I'm not normally a fan of American culture, when it comes to fast food, and multi screen "have a nice day" cinema's. In fact I joke to the kid's when I get ropped into a Big Mac, that when the revolution comes there'll only be traditional English fast food shops, like pizza's, and Kebab's.
However when it comes to angling, or more to the point their attitude towards it, they may well have something to teach us.
I've never been to the USA or Oz, so anything I know comes from either reading or the telly, but here are a few of my observations, you may like to comment on.
First of all I think Ron is right in saying there is a different attitude to the outdoors in these countries, perhaps as he says a more frontier type spirit. Then again they do have more outdoors to enjoy. Although there does seem to be a more informal attitude towards fishing, it just seems to be something people do, almost as a matter of course, a natural thing to do.
In this country we seem to be more formal "I am an angler" as if it is set aside from the rest of our lives.
In this country we don't seem to encourage the casual angler. We recognize the need to bring new blood into the sport, and to bring on the young, many people do a fine job doing so. However in the angling press we still seem obsessed with the biggest, the most, the greatest. It must be intimidating to the newcomer who at first may find it hard to get a bite. In fact even though I've been fishing for thirty years if someone asks me for example what's my biggest chub, I'd hand my head and mutter 3lb 12oz, because I know from the angling press people are beating off 6 pounders with sticks. Of course it's cobblers, but if it can effect me just think how inadequate a new comer will feel.
Another thing that springs to mind is the availablity of fishing in this country, and the styles. I don't know how they go no in the US, but I would bet there is more free fishing to be had, an obvious statment due to the size of the place maybe, but still an important one. We do have free fishing in this country, but if we're honest, by and large these are the waters clubs don't want. Our commercial fisheries, if you like them or not have done a good job keeping people fishing. Even so speaking to a couple who had just started fishing they can still be off putting to the newcomer, simply because they are fightened that they may look as if they don't know what they're doing. Again probably not true, and other anglers will help, but it's the old image thing again.
As for styles of fishing, again in the US & Oz it would be a fair bet most of the fishing is done with lures. This is more convenient, not having to buy and look after bait, it's also cleaner, and more spur of the moment. Lure fishing is growing in this country, but it is still a branch of the sport. In the US if you mention fishing it will probably be lures that first spring to mind.
Lastly for now because I could go on, is the thing that really bugs me about fishing in this country, and that's the demarcation between branches of angling. I don't know how this came about, but I'm lead to believe from what I've read, it's not always been this way. Not having been to the countries mentioned I couldn't say for sure, but I'd guess it's no where near as bad. Fishing will be fishing.
Like I said just a few points, and I've gone on too long, but if these differences are cultural they will be very difficult to change.