go fishing and related constructions

1. The so-called gerund construction

Implies involvement in an activity, often for leisure or amusement.
go hunting
go shopping
go bowling
go fishing

go camping
go golfing
go travelling
go hiding (for weeks)

In this case, the gerund should be regarded as a locative element, but without any
preposition. Compare colloquial He went a-huntin, in which a- is historically a reduced
form of the preposition on (although of course it is no longer recognized as such).
2. Participial clause
can be used with various motion verbs; indicates how the motion is performed, a
co-activity of the motion
go whistling
go laughing
come crying
approach smiling
allows prepositions or other elements to come inbetween and, if appropriate, comma
intonation
he went away whistling
he approached me, smiling all the while
Nonetheless, there is an affinity between the verb of motion and the participle.
he came crying up the sidewalk
he came up the sidewalk crying
3. Participial clause special case
very much the same as above, except that go has been bleached of most of its meaning;
there may or may not be actual motion involved.
go thinking
go believing
go burning

go throwing
go messing
go bothering

This construction is particularly felicitous with dont, but it is not required.

Dont go thinking youre such a hotshot, just because you made that last basket.
Dont go believing everything he tells you.
Dont go messing up that bed!
Every time I ask him to cook breakfast, he goes burning the toast.
He went bothering his sister, again and again.
Could insert a preposition or other element, particularly the preposition around. If
appropriate, comma intonation can also be used:
Dont go around thinking youre such a hotshot.
Dont go there, thinking youre such a hotshot.
There he goes, burning the toast again.
Because of the bleached nature of go in this construction, it can be omitted without much
affect on the meaning.
Dont go messing up that bed!
He went bothering his sister.

Dont mess up that bed!

He bothered his sister.

However, note the following contrast:

Dont go thinking youre going to get an A on this exam.
Dont come thinking youre going to get an A on this exam.
4. So-called serial verb construction via omitted and
considered to be the result of an elided and
go get
go check
come see

Go get the paper, please.

Hell go check with Jane tomorrow.
Quick, come see what Jane is doing!

The and must be present in past tense.

He went and got the paper.

(cannot say: *He went got the paper)

However, some speakers allow constructions such as the following in informal speech:
Would you mind go getting the paper?
(versus correct: Would you mind going and getting the paper?)
5. go un-V-en
go uneaten
go unsolved

go undetected
go unresolved

For Further Investigation

what about try V-ing, avoid V-ing, stop V-ing, keep V-ing constructions?