I can't lie, I enjoy the experience greater when I catch fish but I do agree in that I simply enjoy "fishing" regardless of how many I may catch, which I guess is a good thing because while I know I am far from the best fisherman, I don't think too many enjoy it more I do.

I have always just enjoyed fishing from the very start when I first fished with a cane pole at my uncles farm pond. My dad was never a fisherman so when I was real young my opportunities were less frequent, but I still always loved it. I was probably about thirteen when I saved up my money and bought my own gear and started seeking more opportunities to fish, often the results were hours of "fishing" yet very little "catching", but I still loved the entire process and everything that went with it. As I got older and eventually a drivers license better locations with more success followed, but the simple fun of just "fishing" has never left.

Now many years older and with physical problems which make fishing more painful to do than I would have ever imagined it would when I was young, I still enjoy simply fishing as much as I ever have. I love being on the water, being outdoors and enjoying the beauty and wildlife that God has created. But for me casting to a spot and the anticipation of a fish maybe hitting it is just as thrilling now as it ever was. I generally use lighter pound line and enjoy the entire experience of fighting and landing the fish. I never have used so heavy a line so I could just horse a fish in as fast as I could. I only have a 25 hp motor on my little boat, I never have had the desire to rush from one area to another. I just enjoy the moments I have fishing and somehow fast paced and rushing through my time fishing is the antithesis of what I want out of the process. Of course please nobody take offense, I have zero problem for those that enjoy that style of fishing because that is the beauty of fishing; each person can go about it and enjoy it in any of a wide variety of methods none more valid or better than another.

Fishing is beautifully unique in that it is truly an individual sport, than can simultaneously be enjoyed with others as well. I have had some of the best moments that friends can share together while fishing, yet while enjoying those moments have had some great personal experiences as well. Now that I have young children that have started to take to fishing with me, I am blessed to again have opportunities through fishing of adding some great lifetime memories I am sharing with them and yet still enjoying the individual moments while fishing with them all weaving together to make the experience fun, exciting and a good memory. So I will continue to try and deal with the pain as best as I can in order to go "fishing", and slow down while I try and take it all in because oh how I love it so.