A Break From Fishing

[Buzzbaiter]

If I’m in a really bad mood or if I have other pressing issues to deal with at a given moment, I find it hard to enjoy fishing. I think I value my outings more when I have to earn them, or at least when I can commit myself wholly to the moment instead of trying to escape something else.

[Zcoker]

One of the nice things about living on the Florida coast is the ability to switch back and forth from freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing. The problem with taking a break from both is that each day, each month, every single season can be phenomena either or. So if I decide to take a break from bass fishing, for example, the beach fishing is going off, and vice versa. Always in the back of my mind is those choice conditions to be out there catching the big ones. No breaks for this guy! 

[Swamp Girl]

3 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

I call that winter.

 

More seriously though, I'm a strong introvert on the MBTI scale which means I derrive my energy from alone time, quiet contemplation, etc.  If I didn't fish and hunt I wouldn't be able to do the other things in my life like being social with friends or being engaged at work.  

 

How much I get to go varies.  From 2020 to this early spring I had a combination of jobs that mostly meant I set my own schedule.  I had bosses that so long as the job got done I was free to do things as I saw fit.  It meant I would cluster my calendar with morning meetings and meetings on certain days while leaving other days free or free in the afternoon.  I was fishing 3 days a week most weeks and that didn't include going on the weekends.  Similar when hunting season came around.  I've taken meetings in a treestand and listened to town halls in the kayak.

 

Caught with headphones in.

 

However, a new role in Feb plus a consistent gym routine 3 days a week means that this year has been limited. I've had to fish the weekends a little more which means an early morning to be home for whatever saturday afternoon plans we have.  

 

Prior to that, we lived in the UK for 12 years.  There is basically no bass fishing in the UK.  So I had to bide my time with trout, carp, and some other things.  I hunted a little more since I could do it year round.  

 

You'll have to find what works for you.

 

 

I'm just the opposite.  Interracting with that many people daily would definitely draw a lot of current from me.  But fishing would recharge it.  

 

Also curious what you were lecturing/where. 

 

From Wyoming to Massachusetts, at grade schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges, conferences and conventions. I don't miss the podium. 

[Skunkmaster-k]

5 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

 

From Wyoming to Massachusetts, at grade schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges, conferences and conventions. I don't miss the podium. 

What were you speaking about ? 

[WRB]

Fishing is a hobby time with your family is far more important, enjoy both.

[Woody B]

I bought my first boat when I was 16 (in 1980) and fished multiple times most weeks for years.  By 1992 family and professional obligations made it almost impossible to find time to fish.  I sold my boat, with the plans to buy another boat when I retired.  For the next 19 years I hardly fished at all and would only occasionally think about it.  I went Striper fishing a few times with my Son in Law, but that's not really my thing.   During Covid my youngest Grandson sent me a picture of a 6 pound Bass he caught in a farm pond.  That got me started thinking about Bass fishing again...but I still planned to buy a boat when I retired.  My Dad (89 now) was and is basically healthy but can't walk.  I accelerated my plans and bought a boat before retirement after watching my Dad just sit around and talk about the things he could no longer do.  I bought my current boat in December 2021.   With the exception of 2 weeks I've fished at least once a week since then.   

 

Don't neglect your family or other obligations, but don't wait to have "fun" until later.  You may run of of time before you ever have this "fun".  

[Swamp Girl]

57 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

What were you speaking about ? 

I taught writing and did comedy. 

[Skunkmaster-k]

18 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

I taught writing and did comedy. 

Dus this centance bother yew ?

[Swamp Girl]

6 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

Dus this centance bother yew ?

 

As a writer, it makes me soooooooo mad! Wait, since I was once a funny girl, I like it.

 

Oh, bother, I'm muddled.

[RenzokukenFisher]

On 6/11/2024 at 3:52 PM, Woody B said:

Don't neglect your family or other obligations, but don't wait to have "fun" until later.  You may run of of time before you ever have this "fun".  

This is forsure the approach I aim for. Having that balance is huuuuuge. Only so much time and at the end of the day family and lifes priorities are most important. But at the same time notice if time is slipping by and get out there and fish!!

[WRB]

You can always fish but can’t always spend time with your family.

I am 80 and can still fish but  can’t spend time with my family except my wife and daughter, everyone else has passed away, parents on both side is expected at my age but 2 brothers and my son are gone.

Enjoy life don’t waste time it can’t be turned back.

Tom

 

[frosty]

I haven’t been on here for a long, long time. A few things put a damper on my fishing. Kids, my son would go with me but wasn’t really ready to fish, then in ‘19 we had a daughter that did a few weeks in the nicu, came home on oxygen and monitors, that slowed me down. I took up making knives in ‘21, and I really enjoyed it and as I got more into doing that it was what I did most weekends because I could do it at home and enjoy myself and still be close to the family. Got a new job last year that I really like but we work every Saturday. Now they’ve started a rotation, and my son is 10 now so he has been wanting to go. I’ve got to relearn how to cast a baitcaster 🤣

[ike8120]

I had to take a break as of June 4, hand surgery was the culprit. Hopefully I will be fully recovered for the fall bite. I had to have a joint replaced in my thumb. Maybe now I will have better thumb control on my bait casters

[Fir3hawk]

Been a rough few years to find time to fish for me.

 

2021 and 2022 spent a lot of time taking care of my dad due to health issues. Heart failure in 2021 then terminal cancer diagnosis in 2022. Was able to get him out on the water a few times but not enough.

 

My first dog (well first dog I got living on my own) also got cancer in 2022 and I felt too guilty to leave her in the kennel when I knew our time was short and she was likely in pain.

 

Then in 2023 spent a ton of time cleaning out my dads house and handling his estate. He was a hoarder so it was a 6+ month ordeal filling about 3-4 40 yard dumpsters.

 

My wife and I welcomed our first child in May 2024, so I’ve been trying to embrace that new change. But also trying to work with my wife to make sure she has time for herself and trying to make time for me. Got out for the first time since he was born the other day, albeit short.

[Swamp Girl]

I admire you, @Fir3hawk.

 

As always, listen to @WRB. Tom is wise.

 

@Pat Brown has the solution: Take Jake! And the wife sometimes too. That way, fishing and family are fused. 

 

#takeJaketothelake

[T-Billy]

On 6/10/2024 at 5:16 PM, Catt said:

Throughout my career I've been able to work 4 tens or 3 twelves & an 8.

 

A 3 day weekend is huge for the working class stiff.

Four 12's here for the past seven years. I agree 100%.

[The Baron]

That’s a rough few years for sure @Fir3hawk.   “What does not kill you, makes you stronger”.   And now a wonderful new beginning with your first child.  ❤️

[The Baron]

I took a 30 year break from fishing - beat that. 🤪  I was a keen fisherman until I was 16 and got my gun license, then became an avid hunter.  We had kids later in life (second when I was 40) and when they were young I was looking for ways to entertain them, so I took them fishing… and accidentally hooked myself.  I came back in with a lot of time to makeup, and am doing my best.👍🏻

 

But I hear what you mean @RenzokukenFisher.  I went through a major life upset 14 years ago.  An abrupt career change just as we’d had our second child, that ended up taking almost a decade to recover from, financially.  I followed the wrong road in a self-employed mistake and there was a 2 year period in there where I didn’t even buy a spring turkey hunting license.  I know we’re talking fishing, but for me at the time, and I’m happy to say again now, spring turkey season was/is the highlight of my year.  I keep a hunting diary and anyone reading it would see those were some tough times with almost no entries 4-5 years when previous seasons would each span several pages.  Looking back, I realize I totally missed two season and there’s no way I can add them at the end of my story - they’re gone.  The lesson I took away is that, no matter what life throws your way it’s important to make time for yourself.  Doing your Masters is a fantastic investment in yourself, but you should mark a couple prime days on the calendar for some fishing.  You’ll come back to the books with a renewed energy if you give yourself some quality mental breaks.

[Fir3hawk]

18 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

I admire you, @Fir3hawk.

 

As always, listen to @WRB. Tom is wise.

 

@Pat Brown has the solution: Take Jake! And the wife sometimes too. That way, fishing and family are fused. 

 

#takeJaketothelake

Appreciate it but I’m just a regular old 36 year old that likes to fish when I can. I’d like to think others would do the same. Life’s pretty simple, what would you want your son to do if you were fighting that fight? I certainly could have handled it better but I tried to be there for him as much as I could.  
 

14 hours ago, The Baron said:

That’s a rough few years for sure @Fir3hawk.   “What does not kill you, makes you stronger”.   And now a wonderful new beginning with your first child.  ❤️

Definitely been a rollercoaster, but I can’t complain overall. That’s not to say I wouldn’t do anything to have my dad back, but there’s been plenty of good in the past 5 years. Wedding 2021, new job 2022, Honeymoon 2023, new dog 2023, new house 2023, first son 2024.

[BrianMDTX]

I also took an over-30 year break. I got into hunting, particularly bowhunting, and made a decision it was either fall/winter (hunting) or spring/summer (fishing). Other than taking my daughters fishing, I didn’t seriously fish from around 1986 until 2020. 

Do I regret it? I regret no decisions I’ve ever made. Unless they were deliberately made to cause someone else pain or grief (which isn’t something I can recall doing since maybe a teen).  Do I wish I had fished during all that time? Sure. But stewing over that solves nothing. Instead, I’m making up for lost time. 

[Raul]

On 6/10/2024 at 1:52 PM, RenzokukenFisher said:

Anyone ever because life got busy, kids came around, careers picked up, school, etc. Needed to take a leave of absence from fishing? This could be a couple months to a few years where a few short trips a month is all thats manageable. I'm curious because I am about to start an intense Masters Program in Fall and I'm trying to fish like a madman before 60 hours work weeks start up in Fall. Curious about your experiences and what was that time like for you?

 

SIX AND A HALF YEARS !!!!

That's the time I've been in the freezer

My mother's illness and her passing away 4 years ago

My business picked up also after her death and I needed to work like crazy in order to achieve certain goals I had in mind which finally ended up positively about a year ago

Unfortunately I'm trapped yet and can't go fishing

How have I dealt with the "itch" ?

Videogames, I've been gaming since I was 9 so gaming helps me relax

It's not a subsitute though ...

[A-Jay]

8 hours ago, Raul said:

 

SIX AND A HALF YEARS !!!!

That's the time I've been in the freezer

My mother's illness and her passing away 4 years ago

My business picked up also after her death and I needed to work like crazy in order to achieve certain goals I had in mind which finally ended up positively about a year ago

Unfortunately I'm trapped yet and can't go fishing

How have I dealt with the "itch" ?

Videogames, I've been gaming since I was 9 so gaming helps me relax

It's not a subsitute though ...

Sorry about your Mom Sir.

Glad your deal worked out and hope you can be back to wetting a line sooner rather than later.

🫥

A-Jay

[Bazoo]

I took an almost 15 year break, taking it back up last year. When I was about 13 through about 18, it was all I ever wanted to do. Then I got bit by the gun bug at 18. I started trading guns and it became an obsession. So much so, that I didn't learn how to drive, and I had no interest in anything unless it was gun related, even then, I still fished some.

 

Then at 22 I became a born again Christian and was set free from what was a debilitating oppression of idolizing guns/2nd Amendment/freedom.

 

I fished right up until the time I got marred at 24. Several things happened... I lost both of my decent spots in short order. I found that it was harder to take off with a friend or by myself on a whim. Work and life seemed to just get in my way.

 

Then in 2015 we had a housefire, and I lost all my possessions including all of my fishing gear. I lived in an apartment above a business, and didn't have renters insurance.

 

Then when we had a son, I decided I was going to bring him up in the hunting and fishing life. When he was 3, last year, I started back at it with more vigor than previously. I now fish almost daily, if not, 3 times a week, usually taking the boy with me.

 

The old passion came back, and most of what I'd learned. Now I'm learning new things, and really perfecting my skillset.

 

I go to church 2 times a week, and keep God first, and go through phases where fishing is my primary hobby, and then guns/shooting. I try to balance it out. I have a fishing hole right down the road from where I go to church so I normally hit that Sunday and Wednesday.

 

23 hours ago, Raul said:

 

SIX AND A HALF YEARS !!!!

That's the time I've been in the freezer

My mother's illness and her passing away 4 years ago

My business picked up also after her death and I needed to work like crazy in order to achieve certain goals I had in mind which finally ended up positively about a year ago

Unfortunately I'm trapped yet and can't go fishing

How have I dealt with the "itch" ?

Videogames, I've been gaming since I was 9 so gaming helps me relax

It's not a subsitute though ...

Sorry for your loss. I lost my mom 3 years ago. I used to do a little gaming... I had Bass Master Classic tournament edition on the computer. I stayed up all night and won the classic 2 times in one night!

[Swamp Girl]

On 6/11/2024 at 6:20 PM, Skunkmaster-k said:

What were you speaking about ? 

 

Mostly how-to-write and how to work with children, but if they wanted a different topic, I'd deliver. 

 

I'm not about to take a break from fishing, but I am a little fishing tuckered. I've caught hundreds and hundreds of bass this year, including my personal best, which was equivalent to a southern DD, 3.5 to 4.5-pounders beyond counting, many 44-59-bass mornings and evenings, one 75-bass morning, etc. I've also helped people catch their first bass, their most bass, and their biggest bass. I've got a quality trip planned for this Thursday, which will be rainy, but just now, I don't have bass tugging at me. 

[Skunkmaster-k]

I think my kids read your book about pumpkin town.