Fishing vs catching

[Raider4ever]

I'll be the first to admit that I suck at fishing. Patience is not my virtue, so I've gotten used to not catching anything for days on end.

I'm not sure how I bowhunt or ever gun hunt, because I have no problem waiting around then. One of those mysteries of life I guess.

LBG, I am so "Fishing ADHD" it's pathetic. When I was little and taken out fishing it was sit on a rock pile or drift "Big Bob's Reef" or some other pathetic spot for "a gazillion" hours. I don't know how I still LOVE fishing but I do. I think catching sunnies or just casting off the dock for hours at at time saved me. Here is my little piece of advice: BASS FISH!!! "Run-and-Gun" is a way of life. You are constantly on a trolling motor. You are constantly hitting new spots. Yeah, you could be on a point or pad field for 20-30 minutes but you are hitting 30-50 different pieces of it. Pick pockets of rushes or lillies with a topwater. Incessantly cast at different angles over a stump, boulder field or point with cranks. Chuck it WWWAAAYYY back in the junk with a frog. There are so many different ways to do it. Chances are fish are biting on some presentation. Ain't bitin' on top? Go deep. Not getting anything on crankbaits? Try jig/pig or a worm. I am incessantly picking up and putting down rods. Are you going to have off days? Yes, but not many. Friends invite us up to their place on LOW but I can only take about one day of drifting over mud flats before I'm chucking deep divers, jigs, or tubes just to relieve the boredom.

[Fever]

Raider4ever,

EXACTLY. I hear ya.

That is exactly what makes bass fishing so much fun. There is always something to try and after several years of accruing tackle, cranks, topwater, an embarassing amount of platics, etc... enough to fill your stinking garage, you almost run out of excusses if you can't figure them out. The thing that usually happens is you run out of time trying to solve the problem.

[LightningBG]

LBG, I am so "Fishing ADHD" it's pathetic. When I was little and taken out fishing it was sit on a rock pile or drift "Big Bob's Reef" or some other pathetic spot for "a gazillion" hours.

I think my ADHD is a long held thing. I remember back when I was a wee child, 4-5 years old. Going out with dad, getting bored and throwing the pole overboard. Wasn't the end of the world, until I threw a couple of Dad's expensive poles over and he would quick dive in after them.

I'm all for run and gun. If I haven't caught a fish in 20 minutes, I'm ready to move. Problem is when someone wants to sit just for 20 more minutes (7 times in a row) (Ebiz....)

[reinhard1]

i guess i stick around certain spots more than i should at times. i keep a record of sorts of the lake i fish and spots that produce, what time of day, weather conditions and bait i used. it's helped me out a few times. i have a lot of patience i guess. if one spot produced for me in june last year it should this year seems to be planted in my head. trout streams are different for me. while you battle the bugs more, it's more for the solitude and being with nature that apeals to me. getting the trout is a bonus and find themselves back in the stream most of the time.

i've been fishing since i was a kid. i have a picture of me in germany where i was born fishing in a local river. as long as i'm out there that is enough for me. good luck.

[rugbymn]

The older I get the less it is about catching fish and the more it is about getting away from the city, unwinding and catching up with my thoughts. One of my favorite places in the world is up north on a boat in the evening when the water is like glass, the sky is all shades of color, and you have a clear reception of a Twins game on the radio. Doesn't really matter much then if the fish are cooperating.

I couldn't disagree more. If I wanted solitude, I'd lock myself in the garage and take a nap. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the wilderness and appreciate nature as much as anyone, but I can go on a hike to see that.

If I'm fishing, I want to catch fish and I want to catch bigguns . . . and lots of em. If I'm not catching fish, I'm experimenting and learning. I can enjoy the scenery another time.

[Slabasaurus]

I went to the river last night just to wet a line. I didn't care whether or not I actually caught something... I needed to breathe and relax and remember what the important things are in life.

I am not sure there is a better way than sitting on the shore of a river (well... probably any body of water), watching the sunset over the other side, while the sheepshead, smallies, and sunnies all topfeed on the flies near shore, and you're kicking yourself for not bringin the fly rod.

[Fever]

Lock myself in the garage to take a nap.... that's funny. I kind of do that when the wife says I can't go fishing cause I went yesterday..... I agree though, fishing is about catching. relaxing is a bit different. If you really wanted to truely relax, don't bring the fishing pole(s), tackle, bait, etc. just bring a stocked cooler and a radio and go for a little cruse around the lake. A guy really could save himself a ton of money if it weren't about catching. Just my opinion of course. To each their own.

[TruthWalleyes]

Lock myself in the garage to take a nap.... that's funny. I kind of do that when the wife says I can't go fishing cause I went yesterday..... I agree though, fishing is about catching. relaxing is a bit different. If you really wanted to truely relax, don't bring the fishing pole(s), a crankbait, tackle, bait, etc. just bring a stocked cooler and a radio and go for a little cruse around the lake. A guy really could save himself a ton of money if it weren't about catching. Just my opinion of course. To each their own.

[reinhard1]

i dont want to sound like some old fart that's getting lazy and that i'ts just good to be out in the outdoors but that's getting to be very important. i'm 62 but i feel younger. i put in long day when i go most of the time, but sitting by the river is very enjoyable even if you only have a couple of hours. i respect all fish i catch. treat a carp the same way a walley. a carp is a much better fighter but a walley is much better on the plate.

i've done pretty much everything as far as fishing. never have salt water fished and there is little chance i will. fished canada for years, missouri, arkansas, wisconsin and mostly minnesota. my goal is a month in alaska. i have fished the arrowhead area most of my life and have been to lakes there that few have been to this day. that is an adventure all in itself. there is a lake up there [well a few] that only has northerns and perch in there. dont tell anyone about it except those i trust that have great fishing ethics.

when your up in the arrowhead area and all alone and spend a few nights with few supplies, i have found little that compares with that. moose, wolves, bears, beavers, eagles and more [oh yes dont want to leave out the sounds of the loons]. catching is a little more important then. it's your food source.

now with grandkids, well catching for them is the deal. hopefully i can teach them that there is a balance there. some fishing and some catching, and sometimes just fishing is pleasure all in itself. good luck.

[JohnMickish]

I guess my thoughts are a little different. For me I like to catch the targeted species. I don't keep fish but I want to catch them. I fish pretty seriously and taking a three hour trip to get skunked is not my idea of fun, but it still beats going to work.

[bigbucks]

I love to fish & it's not the end of the world if I don't catch fish, but I'm not going to be very happy if I didn't at least catch a few. I won't go fishing for an hour or so, at least if I'm launching my boat, if I don't have a pretty good idea I'll catch something. Longer outings when I've got more time then I'm willing to experiment, roll with it, & see what happens.