I know I've answered at least once but this is part of the reason I love to fish. Water is still rising here, almost full. This is the creek end of the lake. Ten minutes outside of San Jose.

 

Screenshot from a video so kind of lo-res. I just think it's a nice looking place to be.

 

Many reasons. When I was much younger and having played competitive sports all my life I enjoyed the tournaments for the competition and as time went on I realized that I wasn't enjoying the fishing but just the competing to the point where I was getting burnt out. Then I realized that the real fun was just to fish. Dialing back the urge to win was not easy but I did. Fishing became my refuge from a long week at work, stress, grief and anything else that strained my mental health. Now retired, I fish because I really enjoy it on so many levels. Times with my long time friend and fishing buddy, the thrill of the next bite, the beauty of nature, buying the new hot bait and hoping its the miracle lure, but mainly because I just love everything about it          

I don't have any lofty reasons other than its a fun challenge in which I can encounter more fresh air, scenery, & wildlife than people.

I love to hunt. And a rod and lure is how you hunt fish.
 

But there’s also something about being on the water near dawn or dusk. Your muscles loosen up and your breath eases. You feel peace.

My wife insists I go fishing, which I do several times a week.  I can't figure it out.

It's a spiritual experience for me. I can block everything out, be still and interact with nature. It's actually a lifestyle for me. I'm divorced. My kids live 4 hours away, I can't see them often, so I've taken to fishing. It helps with the pain and void I feel in my heart. 

I fish because I believe it's a spiritual connection. It's one of the things in my life that without question, without hesitation, feels right. It's a natural stress reliever. I love observing everything that is nature while I'm out. It is this exact passion that keeps me out of the competitive side of fishing. Though I'm very blessed to have great gear that makes my explorations all that much more enjoyable, I refuse to mix my happy place with the tournament circuit. 

Because I need to stay active, the Army obliterated my back, the VA refuses to acknowledge that it's connected, and it gives me a reason to get up and go, when I go fishing it's me vs. the fish, and there are no nonsense rules, and your results mostly mirror your efforts, can't get a more fair deal than that, they say that things that are in motion tend to stay in motion, those at rest stay at rest, the day I quit going will result in my no longer being able to go, which would be a fate worse than death to me.

2 hours ago, Kayak Fishin said:

I fish because I believe it's a spiritual connection. It's one of the things in my life that without question, without hesitation, feels right. It's a natural stress reliever. I love observing everything that is nature while I'm out. It is this exact passion that keeps me out of the competitive side of fishing. Though I'm very blessed to have great gear that makes my explorations all that much more enjoyable, I refuse to mix my happy place with the tournament circuit. 

Same here

I fish cuz Richard Gene told me it’s GUUUUUUD FER ME

On 4/13/2022 at 1:22 PM, Alex from GA said:

My wife insists I go fishing, which I do several times a week.  I can't figure it out.

She got any sisters? 

On 4/14/2022 at 7:36 PM, TnRiver46 said:

She got any sisters? 

Sounds like she's got a boyfriend. 

I lead a team of 11 Academic Advisors...have one Assistant Director...we serve 4k students...I hunt and fish to get time away from people, enjoy nature, re-focus, and re-energize.

 

Mainly fish alone...sometimes my daughter joins me...or I fish with my Dad (81) and Brother. 

 

But mainly I am fishing alone. Just me, God, and nature...

My Dads side of the family are all anglers . Catfish and crappie mostly . My moms side , none of them . I take after Dads side .

Same with my family. All the males are into fishing mostly trout , me mostly bass either small mouth or large mouth for me . Doesn’t matter which.

Why do I fish?

. My dad did

. It’s fun

. They taste good ( Well, most of ‘em 

   anyway)