Are we (you) genetically predisposed to fish?

[Josh Smith]

It's controlled insanity. We repeat the same action until we get a different result.

Insanity is genetic.

Josh

[BassMaster17]

I didn't learn how to fish until I was about 11, and even then it was from a friend I met when I moved. so needless to say I'm the only one in my family who even expresses an interest in fishing, let alone an addiction

[Kris2016]

Actually, I don't think I was pre-destined to fish.  My Father did not fish so when I asked about going fishing my Mother had someone at work teach her.  Then she took me to Bird River in MD to have a place.  Later I had a friend whose Family took us out on the Chesapeake Bay to fish.  Long time with sporadic fishing before I really got into it.  Small Montgomery Wards jon boat and a 10 hp Johnson.  Next was a 17.5 Ranger and then, my favorite, a 20 foot Gambler.  More time with no boat, sporadic fishing and then back into it.  A 14 foot Grumman, a 16 foot Ouachita in the works and now an 18 foot Ranger in the works.  As one friend says, I don't have enough projects.

[Choporoz]

I suspect the gene is more common than we're giving it credit for.  But maybe it just needs a 'trigger'...or proper exposure.  I've met a couple/few people who were exposed to fishing, caught a good fish (or many fish) early on and didn't get rabid about fishing.  But not many.  I'd guess the majority of people, even those from non-fishing families, get the itch if they have good early experiences fishing/catching.  I think a lot of people who 'don't get it', haven't had an opportunity.  Not all, of course.  One of my sons doesn't...but he's the exception in my family...generations back, even.

[slonezp]

On ‎4‎/‎27‎/‎2016 at 7:56 PM, Senko lover said:

Some people are more talented than others. Thinking specifically of the Roland Mary-Ann and Scott Martin dynasty. Rick Clunn, Kevin VanDam, and Aaron Martens all have something that noone else has. It's more than just skill too.

 

On ‎5‎/‎8‎/‎2016 at 1:45 PM, Mosster47 said:

Those guys have something more than just fishing. There are a bunch of people that can go on the same handful of lakes and catch good fish whenever. 

Those guys put EVERYTHING aside and and center their lives around a specific set of days on some specific water. They almost never "fun fish" like most people. They also the steel trap mental game. 

Fishing is like golf, pre-Tiger. Every normal human being was born with the ability to compete at the highest level. It's just very few that put in the time to do it when it really matters. 

Everyone on this board could be the next great bassbass fisherman, but we won't because it's just not that important to us. 

So, if we take this into consideration, could/would the tops of our sport excel at other things not related to fishing? If KVD were a car salesman, would he be the best car salesman that ever lived? If Aaron Martens were an accountant, would he always be the second best accountant that ever lived? Were they born to fish? or just born with specific traits that mixed with the act of fishing allowed them to be at the top?

If you've never seen and have the opportunity, catch a seminar put on by one of the elites. Both KVD and Ike come to mind as I have attended seminars from both of them as well as a few others. Their actions are very logical and methodical. Both are very analytical when it comes to a day on the water. Wonder how much of that just comes natural to them and how much is learned.

 

 

 

  

[avidone1]

I'm the only one in my family who fishes.  Not my dad, or grandparents or siblings.  I have no idea where I get it from

[Jar11591]

3 minutes ago, avidone1 said:

I'm the only one in my family who fishes.  Not my dad, or grandparents or siblings.  I have no idea where I get it from

What made you start?

[avidone1]

17 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

What made you start?

My friends and I would ride our bikes to the docks.  There were a lot of blow fish back then. My mother called then 'chicken of the sea' she would fry up the tails and they were really good.  We also used to catch blue claw crabs off of those docks.  This was back in the late 50's early 60's.  It was a great time to be a kid.

[jtipton91]

Im basicaly self taught / learned most everything from this forum. Began fishing a yr and a half ago. Just thought of going fishing one day, so I bought a cheap combo and fished till I caught a dink on one of my grandpa's old worms that was handed down to me. now I can't control the urge to go fishing...my dad never fished nor anyone else in my immediate family.

[Paul Roberts]

Yes -in many ways. As I understand it, genes are best seen as the raw material that generates everything from our hard-wired autonomic actions to the raw predispositions that need outside environmental actions to activate. This latter is known as "epigenetics" and is the vortex where much of the science is getting sucked into these days.

I'm pretty much self-taught; Raised in a time when I had 'wild' space to play in. The world is urbanizing, and the environments our kids are playing in is changing.

[A-Jay]

15 hours ago, slonezp said:

If you've never seen and have the opportunity, catch a seminar put on by one of the elites. Both KVD and Ike come to mind as I have attended seminars from both of them as well as a few others. Their actions are very logical and methodical. Both are very analytical when it comes to a day on the water. Wonder how much of that just comes natural to them and how much is learned.    

  If we think out many of our own experiences, both in fishing & in many other of life's endeavors, we each have our own "natural" approach and manner of navigating through any challenges to come to some level of success. Very rarely is The First Time where & when we peak.  Experience always teaches us something; either what or what no to do next time.

  By selecting to attend seminars offered by two very experienced anglers, you may have realized the value of experience.  If you had seen them during their Rookie years I believe their presentations would have indicated what I mean.  Both KVD & Ike enjoyed success early which also may indicate that "The Natural" talent was there as well. 

All that said, I will always believe that the single hardest thing to do in sports is to square up a moving round ball with a round bat.  However, putting it all together to have a successful day on the water often seems just as daunting and when done right is just as satisfying.

A-Jay

 

[hawgenvy]

Maori bone fish hook.

 

[Oregon Native]

Interesting topic....not sure if I believe the genetitcs stuff but interesting.  I myself have a passion for fishing and used to fish for everything.  Only one's I remember fishing was my grandma and grandpa on my dads side.  Moms side .... her dad owned a marina but worked all the time and never fished.  My dad fished a little but due to the fact he never caught much he said it was just good to get out...which is true to a great degree.  (he had a lot of life's pressures that kept him away.  My son enjoys fishing but has more of a passion for hunting and viewing sports like football etc.  At 65 I still enjoy putting in a ten to twelve hour day and then look forward to the next day.  They are all gifts from above.

Tight Lines

[Jon P.]

I think the force that drives us to fish is the same force that drives bass to spawn. the ice melts away from the lakes, the water warms up, and both the bass and us take notice. the little males build nests, while we leave ours, and the big females put on the weight while we put on our favorite fishing caps. then something magical happens. the water hits the magical sixty five degree mark, and both fish and fisherman feel an uncontrollable urge, to hit up the spawning flats.

but on a more serious note, I don't believe that it is genetics. I believe that if we begin fishing at a young age, say four, and learn how to catch fish we gain an instinct for it. sort of like how children raised by wolves learn to eat meat and bite strangers, but with fish.

[gobig]

All I know is that I fill the freezer every year with elk, venison, duck, geese, salmon, halibut, albacore, sturgeon, crab etc... 

[Bluebasser86]

12 minutes ago, gobig said:

All I know is that I fill the freezer every year with elk, venison, duck, geese, salmon, halibut, albacore, sturgeon, crab etc... 

I want to raid this guys freezer. 

[gobig]

6 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I want to raid this guy's freezer. 

It's not always a perfect balance but I don't buy much meat from the store. My family does buy a few free range cattle every year that I get a few  scraps from.