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Prepositions with nouns

Prepositions used with fishing

Fishing combines naturally with several prepositions depending on meaning, especially for, in, on, and from.

Quick answer

Which prepositions go with fishing?

Use fishing for a target species, fishing in a place, fishing from a position such as a boat or shore, and fishing on a body of water or vessel. Fishing of is uncommon and usually refers to ownership or description rather than the activity itself.

fishing for trout
fishing in the lake
fishing from the pier
fishing on the river

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
fishing for + fish or goal

What someone is trying to catch

Use for to name the fish or thing being sought.

fishing for salmon
They spent the morning fishing for cod
2
fishing in + place

Location of the activity

Use in with lakes, rivers, seas, and other areas.

fishing in the bay
We went fishing in Norway
3
fishing from + position

Starting point or physical position

Use from for the place where the person stands or sits.

fishing from the shore
He prefers fishing from a kayak
4
fishing on + water or vessel

Activity on a surface or boat

Use on with boats and some bodies of water.

fishing on the lake
They were fishing on a small boat

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
fishing for
They are fishing for tuna.
trying to catch a particular fish
fishing in
We went fishing in the river.
doing the activity in a location
fishing on
He spent the day fishing on the lake.
doing the activity on a body of water or vessel
fishing from
She was fishing from the dock.
showing the physical position
fishing of
The fishing of herring was once a major industry.
formal or historical use referring to the industry or practice, not the usual everyday pattern

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using of for normal activity

Of is not the usual preposition for everyday references to the activity.

✕ We went fishing of trout. ✓ We went fishing for trout.

Confusing in and from

In shows the area, while from shows the position.

✕ They were fishing from the lake. ✓ They were fishing in the lake.

Using on with countries

Use in for countries and regions.

✕ He enjoys fishing on Canada. ✓ He enjoys fishing in Canada.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. They spent the afternoon ___ fishing for bass.
2. We went fishing ___ the river near town.
3. She was fishing ___ the pier.

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Frequently asked questions

Is fishing for correct?

Yes. Use fishing for to say what someone hopes to catch.

Can I say fishing in the sea?

Yes. In is common for locations such as rivers, lakes, and seas.

Is fishing of common in modern English?

No. It appears mainly in formal or historical expressions about the industry.

of, about, against, to or for racism? of, about, for, in or on friendship? of, about, for, on or to thing? of, about, for, to or with sex? of, about, on, to or for moon? "of access" or "with access"? "of accommodation" or "for accommodation"? "of accuracy" or "for accuracy"? "of action" or "in action"? "of actor", "with actor" or "by actor"? "of address" or "to address"? "of administration" or "in administration"?

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