A good laugh, a silent moment, a beautiful sunrise or a calamity on the water — they’re all part of what makes “The Common Angler: A Celebration of Fishing” not so common.

Those interested can order the book at www.fayettevillemafiapress.com to receive a signed copy.