What's The Most Challenging Thing You Find About Fishing

[RichF]

The most difficult aspect about it, for me, is accepting the fact that competitive fishing isn't like other competitive sports.  What I mean by that is the angler with the most skill/talent doesn't always win a competition.  Traditional athletes can spend endless hours practicing, fine tune their skills, to become dominant over the competition (Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, Peyton Manning, etc.).  Anglers can only do that to a certain extent as luck often plays a major role in our sport.  You can be the best and most accurate caster; flip, skip, and pitch better than the rest of the field, or fish any and all techniques with ease and confidence but still get beat by a competitor who stumbles across a random school of 4 pounders 30 minutes before weigh-in.  Certainly the nature of our sport but a tough pill to swallow regardless.

What's most exciting to me about fishing is that it never gets old.  Obviously watching or feeling a fish strike, the ensuing fight, and landing of a  bass (or any other species) are all exciting to us anglers, more exciting than most things in life.  What makes our sport special is that there are always new things to try.  Always new things to discover on the water.  Every angler learns something new almost every time they hit the water.  That's something I feel no other sport has. 

 

["hamma"]

question 1,...establishing a pattern on a really tough day, like a bluebird day after a strong storm front comes thru, etc

question 2,... the amazing things that you experience on the water, like watching a bald eagle swoop down and scoop up a fish from the waters surface, or a dramatic sunrise.

[WPCfishing]

For me it's not about numbers anymore. I'm out casting for Lunkers. My goal is to catch my state record this year. 

I will be fishing a hand full of tournaments this year, something I haven't done for 25 years. I'll plan, pre fish, assess and compete. If I can get a top five I'll be happy. 

[Fishinthefish]

Finding somewhere to fish without a boat, or finding someone to fish with is the hardest for me.A little conversation can make a bank worth working for an extra hour until you get a bite.

The most exciting thing for me about fishing is probably the entirety of the experience in all honesty. It can be such a beautiful thing to sit there and have a conversation full of laughs, jokes and digs about the ole lady and cut off mid sentence to say fish on. The side bets me and my one buddy usually do, 5 for the biggest, 5 for the most. The scenery at times can be absolutely astounding, views you'd never see from any other position on land. The feeling of catching that first fish, the adrenaline of catching your new personal best. The somber melodramatic exit of a lake or river before you're ready to leave but unfortunately you have to work tomorrow. The excitement of the arrival, rushing to get the boat in, or get walking down the bank side to a promising spot. I honestly can't find a moment of fishing I don't love. That's why I do it.

[markinny]

#! biggest challenge is trying to figure out why bass will have a feeding frenzy on one day and not another, or will bite then abruptly shut down.never the same patterns.

#2 most exciting when you hook up with a good fish. keeps me coming back for more.

[Last_Cast]

Challenging- Spending money and getting that nice fish.

Fun and Exciting- Being on the water

[Kingston_Ontario_Fishing]

Best things about fishing for me.....a beginner bass fishing enthusiast trying to learn new stuff.

Learning something new and getting results.  Recently watched a video on fishing topwater spooks.  Went out and got a couple and worked on getting the action down for awhile.  Last week caught a nice 3.5 lb'er that just killed it.  Was such a rush.  Up north here 3.5 lb'er is a decent fish..not huge but good.  My wife thought it was a monster but there are lots bigger.  The next best thing will be to see her catch something decent.  She gives me all the time in the world to fish without grief so I am a lucky man.

Hardest part is having the patience to stick with something new till you get some results.  If you never catch anything then it is hard to gain that confidence to use it when the time is right.

[MassYak85]

My biggest challenge is slowing down. Even if I was getting 5 fish an hour on something like a shakeyhead just slowly worked back to the boat, it pains me to fish that way, even though I can't deny the effectiveness at times. Meanwhile I could fish all day for 5 fish burning a spinnerbait by cover and I would be happy. 

[Further North]

For me, so far: Musky on a fly rod.  Combination of learning a difficult fish and a difficult technique (it's nothing like throwing a mayfly imitation with a 5wt.)

[N Florida Mike]

For me its learning new methods.I have a familiar way to catch fish( Soft plastics).I am good at it.But not so much with other methods.I am also pretty good at live bait fishing.So for years Ive caught plenty of fish this way.Its hard for me to try and fish new ways for me when I know Id catch more with my familiar methods.

But I have a couple friends who are helping me get introduced to other methods.And I am helping them ( hopefully) with soft plastics.

[Buffdaddy54]

Most challenging issues for me are getting up early, I don't sleep well so miss many days fishing before the sun comes up. 

Another challenge is staying positive, I've only been out several times and have not gotten a bite yet! 

Another challenge is working a worm other than a Senko. I've watched videos, read books, and read info here and am still having hard time figuring out if there has been a strike or not. 

Though there are many challenges I love getting out and enjoying the scenery. Something about being at a lake and being the only one there that is pretty special. 

I also love the promise that there just might be a fish on my next cast!