Good afternoon all! I just found your little corner of the internet while googling the very topic I wanted to ask you about, but we will get back to that in a minute.
I'm from Northern Alabama, and have been bass fishing my whole life up until about five years ago. I'm an avid outdoorsman. I mainly love to deer and turkey hunt, and fish in between those two.
Like I was saying, I haven't hardly fished at all in the last 5 years. I used to go every weekend and sometimes through the week. Then the best thing ever happened to me; I became a dad. Since then, I've been a fully invested dad who has basically put his hobbies to the side because I'd rather spend time with my kids. I would say on average I go fish now 3 times a year. However, my son is getting to the point that I want to start taking him to catch some bream and such. I've got some good honey holes to break him in on.
I also am finding more time to get on the water and bass fish again, but I fond myself getting really frustrated because I can't catch them like I used to. The only thing I know to compare it to is someone who loves to golf, quits for 5 years, and decides to start playing again, expecting to be just as good. Not realistic, but I basically can't accept it I guess.
I think what's getting me the most is going into work on Monday and telling people I went and caught two or three all day long. Then hearing them carry on about how they were at the same lake and wore them out. It festers inside me and makes me want to just give it up all together. Like I just don't have "it" anymore.
Has anybody ever experienced something similar? DEFINITELY not looking for a pity party, but what could it be that I'm all the sudden doing so wrong?? How do I build back confidence in myself? I really want to get back to how I used to be so I can take my son out on the water and show him a good time. It's hard to block out others success on the water when I'm not having any.
....what a whiny first post. But I'd get absolutely pulled through the mud for asking any of my fishing buddies something like this. At least if I do on here, I won't have to pass yall in the hall at work everyday ?
