Fishing is one of the world’s most popular pastimes, and it's not hard to see why. Millions of people worldwide have caught the bug – and once you're hooked, there's no going back.

From canal banks and reservoir car parks to remote highland lochs and tropical blue water, fishing has a way of getting under your skin like nothing else. It's a sport with more opinions than a tackle shop on a Saturday morning, a rich cast of characters, and enough tall tales to fill a library.

Whether you're a fly purist who wouldn't be seen dead near a tin of maggots, or a carp angler who's practically moved into a bivvy on the bank, one thing unites every angler on the planet – the belief that today might just be the day.

Here are 101 reasons why the world loves fishing.