What's The Most Challenging Thing You Find About Fishing

[MFBAB]

For me, as others have stated, the lists of challenging/exciting are basically the same.

There are dozens of examples:

Finding the fish

Maintaining your equipment, boat, tow vehicle, electronics, tackle, how are those bearings holding up on the old trailer?  probably better find some time this w/end to slap some grease on there...

The expense

Staying informed

Finding the time and balancing the fishing addiction with your other responsibilities, work, family-and justifying it to yourself  

Being organized/efficient and getting the most out of your time on the water

etc....

But at the end of the day, all of the things you are challenged by are what really make it interesting and rewarding when you do collide with success.  Like most addictions, it's a love/hate deal.  Ask any gambler or alcoholic what they love about their addiction, and if they are being honest, many will say that it is finding "rock bottom", not "winning" or just "getting drunk".  In other words, the worst day of fishing, the day where everything breaks and the fish don't bite, you get soaking wet and catch a cold, maybe lose something valuable, make your wife mad at you for going that day in the first place, you name it, you're supposed to HATE that day, but you really LOVE that day.... because that day is what makes you appreciate the really special days where everything goes right!  That day provides context!! If it went right every day, most of us would get bored and find another more challenging "hobby/addiction". 

I would suggest golf for the truly masochistic among us.  There's a saying "if it was easy, everyone would be doing it". but I think if it was really easy, no one would be doing it.  I think most of us humans find more motivation in failure than we do in success. 

 

[JustinU1X]

1. As a beginner the most difficult thing for me is learning the seasonal patterns of bass and the structure they relate to.

2. When you're not paying attention while fishing a topwater and a bass explodes on it.

 

[steverowbotham]

1. The most challenging thing is staying tuned with the fish.  I struggled for years to find the "right" fish.  At this point, I feel like I am very good at finding the right ones.  Fish move, fish feed, then dont.  Pinpointing small details is the most difficult thing.  It's also the most exciting.

[that_ryan_kid_7]

Most frustrating: local lake because it's super pressured, and does not have that many bass.

Most exciting: Watching/getting topwater strikes

[the reel ess]

1) Finding time to do it

2) Working at it and figuring something out that gets bites in one trip. Or tuning my technique to get more bites. Trying something for the first time with success!!!

[Buckeye Ron]

1) Finding the time to devote to serious fishing like I used to do. I have found that the corporate ladder can put a major dent in enough free time to pursue "worthwhile" activities.

2) The most fun thing about fishing is being outdoors away from the stress of life and just focusing on finding and catching fish. Even if I catch nothing I still come away with a sense of joy for just spending time with nature.

[Airman4754]

1. Boat positioning. 

2. Trying to find an unconventional way to catch fish when the bite is off. Living in Oregon that is almost always. 

[Darren.]

So many answers I agree with!

For me, finding the fish (the hunt), and then
getting them to strike my offerings.

Fun part. Just getting out on the water, hearing
and seeing nature, wild animals, otters, beavers,
turkeys, snakes, etc.

[mbtharp1]

Most challenging thing - Putting together a pattern on a tough day

Most rewarding- When your idea works on a tough day 

[TbendAngler]

Battling for time with other obligations  is always a pain.

The most rewarding feeling in the world is tracking fish and throwing that one bait that they love at that particular moment, it is an addiction.

[BaitMonkey1984]

On December 19, 2015 at 0:18 PM, MFBAB said:

For me, as others have stated, the lists of challenging/exciting are basically the same.

There are dozens of examples:

Finding the fish

Maintaining your equipment, boat, tow vehicle, electronics, tackle, how are those bearings holding up on the old trailer?  probably better find some time this w/end to slap some grease on there...

The expense

Staying informed

Finding the time and balancing the fishing addiction with your other responsibilities, work, family-and justifying it to yourself  

Being organized/efficient and getting the most out of your time on the water

etc....

But at the end of the day, all of the things you are challenged by are what really make it interesting and rewarding when you do collide with success.  Like most addictions, it's a love/hate deal.  Ask any gambler or alcoholic what they love about their addiction, and if they are being honest, many will say that it is finding "rock bottom", not "winning" or just "getting drunk".  In other words, the worst day of fishing, the day where everything breaks and the fish don't bite, you get soaking wet and catch a cold, maybe lose something valuable, make your wife mad at you for going that day in the first place, you name it, you're supposed to HATE that day, but you really LOVE that day.... because that day is what makes you appreciate the really special days where everything goes right!  That day provides context!! If it went right every day, most of us would get bored and find another more challenging "hobby/addiction". 

I would suggest golf for the truly masochistic among us.  There's a saying "if it was easy, everyone would be doing it". but I think if it was really easy, no one would be doing it.  I think most of us humans find more motivation in failure than we do in success. 

 

This is perfect in so many ways. The expense is challenging even to those who make more than a good living. It becomes addictive, I cannot tell you the last week I didn't blow $100+ on something fishing/boat related in the past year. 

 

Also, those bad days. Man, everyones had them. I fish with my old man a lot. I am on the water four days a week but when I go with my Dad, usually on Sundays I spend hours retying leaders, changing out baits, oiling the reels, putting line conditioner on the line, swapping out hooks, spraying scent onto baits, cleaning the boat, waxing the boat, packing a cooler. I literally sit in the boat in the driveway for hours just tinkering. Then you go out, lose a $15 bait here, a $9 there, a $6 there, bounce the skeg off a rock, snap a rod. And then, I just turn the radio up a few clicks, crack a beverage and realize this is till a good day out on the lake, fishing with my Dad in this great Country. I also realize that I am certifiably crazy. 

[hawgenvy]

Landing a bass over ten pounds.

[Nitrofreak]

The most challenging thing is myself, breaking the molds of fishing visual objects or once productive areas, forcing myself to move away from things that I know will work to explore something that I know may very well not produce results, do I want to catch some fish? or do I want to expand my horizons and learn more about fishing?

Every outing can be a hit or miss adventure, "they were here yesterday", "they liked this color bait yesterday" we waist a lot of time and money fishing yesterdays, for me the challenge is fishing today and becoming more open minded about knowing when to change and what to change and to what extent, it is simply a hunting trip to find the right spot that gives you the most bang for your buck, or is it...   

 

 

[Dwight Hottle]

The most callenging thing is trying to break the existing state record for PA smallmouth bass.

The most fun part is getting a new PB.

[Scarborough817]

the hardest part can be finding out what the fish want to eat

the most fun part is setting up your rods the night before you go out

[BassThumbAddict]

Challenging: Trying to get a bite, find a place to fish, and the enemy of a angler WIND!!!

Rewarding: Big fish, Nature 

[WI_Angler1989]

The most challenging part of fishing for me, and many, is finding the fish.

It's all well and good having a plan and a seasonal pattern, but when it's not working as planned you've gotta improvise. Plus, I don't have a bass boat or John boat. I have a a canoe. To be fair it's a very nice canoe, but it's not possible to gun it around and spot hop. Kinda gotta have a plan, a backup and make sure I work any promising spot thoroughly. 

The most exciting part is when every thing comes together perfectly: you've got the right bait in the right spot at the right time to catch fish after fish. I had some of the best and most thrilling fishing of ny life just last year, right on the river by my house. Literally a big prespawn smallie 7 out of 10 casts. Some upwards ot 5 pounds and a small 2 pounder being plenty formidable thanks to the strong currents. 

[Scott F]

 I face enough challenges at work and I fish to reduce my stress. I try and keep things as simple as I can. I don't get the chance to fish that often but when I do, I plan my time and trips to give me the best chance at success. The more challenging it becomes, the less I like it. On days when things don't go as planned, it's no big deal. Catch bass or not, I don't fret much about it. That's the big reason I'd never fish tournaments. I don't need or want any added pressure.

[N Florida Mike]

For me,its finding the time to fish new areas.

[RipzLipz]

For me, the list for both is a bit longer and probably matches many responses already posted and not really a response as the OP wanted but here goes.....

Consistently finding the quality fish that I know are there where I fish is close to the top of list of challenges however I know they aren't always going to feed at the exact time when I'm fishing.  Another challenge is changing the game plan when things aren't working - I can be stubborn at times.  Fishing when the weather gets hot and humid turns the fish completely off and getting up very early or staying very late over the weekends can be tough when you have to get up for work Monday morning. The 90 minute one way drive from home to the strip pits I fish can be tough, especially on the way home and if the fishing wasn't so great. Some of the unbelievable jerks out on the public waters. Waiting for ice out can be such a drag - never did get much out of ice fishing (odd, maybe?). Losing a good fish can be disappointing - losing a trophy can be complete agony. Trying to remind myself that this wonderful sport is supposed to be fun and not so serious is a challenge - why do my goals keep increasing (PBs) and will that ever stop; why did it have to rain/be windy on the day I was able to go fishing? Prices going up on rods, reels and tackle. Oh and let's not forget breaking a rod and/or losing a lure or worse yet, boat/equipment damage or failure. Getting hung up when you make a bad cast, especially when you knew you shouldn't have made said bad cast. Missing a fish on the hookset or losing one during the fight. How about when you were 11 or 12 and you stand up to whiz as you're tied off on a cypress tree in the middle of Reelfoot Lake on a cool March day, the wind blows a bit, the rope comes to its end and the boat jolts, the branch you're holding breaks as you try to regain your balance and the next thing you know you're completely in the water and back into the boat seat in 15 seconds flat and your dad can't help but laugh once he turns around to see what all the commotion was about? Worst part of that was getting back to the dock and unloading the boat in front of dozens of fishermen while soaking wet, thinking they're all staring at you.

Enough of my pseudo complaints, let's get to the good stuff...

I think it's fair to divide this into 2 parts - on the water and off the water.

On the water:  Seeing the water when you get there, seeing nature do its thing, seeing the fish do theirs. Being lucky to fish clear waters and see fish moving up and bedding - watching a male bass circle the bed or see the female calmly cruise off the bed as you get too close - learning from what you're able to see. Seeing a true giant (given where you're located geographically). Oh my oh my, the chase - the hunt. Catching a fish on the first cast; catching a fish on the last cast; making a wonderful cast - better yet, catching a fish on that wonderful cast. Putting it all together. Having a tough day and finally finding some success. Running into great people on public waters (they're not ALL jerks). Sight fishing; sight fishing AND catching (there IS a difference). Seeing your line move as a fish runs with your lure; seeing your line just barely tick as your jig falls; seeing a bass inhale your lure; seeing that top water strike; seeing that top water explosion - oh sweet jesus; getting your subsurface lure completely crushed by a fish. Watching a bass come up and turn on a weightless soft plastic/slow falling lure. Setting the hook so good you know the fish isn't coming off (if you watched it, think Zona's show with Keith Combs and the shotgun sound when he set the hook); not knowing you have a good fish on and you see it the first time; knowing you have a giant on as soon as you feel the fish or see it dance on its tail; having a fish on and it takes you under the boat and you're praying for help from above to keep it from getting off; finally landing that big one; finally landing that giant AND avoiding that ONE LAST HEAD SHAKE THEY ALL MAKE (am I right?); admiring what you've caught - really look at it and take it in - the markings, the colors, the shape, the girth/width, the size of the mouth; those bright red crushers in the late winter/early spring; the fins still moving as if the fish is still in the water; letting her go for another day; fishing with your dad/mom/kid/fishing buddy; the high fives and fist bumps; watching your kid do what you taught them and finding the same success and enjoyment that you get out of fishing; opening the first/last beer; catching a dandy on a new rod/reel/lure; getting your pictures back from the outing; going back the next time.

Off the water: Getting ready to go fishing (for the day/night/week); going to the bait shop or buying stuff online; getting a new rod/reel/lure; wondering what the heck you were thinking when you bought all that crap and now you need a bigger (and new) tackle box/bag; feeling that new reel when you go outside and cast it for the first time and you know it was the right choice; the drive to the lake/river/pond/stream; getting your kids excited about going; cleaning your rods/reels; getting the boat out and tinkering with things; getting new (and sometimes very expensive) electronics; reading a good post on BassResource.com; seeing people find success with their fishing reports/pics; watching fishing shows; watching fishing shows and you actually are able to learn something; finding a new place to fish; finding a new person to go fishing with; getting into that one lake you always wanted to fish; being able to laugh when you think about an outing in the past; smile when you recall that one great day fishing; letting a teardrop roll when you remember watching your kid(s) fishing in the yard with the Snoopy rods you bought them (my youngest was lazy and brought out a plastic chair to sit on along with his rod); looking up at your trophy/trophies on the wall/mantle and remembering that/those days; not having any regrets in releasing a trophy; finding a good buy on rods/reels/lures; eating your catch (hopefully not larger bass but whatever is considered sensible - not for me to cast stones about that); cleaning your first fish; passing along some info/knowledge to a friend.

Probably not a complete list but I hope if nothing else, this long post might have made you think/remember a little bit and/or reminded you of some of the reasons we love this sport, even with all it's challenges. I'm glad my dad took the time to take me fishing and get me hooked on it when I was a kid - the joys more often than not outweigh the challenges for me, even if I'm not the best fisherman or catch the biggest fish.

[jdw174]

The most challenging is FINDING them.  Catching them is the easy part.

 

Most exciting thing is being out on the water.....................

[LittlePineyAngler]

The most complicated thing about fishing in my opinion is figuring out what the fish want. So easily i find myself trying a few things on any given day and if they don't work I end up wanting to give up and go to the house. A habit i need to get out of. Taking the time to thoroughly figure out what they want. Paying attention to the little details is something i struggle with. 

the funnest thing about fishing is just being out on the water and taking it in. Even on the worst days of fishing i can still stay out for hours just because i enjoy everything about being out there. the smell, the views, the FREEDOM! 

I try to never take any day of fishing for granted!

[jeff25]

For me it is simply finding fish. I have no boat and no electronics and only have a few small lakes in my area that get beat to death by fisherman. The biggest of these lakes is only 300 acres and I literally counted 17 boats on the half that I could see.

[Cgolf]

1.) finding fish and figuring out the mood they are in when I can only get out on the lake once every 2 or 3 weeks. Going to try and change this one this year  

2.) Seeing a fish and enticing it to strike and completing the deal without freezing or pulling the bait away from the fish. Got my PB Musky this year by popping a swim jig once more at the boat to trigger her, very satisfying.

Also love fishing vacations where you can pattern fish and learn how they transition when the weather changes. 

[RB 77]

The answer is the same for both questions; figuring out the pieces of the puzzle!