Often asked but rarely truly answered, the question “why” seeks to understand the motivations for our actions.

Why this? Why that? Deep questions, when you stop and ponder them. The answers might come quickly, but do they really tell the back story?

So why, you might ask, does Jack like fishing?

Good question.

I could spew a lot of pat answers, the kind that anybody might offer in response to why.

But there’s more to the story. “Why” is really about another way to gain understanding not just about ourselves, but the world around us. Allow me to borrow a passage from my book, “The Common Angler.”

“When we recognize our passions, we gain reasons to enjoy life and living. Passions, I believe, are metaphors. They are real in and of themselves, but actually represent something far more significant to their owners than merely the act of fishing or golfing, making music or painting pictures, collecting automobiles or working with wood.”

Passions make our lives more interesting and provide meaning to our decisions and our actions. They make our world a little bit wider.

That, I believe, is important for all of us. When things get tough (and we all know it’s easy to see the world as too difficult these days) we may be tempted to fall back. But retreating never moves us forward.

So why do I fish?

It’s not easy to answer. I could say fishing connects me to nature. That’s true, but there is more. I could say I love the chase. That’s true, but I know there’s more. I could say it’s for food, but I haven’t pulled out the filet knife in years. I could say it’s for fun, but so too are a myriad of other activities.

Fishing, for me, provides fulfillment. It requires a lot of effort to gain fulfillment, but in the end I am energized.

So do I fish for fulfillment? The answer is yes.

Thinking back on recent fishing trips, I recognize patterns of decisions, actions and outcomes. From launching the boat to deciding which lures to deploy to selecting locations, I make choices and then proceed to execute tactically.

The fact is, I learn during every fishing trip. A trip to Lake Erie, a day on Berlin and an evening on Lake Milton all are textbook opportunities to add to my catalog of learnings that inspire the fishing trips in my future.

Some say fishing is an escape, but I say fishing is far from a retreat. I do not fish to forget; I fish to remember. Fishing is work that when done well provides fulfillment, which in turn is the energy that helps move me forward.

But all of this is just about me. To understand the lure of fishing, we need to dig deeper. So in the upcoming weeks, I’m going to ask others why they fish.

Check back next Sunday to learn more.

Jack Wollitz is the author of “The Common Angler,” a collection of essays about anglers’ passion for fishing. Jack enjoys emails from readers: jackbbaass@gmail.com.