If you are going to do anything worthwhile in this life you MUST have the right tools to do the job. It is no different with fishing. While most people would not consider this a task, you still have to make the decisions on where to go, when to go, what to take with you, how to use it, and all the other variables that go along with it. If you fish more than once a year you probably have a grasp of what all it entails. If you need a little help you should find this blogspot fairly interesting. For entertainment purposes only, of course!
I know that people can go out to the lake or river once or twice a year and catch a few fish, it's been that way for eons. That's really the great thing about the sport (recreation) of fishing, it can be done with the least of tools and the best of tools. It all depends on the fish. The banks of the lake near our town are dotted with many Mexican immigrants and a lot of times they will fish for perch and carp with a tin can tied up with string and a small hook at the end! Big bass boats will pass by them with the fanciest of rods, reels, and baits that money can buy. Each person has to choose on their own what type of fishing to do and how in depth it will go. To be fair, all the types of fishing should be tried at least once, because there is a niche in fishing for everyone. It's the old adage, "to each his own", and it applies to fishing as much as anything.
Even among the professional fisherman there are niches. Some fish topwater, some plastic worms, but the best fishermen are the ones that have experience with all the different types of baits and fishing conditions. After all, variety is the spice of life!
Whatever way you choose to go, just go. Take a kid fishing. It will be good for your soul and will teach a child there are other things in life than materialism. A $5 rod and reel set in the hands of a child that wants to go fishing is worth so much more than a $5000 set from Bass Pro Shops! I dare you!