Angling is the sport or practice of catching fish with a rod, line, and hook. The word comes from the angle of the bent hook, and an angler is someone who fishes this way.

Unlike fishing with nets or spears, angling requires patience and skill. An angler casts a line into the water, often with bait or an artificial lure attached to the hook, then waits for a fish to bite. When a fish takes the bait, the angler must set the hook with a quick motion, then carefully reel in the line while the fish struggles. The challenge lies in using the right technique: too much force and the line might snap; too little and the fish escapes.

Serious anglers study fish behavior, water conditions, and which lures work best for different species. They might spend hours by a river or lake, testing different approaches. Some practice catch and release, carefully unhooking fish and returning them to the water.

The word can also mean trying to get something indirectly through hints or manipulation. If your friend keeps mentioning how much they love a certain video game right before their birthday, they might be angling for that game as a present. When someone asks leading questions to get information, they're angling for answers without asking directly.