Are You A "better" Fisherman Alone Or With Others?

[Creekcrappie]

Depending if I am bank fishing or fishing from a boat. Then again, it depends who I am fishing with.

[AK-Jax86]

This is a good question might be better when I am alone but I like fishing with my buddies it makes it more enjoyable sharing laughs, stories, sports, trash talk (#1 element to a good fishing partner lol), etc.

Another thing this is I don't mind getting skunked if my buddy is catching fish.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Last night went with two friends on the boat. All three of us share the same serious fishing mentality. Only reason we had to head in early (just after dark) was because I had to get my daughter ice cream I promised her. :-)

Had a great bassin' time!

[Violinguy]

If I fish alone I can lie

 

Bingo.

 

Seriuosly, fishing alone can be extremely theraputic.  Just alone in nature.  However, sometimes it's nice to have friends with you for pictures, advice, medical emergencies, etc.  With cell phones today, it's not as critical, but there are a lot of the same saftey issues as camping alone.

[atpns1234]

The 2 biggest fish I've caught have both been with somebody. Coincidence I'm sure but I don't mind if someone wants to partner up.

[Chris9999]

I would say with others. I have one main fishing friend and there has only been a few times when I havent gone with him. But because we fish without a boat more than with I think it is almost like the best of both worlds. Generally we are close but far enough apart that we can make our own decisions about the exact location. 

[200racing]

truthfully i get skunked a lot alone because that is when i break out new stuff. on those days im out to catch fish how i want to not the best way possible.

 

i dont work a piece of cover as hard with a 2nd guy. try to leave them a chance. 

 

i also hate when i get on a pattern and the back boater cant match it and starts getting frustrated. out for fun i will usually relent and go searching for something we both can do. in tourn. they just get to be my net man.

[Choporoz]

I am better when the other guy is better.

 

Took me a few years, but I've found that to be true of most anything.  I tend to play up (and down) to my 'competition' (or collaborator(s).)

[bassr95]

I prefer to fish with somebody. We can cover more water and try more baits to figure out how to catch them faster. It's fun to turn it into a friendly competition, and I think i fish better/harder when I know i've got to keep up with the guy beside me. Fishing with other dedicated anglers is also a great way to learn new baits/techniques. Seeing someone slaying them on a new bait gives me the confidence to give that bait an honest try at some point.

[Grant Schuen]

i catch the most fish by myself in a kayak! weird but that's when i fish the best.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

I like when I go with my friend. We each have our own kayak so it is not too bad. :-)

[everythingthatswims]

I like fishing alone in locations that I know really well and can basically call the shots on the bass, that way I don't have to split the fish 50/50 and catch half as many as I would by myself! But if I'm somewhere new then I like to have someone else to help figure them out. I only have one friend that truly bass fishes and understands it, has his own tackle, etc. We get along really well and have a good time fishing together, there just aren't many kids my age (at least where I live) that fish. People at my high school think fishing is the bobber-worm deal, I frequently get asked "How can you be "good" at fishing? Isn't it just getting lucky?" People are so clueless...

[whitwolf]

I have thought some about this topic and for me there Is not a cut and dry answer. A little background: I used to fish with a guy that was a friend and the first few years it was always great. It gradually  became a little strained and at the end It was miserable.  There were many reasons with the both of us being at fault. 

 

I told the above to point out that as you grow as a fisherman and person sometimes things change. It's life and there's too little time to be miserable.

 

I fish alone quite a bit now and prefer that. It's my time and whether I catch any fish or not I am at peace. That being said, my wife has taken to fishing and some days she wants to go and I'm tickled to death. 

 

In the end choose a fishing partner wisely, practice patience, teach and pass along wisdom, fishing or otherwise and be sure to have FUN!

[bigbill]

I'm very insulting when I'm fishing. I'm in my own zone, I got my own zipcode, when I'm alone. I don't talk to anyone. I'm thinking fishing that's it. Me and the fish.

 

Unless my family is with me or there are little kids with there dad then I may help them. I go out of my way to help others when I can to promote this sport. I help others while evening fishing. In the early mornings I'm in my zone.

[fadetoblack21]

I prefer fishing with a buddy. It becomes sort of a competition between the two of us, biggest bass, most caught, etc. I do plenty of fishing by myself, so for me it's nice to have that added element when by fishing buddy is there. 

 

Whether that makes me better or not I don't know, but it adds another element to it for me since I'm super competitive. 

[fishva]

I almost always fish by myself, only because I don't have any friends who fish. I enjoy it, but sure do appreciate some good company when I have it.

[SirSnookalot]

I don't have to be intense when I'm fishing, I can put my lure where ever I want and shoot the bull at the same time.  I already know how to fish so it's matter of the fish being cooperative, some days they are and some days they aren't .  All my bass fishing is done alone, simply because I don't know anyone that bass fishes.  I do like people around me when I'm saltwater fishing, sometimes you just need someone to help with the fish.  I do catch smaller fish but I'm not really targeting anything under 10#, having a net or gaff man is very helpful, plus I like be social.  I do bass fish nearly every day in addition to saltwater.  I do it without pressure to perform, don't care if I lose a fish, just a matter of time until another good one comes along.

[jignfule]

I fish better alone, but I usually enjoy fishing with others.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Let's make it simple. Just start a conversation with yourself and sometimes answer back. :-)

[Diggy]

 I will usually catch more fish when alone because I do as I want, but most of my friends hardly get out to fish due to family/work so its good when it happens. What I do hate is sometimes Ill drive 45 minutes and they'll neglect to tell me they can only fish for 2-3hours. I have a 6hr minimum.

 

I've also made plans many times with someone on this forum to fish and then they wake up at 2pm on the actual day. Im alone 95% of the time but now I've been fishing near my workplace with co workers since we have a lake out back.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

That's true about the time frame. People who know me usually know I have about a 3 hour minimum. :-)

[BassFit]

I'm the same regardless. I do feel like I benefit from having a seasoned angler on an unfamiliar body of water.

However, alone is a necessity to getting on the water more often.

[Fishing Rhino]

As Popeye is wont to say,  "I yam what I yam, and that's all what I yam."

 

I'm the same person, with the same abilities, whether it be alone or with others.

 

However, is the fishing better when alone, that depends.  In most cases, you will catch more fish while fishing alone, simply because you can cast to all the prime spots without regard for giving another the same opportunity.  On the other hand, when the fishing is tough, and the fish are finicky, two fishermen, casting different baits can cover more water, and glean more info.  Then, you can do better with another fisherman.

 

When prospecting, or trying new baits, I prefer to fish alone.  Although when fishing unfamiliar water, the above applies because you can try more things.

[Chris186]

This is a tough one for me. I feel like im better alone, however, when you have someone with you, they may pick up on something you are missing. At the same time, when you are fishing with someone you have to worry about boat position so you arent rear ending them, the person in the back getting stuck and having to swing the boat round to get them unstuck, the speed you are fishing if you are fishing a fast moving lure and they want to throw a jig or something etc...Not that big of a deal fun fishing, but when you are fishing a tourney that stuff can get old quick, epsecially if you are having a bad day.

[LMB KING]

alone