Why do we fish

[Bonefish]

For some time now I have been thinking about why I continue to fish after a life time of fishing, and what I want to accomplish as I continue to enjoy fishing. Elnut brought up a good point in the "Unbuttoned Bass" post when he said he liked to watch the fish jump and have fun during the heat of the battle because he fishes for fun and not for money. Nothing wrong with winning money, but is good just to try to match wits with a bass, and if he throws the hooks, who cares. After catching so many fish, what's left? Why do we keep returning to the water? For me, it is the pure enjoyment of being in nature and the challege of fishing another day with my fishing buddy who is my best friend. It doesn't get any better than that for me. I am sure if we do not take life too seriously, fishing can be very relaxing and good for our blood pressure.

Another thing I have been thinking about is what I am going to do with all my fishing equipment when the times comes I no longer have the opporunity to fish, and God only knows how much I have accumulated through the years. I could sell it, give it away, or maybe the best thing I could do would be mentor a young boy and/or girl like my father did for me and just give them the tools of the trade.

[biggw]

Its all about the High we get from catching a fish--with out it we would get bored fast lol---Back years ago when i got my first good bass it was a awesome feeling and today it still feels like the first---Thats my take on this----- ps: and now i got them mean CC Bass dame what i life i live.

[mhall]

Its all about the High we get from catching a fish--with out it we would get bored fast lol---Back years ago when i got my first good bass it was a awesome feeling and today it still feels like the first---Thats my take on this----- ps: and now i got them mean CC Bass dame what i life i live.

Dang it George ain't it time you go back to work, LOL.

[know1]

Getting out and enjoying nature is probably the biggest reason for me. Since I'm not a fan of hunting at all, fishing is the thing for me.

Second to the actual fishing. I think I enjoy the suspense and intrigue of whether I can actually fool a fish into biting my line with my limited fishing talens!

[Cajun78]

For me its about appreciating nature and enjoying the sport as well. I never keep bass, ever. Take a pic and toss em back. To me, that is respecting the fish for his fighting ability and allowing him to sire more bass. It is really not necessary to eat a sport fish this day in age. Trout, bream or crappie, knock yourself out, but let the bass go boys

[mhall]

Both you and GW have hit it on the head. When I was busting all them fish the other morning I felt like a young boy on Christmas morning. Nothing and I mean nothing gets me jacked up like fishing, and it's the ONLY TIME when I'm not worried or concerned about something. When I'm in the zone there is absolutely nothing on my mind but me and the fish, it's my true excape from it all. It also brings me closer to my maker and makes me feel fortunate to be alive.

[buzzking]

well said mhall

[MsgMills]

Wow, the thought of not fishing would just blow me away....I'd rather go fishing than anything else ( just about ) anything that is.

But the quiet time out on the water, trying to fool those fish and seeing if I can catch something I can't see vs. shooting something I can see, it just don't get no better than hooking a biggun and getting him or her into the boat.....

[fishcatcher]

Well I have fished a lot of tournaments. Ky, Nv, Mo, Tn and other places. As I have gotten older I have noticed that there seems to be more people who are interested in catching the fish but not with keeping them alive. I have heard of some who say you can dislocate a Bass's jaw to get a extra 1/4 inch in length. Others just have the livewells on timer and never seem to check the fishes welfare. It seems to me that everyone is more interested in the glory of catching the most and biggest for the bragging rights.I have never fished a really big money tournament so I do not know how they treat their fish. I guess I am ranting about the waste of the Bass resourse that we have. I am now leaning toward going back to the way I fished when I only had a 9 foot john boat 9 hp no trolling motor just a oar. Of course I will not go back to that kind of boat because I want to fish the big water and do not want to get run over by the bigger boats. I have always enjoyed the early morning bite when it is quite and it is just me and maybe a friend haveing fun.

[elnutsmalljaws]

If I catch fish all the better and believe me, the purpose of the trip is to catch fish but even if I don't it is all good. I absolutely love night fishing and FNF season. Nothing more peaceful than these 2 types of fishing to me. Night fishing, when it is just me, my blacklight, the darkness, my favorite lure of choice for wherever I am chucking, the owls, frogs, coyotes, bugs and whatever else comes out at night. Very peaceful at night, especially during the week when most of my fishing is done. All the boat traffic stops and the lake is very calm and peaceful. Winter at Dale Hollow, no boat traffic, my FNF rod and favorite honey hole is just as peaceful. I even like it when it is sleeting and snowing at Dale, not because it is peaceful and comfortable, but the fish will be biting. I have my choice, high blue skies and the scenery of Dale or nasty conditions and better biting fish. Either way, night or winter, offers peace and quiet from the daily grind of the work torture, quiet times from the Wife and Kids will help a man clear his head and make life all better. I am mad that I did not find this type of activity until 2003 when I bought my first boat at 35 years old, for I wish more every day that I had been doing this since I was 20 and wonder how many peaceful trips or 5lb Brownfish I have missed in the previous 15 years. Catch and Release fellas for we all will have better chances in the future. I really can't wait until my 3 year old, Joshua, gets a little older and can't wait for the first night trip that he is falling asleep in the bottom of my old heap. He is already casting his Little Tykes rod and reel, plus learning to reel in a spinning reel that I rigged on a piece of broom stick. He calls them "Big Mall Mall Mall Mouth Bass", which is just fine with me for I find calling the Big Brownfish "Mall Mall Mall Mouth Bass" myself. He also bust my chops in saying that "Uncle Cliff" (ie chunknwind) is his fishing buddy instead of me. Can't wait to share a boat with Uncle Cliff and my boy chasing some big Brownies at Dale and will be One Happy Fella when Joshua ties into and lands his first fish, first Brownfish and first 5lb Brownfish. It will not be for lack of effort and dedication on my part in getting him to this point and can't wait. Take a Kid Fishing fellas, even if you don't have a kid, take a niece or nephew along for some fun.

[dcbasser]

For me fishing is all about the relationships I've built thru out my time doing it. I remember fishing in the creeks or in the local ponds with good friends of mine and actually have met most of my friends thru fishing. I can remember not being able to wait for daylight because I knew my ol buds would be walking up the drive, poles and gear in hand and we would be out all day just enjoying life the way we was supposed to. Now 15 or 20 years later I still look forward to the week when I am off work and can't wait to get back on the lake mostly to share stories and shoot the breeze with friends and forget about the trials and tribulations of life we have to face everyday. Even look forward to logging on the ol P.C. just to see whats going on in the world of fishin.com and see what you you guys are up to and what stories you all have to share. Hopefully we can share a boat one day and shoot the breeze as well and after I tac on another 15 years can look back and see why I still love fishing so much with a few more stories to tell. Hope to see you all on the water soon.

[fish24/7]

I agree that fishing is alot about relationships. I have the same group of peers I fish with on a constant basis. I fish 3-4 nights a week. There is nothing better. I can't sleep knowing I am getting to go fishing the next day. This year I have caught some of the biggest fish in my life and huge numbers. To me fishing is the ultimate high! Knowing that next cast could be the fish of a lifetime always keeps me concentrated and focused. It has been a passion for as long as I remember. Most of my friends during high school were partying on the weekends, but I spent it fishing. To those that have the passion, it is a feeling that cannot be put into words. I only wish everyone could find the same passion, no matter what it is.