I originally was planning on just a "How's Your 2025 Fishing Going?", but then I figured it's a time for anybody to share how their year in general is going.

 

So you can answer however you please.

 

How's your 2025 fishing going?

 

Or

 

How's your 2025 going?

 

2025 in life? Ehh.

 

2025 in fishing? I feel like I’ve been having a pretty good year. I have learned a lot about the river this year. More so than ever. Hopefully I keep adding to the knowledge to be successful. I am even 100% catch rate on musky trips! (Musky fished once in 2025)

2025 Life: Great, made some changes and my heart function shot up over 20% and I've felt the best I have in a few years. Family is all healthy and thriving.

 

2025 Fishing: Eh, with 2 kids and trying to get my bosses job when he retires next year I've had very little time to fish. Despite that I did catch some very nice fish even with less time on the water. I'd guess one was threatening to be my new PB but he escaped my grip and went over before I could weigh him (yea I know, fish stories). 

2025 started off a little shaky, and the less than ideal conditions have continued

on many fronts through the year.

Despite the challenges, I am deeply appreciative of every opportunity I've received.

And it's up to me to make the most of it.

Show up, do the work, look for ways to improve.

I need to be better.

A-Jay

 

My feet hit the floor this morning, so far it's been a pretty good year for me.

I've had over 35 nights camping and fishing, plus all the day trips.

I have a beautiful 2 1/2 yr old grandaughter, wife and 3 kids are healthy.

I have my health, no prescription drugs, I do work out and somewhat watch what I eat.

I do enjoy beer, don't associate with negative people, watch no news on TV.

So to have over 72 trips around the sun, I feel pretty blessed.

Now, if I lived on a pond with big bass in Maine, it would be perfect  

I'd like to live on a pond in Maine too! Speaking of ponds in Maine, I've owned my land for 1.5 years and fished the pond for three years. Three years ago, the bass topped out at 16.5". Two years ago, they reached 17". Last year, they reached 17.5". Now I'm catching 18-inchers. The growth is slow, but steady.

 

2025 is pretty good. The problem is 2024, when I caught my PB lmb, my biggest bag ever, and 2,044 bass total. I'm shooting for 1,500 this year. I couldn't fish for three stretches this year, including a ten-day stretch in June, which is some of the best fishing. I'm off to fish right now!

 

I had a 70-bass morning and a 58-bass morning last October. If I can replicate those, I'll reach 1,500 easy, but those two mornings sure sucked the sap out of me. 

It's been a pretty good year. I met a beautiful woman and fell in love. I switched jobs and I'm in the midst of opening two new Marriott hotels. My health has been good. Not a bad year so far.

 

But I haven't fished a lot this year since I moved from my lake house in March. I have only fished one tournament way back in February. 

 

All week long I think about taking my kayak out on the weekend, but when that alarm goes off at 4:30 or 5 am I'm just not motivated. Hopefully, with the summer lake traffic over with I'll get out there this fall.

You had a GREAT year, Kayak Koz. 

In 2025 I have a roof over my head plenty to eat, and am in good health.  All is good.

2 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

You had a GREAT year, Kayak Koz. 

 I have been blessed, although I'm not catching 40,000 bass a year like you are!

 

I wouldn't make that trade, but it's close 😁

Amen, your Majesty. 

Ahhh... retired end of August, real estate will be gone October 1st.  Not much fishing so far, but that is going to change soon.

 

oe

2025 has been a good year in spite of some ups and downs. My health issues have remained stable. I'm married to a wonderful woman who puts up with me. I've been skunked more then I've caught anything. Its always good to be outside in nature.

Spring was plagued with rain, lots of repetitive flooding. No river, stream or creek fishing. Lakes were super high as well. Beaches in Indiana were all closed. Drought conditions are now and have been in place. Crushed the crappies and some 3-4 pound LMB but it’s going to be on fire any day now for big fish so I’m stoked and ready for the yearly fish feeding frenzy 😁

Fishing-wise, my 2025 has been awesome. I got back into a private lake full of healthy bass and dinks. I've caught 18 bass over 3 lbs., my biggest weighing 7 lbs. 14 oz. I only started back fishing there in late May.

 

Life-wise, I'm dealing with some hopefully minor health issues. I have to see a couple of specialists. It will likely include an upper endoscopy. But I'm 55. No one gets out of life without a little discomfort. My dad died of a GI bleed so I'm taking no chances.  Overall, I'm blessed.

Life in 2025: it has bin a BIG change and all for the better, finally got that promotion at work so im know an overnight department supervisor. I am now no longer just keeping my head above the water and finally able to start chipping away at debt. My wife and i almost fully paid off our truck and are now looking for options on a second vehicle. We can finally afford to take camping trips and are planning on going backpacking for the first time this weekend.

 

Fishing 2025: I have learned ALOT about my local waters, found some new spots. Most importantly, i finally found time to take my brother in law and close freind out on fishing trips. I mistakingly introduced them to the bait monkey, but I now have fishing buddies for life that come to me with questions and the same curiosity I had when I first started. When we go out, I mainly sit back and "guide" for them, and it honestly brings me more joy watching them catch fish hand over fist, even if it means I get skunked. So far my favorite memorie for this year is taking them out on there first trip. It was a tough at first, then we found a good spot and i told each of them "you cast your lure down the bank on this side, and you cast it next to that curve in the bank." Almost like premonition, they both immediately caught a fish on there first casts in those spots, and it was game on from there. Season is coming to an end here, but I can't wait for next year to take them out on a good prespawn bite.

Solid year all around. #Blessed.

1 hour ago, the reel ess said:

Fishing-wise, my 2025 has been awesome. I got back into a private lake full of healthy bass and dinks. I've caught 18 bass over 3 lbs., my biggest weighing 7 lbs. 16 oz. I only started back fishing there in late May.

 

Life-wise, I'm dealing with some hopefully minor health issues. I have to see a couple of specialists. It will likely include an upper endoscopy. But I'm 55. No one gets out of life without a little discomfort. My dad died of a GI bleed so I'm taking no chances.  Overall, I'm blessed.

7 lbs 16 oz = 8 lbs.

Prilosec is your friend.

2025 fishing

 

I really can't fish in the spring. But I had a heck of a June and then July and August have been pretty uneventful. Had a ton of rain/storms and extreme heat. When it wasn't storming and hot as H E double L the water was like coffee.

 

I was looking forward to September but unfortunately it's been a repeat of August. I'm going to be a fishing fool in a week or so. Need cooler temps and the water not to look like Mountain Dew on steroids.

 

2025 life

 

For the most part I'm fairly healthy. On the outside I look fit as a fiddle, but on the inside I got what Wilford Brimley would call the diabeetus. Family is healthy although I do have aging parents.

 

Most excitement of the year is that my oldest (daughter) got into medical school at the University of Iowa. Extremely difficult to get in to.  GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!   

 

Other two kids are doing good. Oldest son is in college on the golf team and our youngest is still in high school.

 

Work is good. Don't love it but it pays the bills. Hoping to retire early.

 

 

39 minutes ago, WRB-2.0 said:

7 lbs 16 oz = 8 lbs.

Prilosec is your friend.

Hit a 6 instead of a 4. It was 7-14. I already take an acid blocker in the morning and one at night.

6 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

Hit a 6 instead of a 4. It was 7-14. I already take an acid blocker in the morning and one at night.

 

6 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

Hit a 6 instead of a 4. It was 7-14. I already take an acid blocker in the morning and one at night.

1/2 hr before you eat works better.

Good luck with the procedure results.

Tom

Well, it has been a tough year in a lot of ways. But....I am still here, still married to a great lady, I have a home, I eat regularly,  I have heat when I need it and air conditioning when I need it, and I still get out to fish somewhat often. So, I prefer to enjoy my good fortune and try not to complain too much when I have some problems or discomfort. By the standards of a lot of the world, I am rich beyond measure and blessed beyond all expectations. Life is good.

Pretty god awful from Feb - April. Insulted, demeaned, and degraded constantly at work. Very difficult to focus. Has improved since.

 

Bass fishing has been very good nearly the entire season. Muskie fishing a bust, again.

 

I have my health. My Grandfather once told me that if you don’t have your health, you don’t have much.

Have great health, spiritual well being and an epic year of fishing..... life is good.

22 minutes ago, gim said:

Pretty god awful from Feb - April. Insulted, demeaned, and degraded constantly at work. Very difficult to focus. Has improved since.

Ah man sorry to hear this.

 

Hopefully things turn around or you can find something different.