More With Buddy, Or Not?

[OkobojiEagle]

I'm an aging loner who has begun to think that fishing with a buddy may be safer than going it alone all of the time, especially at night.  I'm wondering if there may be an additional benefit to fishing with another... Do you (individually) catch more bass when fishing with a friend or when fishing alone?

 

 

oe

[IDUTBass]

I feel that fishing with someone can be beneficial. I think it can help you figure out what the fish want faster. My girlfriend and I go all the time together. She loves throwing soft plastics and while she is doing that I will try other things like crankbaits and spinner baits. Usually we will figure it out pretty quick, switch to that and both start catching fish.

[A-Jay]

I'm in a very similar position.  I enjoy fishing alone and do it the vast majority of the time.

 

However, I think when experiences are shared with a person(s) who possess the common interest, those times have a real good feeling.  This may also fall under the category of personal preference as well. 

So whether there's a benefit is debatable.  A couple of experience anglers can eliminate water, baits & techniques faster than a solo act, for sure.

 

 Additionally, I do fish quite a bit at night as well, and always alone.  I don't know anyone crazy, I mean, committed / dedicated enough to spend all night out on the lake in a canoe with me.

 

Of course, it could just be me . . . . .

 

 

A-Jay

[a1712]

Hard to find someone in my area to fish with. When I say we're going out for the day, I meen from sunup to sundown. What they expect is a few hours in the morn., then they're ready to go. I'm lucky enough to have a true diehard I can fish with and I truely enjoy days we get to go out together, but I still love my alone time. Brian.

[Catch 22]

Fishing alone has its benefits and disadvantages.

 

Alone

I catch all the fish

Come/go as I please

Boat is in any position that good for me.

No lateness or last minute drop outs

No liability,for others, a really big one imo

No fishing with novices,grandkids excepted

Your bud isn`t feeding your LC`s to monster pike [2]

 

With partner

Safety issues,at least they can say where they last saw my body

Share costs.

Find patterns quicker

Comradery

Load/unload boat easier.

 

I`m sure there is more

 

I don`t like people inviting themselves onto my boat

 

C22

[OkobojiEagle]

... do you catch more fish when fishing alone or when fishing with a buddy?

 

 

oe

[halfpint33]

My brother in law is my fishing partner when I have one.I do enjoy going by myself tho just so I can do as I wish.As far as how many fish I catch it doesn't seem to matter if I am by myself or with him.I have have off days and on days both ways.

[K_Mac]

It really depends on the buddy. I have a couple of friends (and my wife) who are very good fishermen, and when I fish with one of them I may catch more than alone. I certainly won't catch less because we will focus primarily on fishing, and they may find the answer before me. With most others the answer is no. I may have as good or better time, but I will have to spend time helping them instead of fishing. I am generally ok with that. Then there are the ones you take once...especially at night. Night bass fishing is not an entry level activity. Good luck!

[WolfyBrandon]

I think when experiences are shared with a person(s) who possess the common interest, those times have a real good feeling.

 

A couple of experienced anglers can eliminate water, baits & techniques faster than a solo act, for sure.

 

I don't know anyone committed / dedicated enough to spend all night out on the lake in a canoe with me.

 

I have to agree with A-Jay's comments, and the safety topic. I would like to spend more time fishing with a buddy, but sadly I have not found many who are as dedicated / interested, or even have the time to do it as they have other commitments. The few times I fished with a friend last year were spent more on just having fun then catching numbers, and just like Murphy's Law would have it... it's when I find myself alone, on a day I don't see many other anglers, that I seem to be catching them left and right, wishing someone was there to help me. Years prior I fished with a few guys who had more experience than me and had fished in tournaments, had both days we caught our limits and days we struggled a bit. My personal experience says I catch more when fishing alone, but have also had days struggling alone, so it depends on the fish? I don't deny the fact two heads are better than one. So I guess it would depend on who you are fishing with.

 

WolfyBrandon

[MichiganBass80]

My fishing partner is my dad.  I do pretty good when we go out, I am on the trolling motor and he sits in back.  Not sure how I would do without him, but I do know that even if I caught more fish, or even bigger fish, I wouldn't enjoy it as much without him there.  I have thought about going out on my own a few times when he didn't want to or couldn't go out but haven't done it yet.

[A-Jay]

I'll say I catch bigger fish alone - and they may be a result of shear diligence more than anything else.

 

Now when I'm not on my home waters, all bets are off.

 I'm with fishing buddies & good friends who are very good sticks in their own right.  So I'm doing what I can to keep up.

 

A-Jay

[BassnChris]

I enjoy the company.......not a lot of talk......it's nice to have someone to share that catch with. I have camera on board to take a pic but it's nice to have someone that was there when happened.

[Dwight Hottle]

I don't care about more fish with or without a buddy along because I am not a numbers fisherman. I caught my PB with a buddy. My next best four fish I caught alone. The presence of a buddy does not make me more productive. But I would rather enjoy the moment with a close friend.

[everythingthatswims]

I catch way more with a buddy----because when I'm alone, my bait choice tends to prevent numbers of small fish  . Except this time of year....I am a pretty patient guy, but I don't fish big baits in frigid water. I am happy with any bass right now.

[geo g]

I have fished for the past 40 years and almost always fish with a friend in the boat.  I have met some wonderful people through fishing and have learned a bunch by having fished  with others.  I have never charged anyone a penny for these trips, since I would be going anyway.  I have been rewarded with wonderful conversation, companionship,  and have enjoyed putting them on fish, and sharing the joy of my catch with them.  They often fish different techniques and this helps produce a successful pattern.  I find it somewhat boring to fish alone after all these years.  Fishing with a partner is a win, win situation for me.

[Fishinthefish]

Highly beneficial to have someone. I almost never fish alone. The obvious things of good conversation, having someone to borrow tackle from, grab the net for you etc. Now onto the safety benefits, I've had a few parking lot related incidents where having a friend with me definitely did make it safer to load up our boat. Plus there is always the falling in, hitting your a lot of different things that could happen. Stay safe, have fun.

[tomustang]

Never really cared to know what the different in numbers were, I'd rather fish with my wife regardless the outcome of productivity.

[Cameron211]

Hard to find someone in my area to fish with. When I say we're going out for the day, I meen from sunup to sundown. What they expect is a few hours in the morn., then they're ready to go. I'm lucky enough to have a true diehard I can fish with and I truely enjoy days we get to go out together, but I still love my alone time. Brian.[/quote

Wish you lived In indiana. I wish I could find soneone to fish sunup to sundown lol

[SirSnookalot]

I prefer to fish alone.

[BassinLou]

I'm an aging loner who has begun to think that fishing with a buddy may be safer than going it alone all of the time, especially at night.  I'm wondering if there may be an additional benefit to fishing with another... Do you (individually) catch more bass when fishing with a friend or when fishing alone?

 

 

oe

 

For the last 10-12 yrs I have always fished with someone. There are several benefits to this:

 

1. Safety. You never know when an emergency will occur and another person can/will be a life saver.

 

2. Another person will help dial in fish better. When you have two anglers fishing for fun, they can join forces and find what technique(s) are producing fish quicker.

 

3. Its fun. Spending time on the water with a friend or fishing partner makes the  experience memorable. Something always happens during trips that you can talk or  laugh about down the road. For ex: The day my BIL fell out of the boat when we had 6 gators close to us. (He is ok, and nothing happened. But we sure get laughs out of the story til this day). 

 

4. Solidifies bonds. Due to forums such as this one. I can pick up the phone and invite or be the guest on several people's boat's on any given weekend. To share the water with people who love bass fishing as much you do is a great feeling. Forming friendships with individuals that you would normally never come across during your  day to day life is pretty cool. If it wasn't for the love bass fishing these individuals would have never crossed your radar. 

[Chris at Tech]

I'll say I catch bigger fish alone - and they may be a result of shear diligence more than anything else.

Or perhaps because there are no witnesses to tell us the real size of the fish?  Hehe...

 

Most of the time, I fish with my father in law.  I can say it has helped us get a clue on the water quicker, as often times he's throwing something I never would have considered for that situation.  It's also helpful to have some help loading and unloading the boat.

 

But with that said, I have no issue going alone.  I just get a bit apprehensive about who's gonna take the picture of the PB I'm gonna catch that day.  Hehe...

[A-Jay]

Or perhaps because there are no witnesses to tell us the real size of the fish?  Hehe...

 

 

 

Yup ~ That must be it.

 

A-Jay

 

[Darren.]

... do you catch more fish when fishing alone or when fishing with a buddy?

 

 

oe

 

I catch more alone. Buddies I have are like me,

kayak fishermen, we rarely get out together due

to work schedules and such.

 

When we do, we end up separating most of the 

time anyhow because we all have "our" spots.

 

For safety, I always wear my PFD, have a whistle,

water (drinking), etc. Someone always knows

where I am.

 

I don't fish at night, though. Reservoirs here are 

sun up to sun down.

[Catt]

27-28 years ago I decided to dedicate my talents to teaching, coaching, mentoring, others in the fine art of bass fishing. Right now I'm working with two eight year old boys, a 12 year old, a 14 year old, a 24 year old & a 26 year old.

I've caught 27 double digit bass, won many a tournament, I get more satisfaction teaching some one how to fish.

My numbers & size of bass have not dropped off fishing with others.

[Chris at Tech]

Yup ~ That must be it.

 

A-Jay

Why is it that your smile in that pic is bigger than your smile in any of your DD pics?

I'm amazed you were actually able to lip that beast!