I and many other bass fishermen suffer from PTSD and find fishing to be the best form of therapy. I got to thinking, what it is about fishing? Well it's everything. For one, solitude. You, your maker, the water, and the fish. It's the anticipation of being on the move, whether boat, yak or foot, to find your spot. And then you find it and the world and your mind suddenly slow down, a serene silence. Click. Your reel is ready for combat. Whip. You launch. Splash. Bait is in the water. Click. Your reel is engaged, and now you're gone. You are no longer you. The world is no longer the world. You are now under water seeing and feeling everything. Over and over again you are focused on hitting specific spots with unreal accuracy, and you are losing all wordly cares under water as you quite literally become one with the water. And then there is the reward. The fish. You did something right. And you landed a fish. An innocent animal you get to admire and be proud of for seconds and a time, and then on to the next. Click. Whip. Slash. Click. It begins again. 

 

Absolutely amazing. 

You almost said all, and I’m 100% with you. I couldn’t have said it better. The only thing left to add is when your smart phone alarm goes off and whips you back to reality and you realize you have 15 minutes to get to a meeting or pickup the kids or get to that dental appointment you forgot about. ?

I have always found fishing to be relaxing and a way to put work (law enforcement) behind me for a while. Whether it is stalking a brookie stream or just wetting a line it has always been a tension reliever for me. As I near retirement I have started to find the joys of focusing on bass fishing and putting more legitimate time into actually trying for bass...

   I can't explain it as well as you can, but I can definitely agree that it's therapeutic.   jj

Doing something to get away from the extreme stress of my job is really important. Too many turn to negative avenues to get their mind away from the things they see and hear and it only makes it worse. I fish for a lot of reasons, but it really helps to hit that mental reset button after a week at work. 

Man, you said it. The only other thought is that it is that as technologically advanced as fishing has become, there is still something primitive about fishing. The idea that if I absolutely needed to catch fish to feed my family, I could out-wit a fish, and be successful on most days...that is a reward to me. Predicting nature, and putting it to work is a great feeling. Also, in today’s world of cell phones and internet, it is fun to brag among the good folks here on bassresource and with our friends in our fishing circles. 

Nothing like being able to hit the pond for a hour before work just because. And even better hitting it for a hour after work to unwind. So I guess dripping sweat in my dirty work clothes at 90 degrees fishing after working all day in the heat and dealing with mesquitos helps me relax. I just now realized I have a problem. 

I find fishing for any species to be relaxing and therapeutic.

Therapy can be expensive.