I like your post, @DaubsNU1. I'm just out of reactions. I wish we could buy more reactions.

Hey, maybe it’s not even worth it in your neck of the woods. Some places are just plain dead unproductive boring and will never produce that dream fish. So unless you go to great lengths to seek out more productive spots, then your time may be better spent on other hobbies. Only saying. 

Notice how he spelled “waste of time”?

 

Upper case and lower case?

 

He’s being sarcastic.  
 

 

If your not enjoying it or wishing you were doing something more "productive" than yes it is a waste of your time. For me fishing has always been my stress relief and I absolutely love it. Other things have come and gone for me Video games,  sports, card collecting...I've never lost my love for fishing. My grandfather just passed away a few weeks ago and I remember him telling me my entire life nobody ends up on their death bed wishing hey had fished less.

My worst day fishing is better than my best day doing anything else.  If fishing is a waste of time, so is breathing.

I’ve done it for many different reasons throughout my life. When I was young, it was mainly for food. We grew up poor and it cost nothing to take a fishing rod to a nearby pond, catch some grasshoppers and get some bluegills or catfish.
 

As a teen, it was something I did with my friends. I wasn’t a party person, I wanted to be in the outdoors, so that’s what we did. Later in my teens I started tournament fishing, and being a competitive person, it really appealed to me. I’m also a thinker and problem solver, something that has to be done constantly to have a good day on the water.

 

Once I started my current career, it became my main stress relief. All too many people in my line of work turn to alcohol to help them forget the things they deal with. Fishing quiets the noise and makes my mind too busy to think about other things.

 

So is it a waste of time? For me it hasn’t been, it’s been a huge part of my life and a major part of who I am. If you feel like it might be a waste of time, maybe it is for you, and that’s okay. It’s fine to step away from things that might not be for you, we all have different paths and maybe fishing isn’t yours.

It's never been a waste of time for me. I've spent a lifetime constantly trying to improve at fishing. I love it. You'll play he'''' trying to convince folks around here it's a waste of time.  My advice: from A- Jay, " fish hard!"

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I’ve done it for many different reasons throughout my life. When I was young, it was mainly for food. We grew up poor and it cost nothing to take a fishing rod to a nearby pond, catch some grasshoppers and get some bluegills or catfish.
 

As a teen, it was something I did with my friends. I wasn’t a party person, I wanted to be in the outdoors, so that’s what we did. Later in my teens I started tournament fishing, and being a competitive person, it really appealed to me. I’m also a thinker and problem solver, something that has to be done constantly to have a good day on the water.

 

Once I started my current career, it became my main stress relief. All too many people in my line of work turn to alcohol to help them forget the things they deal with. Fishing quiets the noise and makes my mind too busy to think about other things.

 

So is it a waste of time? For me it hasn’t been, it’s been a huge part of my life and a major part of who I am. If you feel like it might be a waste of time, maybe it is for you, and that’s okay. It’s fine to step away from things that might not be for you, we all have different paths and maybe fishing isn’t yours.

Right on

@Bluebasser86 I want to be you when I grow up

I thought (was hoping really) the thread title was a metaphor or euphemism for something worth thinking about and discussing.

 

nope!!!.   this is like asking, are friendships and relationships a waste of time.  hahaha...

 

if you gotta ask.  1-800-The-rapy.  hahahahaha

It’s all your mindset. 
 

I have been a bowhunter for decades. Spent many a day from dawn to dusk motionless in a tree without seeing a doe, let alone a buck. To some, that’s a waste of a day. To me? I saw a fox pounce on a mouse. An owl flew right past my nose. I saw shrews buried and crawling through tunnels in the leaves. I heard the soft hiss of snow as it drifted down between the trees and lay on my shoulders like a cotton blanket. 
 

Fishing? Not getting bites, I begin to search for small pockets to make accurate casts to. I skip baits under brush to see if I can reach a potential sweet spot. I watch the ducks leave vortex wakes in the water as they fly past barely skimming the surface. A water snake slips by as silent as possible on its way to the opposite shore. 
 

It's never a waste of time if you allow yourself to revel in nature’s majesty. Focus on the adventure, not the outcome. As life should be. 

1 minute ago, BrianMDTX said:

dawn to dusk motionless in a tree without seeing a doe, let alone a buck. To some, that’s a waste of a day. To me? I saw a fox pounce on a mouse. An owl flew right past my nose. I saw shrews buried and crawling through tunnels in the leaves. I heard the soft hiss of snow as it drifted down between the trees and lay on my shoulders like a cotton blanket. 

That’s patience and peace you can’t buy. I know exactly what you mean 

^^^ that's life.  

 

I could get into a spat with a good friend.  the thought, "is  friendship a waste of time?"..never shows up in my mind.

 

no..I know and value a friendship.  cherish it.  

 

fishing is like a my friendship with nature, quietness, tranquility, exercise, vitamin-D, etc.  all of it.  I was an avid bowhunter.  sucked at it. but I tried for years and years.  it was the best time.  I was in great shape, had great hunting friends, saw lots of country.   met lots of people racist against me.  hahaha...all of it was very interesting.  

 

a therapist once told me, "action before motivation".    I understand now.  

If you believe it’s a waste of your time quit fishing. If not 

STOP 

Nope Other than family it’s the best time . River time is needed weekly ,Has been for the last 50 years or so 

3 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

Spent many a day from dawn to dusk motionless in a tree

One of the most peaceful things one can ever do.

 

Even more than fishing.

 

Yes I said it.  

To everybody posting encouraging words, much appreciated, reading through some of these comments helped to recalibrate my perspective. 

 

To the others, your posts were very suitable for my title ironically, thanks for wasting your time commenting 

Wasting time is fun. 

Yes! Fishing is a tremendous waste of time! Catching, however, is the most productive way of spending time!

Others have already stated with more details & more eloquence. But for me, simply said…….

 

FISHING = THERAPY

To me it’s a competition not against other fisherman but against  the fish!  Sometimes the fish win, often I trick them!  It’s pure fun, you can do it with others or by yourself.  If you weren’t bit by this bug, it will not continue, just move on to something else!