My girlfriend has a second home lake house on Lake Keowee and once a month or so we meet up there for the weekend and I bring my kayak along. This weekend I brought my kayak up that way but planned to had an hour south to fish Hartwell and get ready for a tournament in a few weeks.

My kayak never left her garage.

I just didn't feel like fishing this weekend. Normally when I head up there I get up early, fish for 5 or 6 hours while she does her things, and then we spend the rest of the day doing something. But I just didn't feel like fishing this weekend. Weird, I know. I did some bank fishing for an hour or so, but Keowee is down seven feet right now and I barely even saw bait fish in that area.

Anyone else ever get in a fishing funk?

I've only had medically induced fishing funks, but I'm very young.😄 Nothing wrong with taking a break or pulling the throttle back a bit. The fish aren't going anywhere.

Yep, it happens to anyone that pounds away at a particular hobby, sport, or job. It's normal.

I feel like I have been in a funk for well over a year now. I probably made it out less than a dozen times last year which is probably about half of what I have generally done for the prior 5-6 years. Part of it is expense, part due to age I suspect, but “funk” feels like the majority of the reason. Even when I did go out last year, it seemed like it was less about having fun and more about escaping and resetting.

It has happened with other hobbies but can't say I've experienced it with fishing.

I started a little saying a couple of years ago that really took off locally and one that I try to adhere to.

" You have to redline until you flatline "

I feel like at my age I've been blessed with incredible health and not taking it for granite.

The mental side of it is as important as the physical.

Enjoy what you have.

Yes, it happens. Take a break, reset, and get back at it when it feels right again. It applies to most hobbies.

Say what?

Unusual for this time of year. Maybe you should go see your doctor.

lol

Just busting your chops.

Get back out there soon, best medicine.Tight lines!

I have absolutely positively never had a fishing funk

I really don't remember ever having an actual "fishing funk", though fishing has had to be put on the back burner at times.

Family, work and medical issues have taken precedent at times.

I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a fishing funk.

The reason for this is that over the last few years, life has been so busy. My job is very demanding, I put in a ton of hours. Family, chores, maintaining my house, etc. injuries from work also kept me from fishing for a little while. Even some days when I do have time, I just want to sit on my couch and try and recoup.

In the future, when time frees up and I can fish more, then I’ll think I may have a fishing funk as I’ll probably try and overdo it to make up for lost time.

1 hour ago, Backroad Angler said:

I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a fishing funk.

It's cool that you're always running hot for fishing!

I suggest a winter in the New England hills, by now you’d be psyched to get out.

Hope you break your funk soon. I'm in a medically induced funk right now.....rotator cuff surgery. Tendon was sawed almost in two by a big bone spur. I'm depending on you and the others to keep my spirits up while I moan and wallow in self-pity for the next few months.

I'm actually excited to head out tomorrow. I'll be fishing a new, small lake with a 10 hp limit so I won't have to worry about the pontoon boats, wake boats, and jet skis.

In fact, I have a list of small lakes that I plan to attack this spring. Most likely I'm going to pass on fishing the Bassmaster event in Caddo next month and just focus on some fun fishing instead.

6 hours ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Hope you break your funk soon. I'm in a medically induced funk right now.....rotator cuff surgery. Tendon was sawed almost in two by a big bone spur. I'm depending on you and the others to keep my spirits up while I moan and wallow in self-pity for the next few months.

I have carpal tunnel surgery on Tuesday, so we have the same task: Get healthy by June 1st!

6 hours ago, Kayak Koz said:

just focus on some fun fishing instead.

Me too. That's my number one goal for 2026. I can feel Father Time's cold breath on my neck, so I want to have as much fun for as long as possible.

22 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

I have carpal tunnel surgery on Tuesday, so we have the same task: Get healthy by June 1st!

Me too. That's my number one goal for 2026. I can feel Father Time's cold breath on my neck, so I want to have as much fun for as long as possible.

Carpal tunnel surgery isn’t so bad. I had 3 hand surgeries on August 16 one of which was carpal on the left hand. I went back 8 days later to get the stitches out. The surgeon pronounced me healed so I went fishing the next day.

12 hours ago, Jig Man said:

Carpal tunnel surgery isn’t so bad. I had 3 hand surgeries on August 16 one of which was carpal on the left hand. I went back 8 days later to get the stitches out. The surgeon pronounced me healed so I went fishing the next day.

My father had it done as well ... same results

The Old Bucket of Rice....

Sorta morphing this thread a little, but want to share a solve I've benefited from in the recent months. Definitely not comparing to carpal tunnel or anything that severe [sorry to hear that's been a struggle for you and fingers crossed for your speedy recovery]. However, to a lesser degree but in the same ballpark, I've definitely noticed more 'creakiness', weakness and tendinitis in my hands and forearms. Which obviously can matter for fishing.

I'm writing this as someone who exercises a fair amount - not as someone who works with their hands and has real hand and forearm strength. My mechanic friends sometimes struggle with other issues like arthritis but the following exercise often helps them as well. While I will accept some basic realities of aging, my hand achiness is definitely more a function of too much time on screens (iPhone and laptop).

In this case, I'm particularly focused on strengthening 1) my thumbs 2) smaller muscles in back of hands and 3) fighting off both tennis and golf elbow tendinitis. They're all connected. These are not properly addressed by gripping exercises like dumbbells, pull-ups, rowing, etc. For me, most of these injuries/aches are caused not by overuse but by weakened muscles/tendons which are then put under abrupt acute load [like hitting a golf ball in a Northeast springtime]. When it gets left unaddressed the discomfort is more chronic and consistent.

To fight against this crappy trend, I've turned back to an old exercise I did when a baseball pitcher - it's cheap, effective, natural, and safe - The Old Bucket of Rice. I run through a cycle of exercises 3 times a week. And it's working as hoped. Lotta good videos out there about this: here's one -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=almX92LQgz0

Need: 20-30 lbs of rice in a 5 gallon bucket to prevent rice spilling all over the place. Uncooked ;-) It's been a huge benefit to my life: less pain, injury prevention and I like to think my wife is impressed at my rejuvenated jar opening prowess.

2 minutes ago, Hartwood71 said:

To fight against this crappy trend, I've turned back to an old exercise I did when a baseball pitcher

The old bucket of rice was a Steve Carlton exercise ... How'd did that work out for him ... haha ... I'd say pretty well

On 3/8/2026 at 11:21 PM, Kayak Koz said:

My girlfriend has a second home lake house on Lake Keowee and once a month or so we meet up there....

...My kayak never left her garage.

LoL, say no more... we understand!

Not necessarily a "fishing funk".

On 3/13/2026 at 7:20 PM, Swamp Girl said:

I have carpal tunnel surgery on Tuesday, so we have the same task: Get healthy by June 1st!

It's going to take a lot more that a few screws and sewed up tendons to keep me from out trip!

13 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

It's going to take a lot more that a few screws and sewed up tendons to keep me from out trip!

I don’t remember ever having one.

I am much more selective with my trips now though, which drives my son crazy. He goes spur of the moment.

I am kind of at an impasse now though. It seems that many of the ponds I used to do well in are not very good now.

I need a few more good ponds to refresh my motivation!🤠