Many people who go fishing do not catch fish; however, the sport of fishing can still be enjoyed. “Amos and Andy Taking Fishing, Not Catching, Trip” was a headline in a 1930 newspaper. “Old fishermen tell us that all the glory in fishing is not in catching fish and it is a fact” was cited in 1935. “The name of the sport is fishing, not catching” was cited in 1965.
 
“That’s why they call it fishing, not catching” was a bumper sticker saying in 1986. “To cite another cliché, that’s why it’s called fishing, not catching” was cited in 1995.
   
 
18 June 1930, The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR), pg. 12, col. 2:
Amos and Andy Taking Fishing, Not Catching, Trip
 
7 January 1935, Hammond (IN) Times, “Curbing of Game Fish Sale Will Aid Sport—Ritz,” pg. 6, col. 3:
Old fishermen tell us that all the glory in fishing is not in catching fish and it is a fact. It’s a sport! And a darn good one.
 
17 October 1965, The Daily Inter Lake (Kalispell, MT), “Outdoors With Doc” by H. W. C. Newberry, pg. 5, col. 3:
Fish were notably absent. After all, the name of the sport is fishing, not catching.
 
17 May 1970, The Daily Inter Lake (Kalispell, MT), “Outdoors With Doc” by H. W. C. Newberry, pg. 7, col. 1:
The name of the sport is fishing, not catching, and the whole thing is just an alibi to get out in the open and that will be accomplished.
 
Google Books
Sport Fishing USA
By Michael Walker
Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife [for sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off.]
1971
Pg. 93:
Please note that I said fishing, not catching. Fortunately, the business of catching fish remains as challenging as ever.
       
22 July 1984, The Sunday Republican (Springfield, MA), pg. D-11, col. 1:
ALL OUTDOORS
It’s the fishing, not catching, that counts
By FRANK SOUSA
 
Google News Archive
28 January 1986, The Blade (Toledo, OH), “Outdoors” by Steve Pollick, pg. 24, col. 6:
“Like my bumper sticker says, ‘That’s why they call it fishing, not catching’,” Massie added.
 
11 March 1990, The Advocate (Stamford, CT),  “Funny fish story contest lures several interesting entries” by Martin Armstrong, pg. C7, col. 1:
Second, two entries both finished with the line: “They call it fishing not catching.”
 
Google Books
Seize the Moment, Share the Message:
And God Will Change Lives
By Roberta Kuhne
Sisters, OR: Multnomah Books
1995  
Pg. 54:
By my second night of fishing, the word had spread in the underwater trout world, and we didn’t catch a thing. Well, except for the wooden log I enthusiastically hauled in. That must be why they call it “fishing” not “catching.”
 
Google Books
Traveling with Fly Rod and Reel
By Gary Soucie
New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, Inc.
1995
Pg. 10:
To cite another cliché, that’s why it’s called fishing, not catching.
 
Google Books
Fishing for a Laugh:
Reel Humor from Alaska
By Lew Freedman
Kenmore, WA: Epicenter Press
1998
Pg. 12:
As more than one guide has said, “That’s why they call it fishing, not catching.”
   
Google Books
April 1998, Boys’ Life, “Waiting on Walleye” by Doug Wilson, pg. 16, col. 1:
Fishing folks have lots of sayings, some better known than others. Among them: “It’s called fishing, not catching” and “Desperate times demand desperate measures.”
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Virginia’s wild side : fifty outdoor adventures from the mountains to the ocean
Author: Curtis J Badger
Publisher: Charlottesville : University of Virginia Press, 2003.
Edition/Format:   Print book : State or province government publication : English
Contents:
(...)
It’s called fishing, not catching—
 
OCLC WorldCat record
They call it fishing not catching
Author: Michael Salinger
Publisher: Mentor, Ohio : Collinwood Media, ©2004.
Edition/Format:   Print book : Poetry : English : Collinwood Media ed
 
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A little tidbit as #fishing season warms up. It’s called “fishing.” Not “catching.” If you miss a bite today, there is always tomorrow! =)
6:30 PM - 3 Apr 2015