I definitely prefer fishing. I wouldn't know what muskratting meant (yes, I do live under a rock sometimes, why do you ask? ;) ). Fishing also carries the resonance of "phishing" which many people understand as being "unfair" and "predatory."

I have indeed experienced being used as bait for a fisher. It sucked, not least when I often --sooner or later -- lost friendships with those he'd fished. :(