Fishing Hooks Cash-Strapped

The floundering economy means boom times for America's angling industry, Reuters reports. Bait-shop owners say they've had one of the best winters in memory as layoffs and cutbacks give workers a lot more free time to fish. Families are finding a day fishing makes a good alternative to costlier outings—with the bonus of lower grocery bills for those who get lucky. 

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"This costs $6 to get a bucket of bait and it will last the whole day," said one man fishing on a  frozen New Hampshire lake. "Compare that to skiing—one day of skiing would cost $80 just for the lift ticket." (Read more recession stories.)