Alone. My boat is not the best for two people. And being that I have fished alone for so long, it's strange/uncomfortable to fish with someone else.

 

I also fish harder, and make better decisions in tournaments where I fish alone....so much so, that I started a tournament trail for other like minded people who do not enjoy team tournaments. Thank god Mike Long never showed up LMAO.

"I fish ALONE... Yeah!... With nobody else... You know, when I fish alone, I prefer to be by myself." -Paul and the Fish Destroyers (Ach! I see Brian beat me to it. Luckily Brian fishes in IN. I can only imagine the trouble if he appeared on the other side of MY pond! :)) )

 

I do enjoy fishing with others, and do, on occasion. But, I am really focused on my fishing. Socializing and fishing don't always mix well for me. And, I often get distracted -or what some may consider distracted- while "fishing". As my brother once put it: "Don't follow Paul in the woods. You'll be all scratched up by day's end, and have no idea why."

 

Then there's the rare individual who works seamlessly. (I was never one to throw pebbles at someone's bedroom window at 3am. Be there or be square.) I've had fishing buddies whom I wouldn't hesitate to call, are a real pleasure to spend fishing time with. Most I've met on the water, and we just click. 

 

Now that I'm shooting video while fishing, I'd rather not have anyone along. It feels intrusive on their own time on the water. Shooting video though means my viewers and I are fishing together. I have someone looking over my shoulder. That's kind of fun. But it took me a few trips to get used to there being "someone else there". I found I'd mumble, as if to myself, which was unintelligible on tape. I've since learned to... complete thoughts and sentences. Problem is though, when I put a video fishing journal together, I have to decide which distractions to share. Explaining a day of fishing could take almost as long as... that day of fishing.

 

Now... as I get older, I like buddies who will throw pebbles at my bedroom window at 5am. :))

On 7/5/2019 at 1:57 PM, BadContrakt said:

Dude... Your profile pic. Tell me you didn't hook a ****ING FROG WITH A SWIMBAIT. STOP! NO WAY!

It's a Fat Ika.  

 

I did get one this year when it grabbed a jig off the bottom.  

Prefer to fish with my wife who is also my best friend...Plus...she is a very beautiful woman. Who wouldn't want that???

I used to fish with others a lot more than I do now. I find myself fishing with just the dog more often now because everyone I ask has kids or other plans to attend to. It’s easier to launch/load with someone else and I hate taking selfies so having another able body to take photos is a must.

I like to fish with my girlfriend and all my other buddies . And sometimes our dogs. But if nobody can go with me, I’m still going 

Being an extreme introvert I find it exhausting to constantly interact with another person/people. So it's more relaxing and enjoyable to fish alone.

31 minutes ago, Steveo-1969 said:

Being an extreme introvert I find it exhausting to constantly interact with another person/people. So it's more relaxing and enjoyable to fish alone.

Perhaps get out with another extreme introvert.

Then maybe you both could enjoy ignoring each other all day  . . . . .

A-Jay

12 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Perhaps get out with another extreme introvert.

Then maybe you both could enjoy ignoring each other all day  . . . . .

A-Jay

Speaking as another introvert....one that essentially dislikes people...you're point is actually a good one.   I can hold a conversation just fine with the one in 20 people who actually interest me....but I'm perfectly happy ignoring someone else in the boat all day if they feel similarly  

Just now, Choporoz said:

Speaking as another introvert....one that essentially dislikes people...you're point is actually a good one.   I can hold a conversation just fine with the one in 20 people who actually interest me....but I'm perfectly happy ignoring someone else in the boat all day if they feel similarly  

OK ~

So a little truth with a little jest then.

 

While fishing alone, I talk to myself all day.

By adding a couple of Go Pro cameras and posting it, somehow I feel less weird.

 

A-Jay

4 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

By adding a couple of Go Pro cameras and posting it, somehow I feel less weird.

Doesn't make you any less weird though.

 

(Yes, I talk to myself on the water too.)

3 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Doesn't make you any less weird though.

 

(Yes, I talk to myself on the water too.)

 Most of my dogs seem to like it . . .

But there's always one . . . 

A-Jay

I don't like fishing with people that I have never fished with before, especially on my boat. I have had people stuff fishing line and all their garbage in my live wells with out telling me (found weeks later). Also as stated above, they sometimes fail to mention they need to be home by 12 when you get on the water at 8 and they don't bring any food or drinks. I do have one buddy that likes to fish from sun up to sun down, so I stay away from new people.

Yes

I enjoy both.  I'm filming a lot of times but I do enjoy the peace and quiet of being out there alone.  But it's tough to beat fishing a good buddy or my old man also.

I enjoy fishing alone much more than with someone, especially if that someone is my wife. She spends more time hung up than she does fishing, bless her. I'll take a kid fishing in a minute though, I love helping kids get interested in fishing and hunting. I have two grandsons, two nephews and a niece, plus my son-in-law has two young brothers, and I've taken them all out fishing at one point or another. 

I usually prefer fishing alone. That way I’m undistracted . I like the total peace and silence ( when Im not talking to myself). It’s much more relaxing.

On the other hand, I want to spend quality time with friends and family. So I make myself take others out. I usually enjoy it because it meets a need in someone else’s life.

Haven't read all of the above comments, but when there is someone else in the boat, all my time is spent trying to put them on fish.  Normally it is someone that has accepted my invitation to fish and it is more important for them to catch fish than for me to catch fish.  I fish alone most of the time, and that is fine, and seldom if ever refuse to take someone fishing.

I do fish alone, it's a time to reflect, to order my mind, And the fish I catch are fuel for my mood. Just doesn't work as well when others are around.

 

I do enjoy watching someone catch a fish that I helped with though, makes me smile.

enjoy both

On 7/7/2019 at 11:33 AM, Paul Roberts said:

Shooting video though means my viewers and I are fishing together. I

And we love having the opportunity to fish vicariously with you Paul. ?

 

But back in the real world....I prefer to fish alone. Only exception, my daughter and my grandsons. Gotta keep those youngsters closer to tackle boxes, and further from X boxes.

I fish alone. I fish with my kid. I fish with my dad. Sometimes I even fish with my kid and my dad. I rarely fish with anyone else. When I tell someone to meet me at the ramp at 5:00am, that usually means I am fishing alone. My new fishing partner will be 2 this Wednesday. So now I have a 3rd person in the rotation.

I fish alone most of the time.

 

My Dad is too old and unsteady to fish. He is too vain to use a cane or wheelchair to fish handicap accessible ponds.

 

My son is a teenager I ask him if he wants to go fishing every time I go but he has other things to do.

 

My friends live far enough away that we usually see each other on a yearly basis.

 

Then there are times like last week when it all comes together. Family vacation visiting friends.

 

My good friend, my son and I all landing Bass at the same time. Priceless!

 

 

I love fishing alone... I would fish with others, but most of the time they are a burden.  I can decide to go fishing at any time.  I want to fish for as long as I want to.  People are not always ready to go or late.  They don't help with any setup or breakdown, and sometimes it's because I don't want them in the way.  I love to teach people to fish, but then you have to deal with talking or even worse, them complaining and not listening to you.

 

Secondly I am there to fish... I don't want to eat, I don't want to drink.  We are there to fish.  We can talk about anything for the most part, but I might be more focused on fishing.  You can rent about anything, just don't complain about the fishing or wanting to go.  That makes me so upset!

 

I have a list of people who want to fish with me and I want to take them.. but they need to meet me half way, at least.  Come to me or meet me at the lake so you can leave when you need to.  Please don't complain.  Fishing alone, I know what I am doing.  When I am captaining, I and trying to get them fish... But if they do not have the skills and won't listen, it's very frustrating.  

 

The best person is one who who has heart.  Is willing to help, listens to how I like to setup and breakdown so we can be more efficient.  Is available to fish for specify periods of time, day or night.  Who is hungry to learn.  Available to meet me or close by that I don't have to manage logistics.  Finally I usually don't ask for any money, but the consideration from others is a very nice gesture.

My first choice is to fish alone, always. I can concentrate 100% on what I need to do to succeed. There is always a pressure when taking out someone else, and you have to consider their schedule and input into the decisions thru the day. I am introvert like some folks above, and the solitude is something I need. I like going by my own schedule, making the decisions, and positioning the boat so I can get the best cast angle. 

Granted, the odd time I fish with people close to me, like my wife, my Dad, my best friend, it is fulfilling in a different way and very rewarding. But, I couldn't do it every day.