Do you know anyone who quit fishing?

[J.Vincent]

Actually yes, I quit my job and quit fishing tournaments in 2005, gave thousands of dollars of gear away then moved to Louisiana to work as a Hurricane Katrina Construction Volunteer. I eventually didn’t know what to do with myself in the evening after my construction shifts and in 2007 I bought one rod/reel and started fishing for Louisiana bass and Monster  Gar. When I moved back to Michigan in 2008, I kid you not , it was like someone flipped a switch , because not only was my time away from the sport sort of a rebirth for me mentally, but when I started fishing again I was better able to prioritize and put things in perspective. Ultimately I grew a lot as a person during my hiatus in Louisiana and returned to Michigan as a man not a boy and my decision making became better in every area of my life , including fishing ! So if you ask me, everyone should quit fishing at least once in their life : ) 

[Glaucus]

2 hours ago, J.Vincent said:

So if you ask me, everyone should quit fishing at least once in their life

[Josh Smith]

Dad. He's 68 and active in other ways. They (Mom and Dad) camp a lot, and work out every morning. He says he just doesn't enjoy it like he used to, but got his lifetime fishing license. He's not been in years and keeps talking about going.

 

He says "no" whenever I invite him, though.

 

It's friggin irritating.

 

Regards,

Josh

[Dangerfield]

I quit every November 30th and pick it back up the 4th Saturday in June.

[Choporoz]

4 minutes ago, Dangerfield said:

I quit every November 30th and pick it back up the 4th Saturday in June.

I'm sorry....

[Dangerfield]

1 minute ago, Choporoz said:

I'm sorry....

me too, it's hard reading/watching/listening to this board for 1/2 the year when the ice is hard or I can't target bass. It's the law, there's only 1 zone in Ontario where bass is open all year.

[Choporoz]

I grew up in WI and fished regularly in WI, MN, Ont....so I get it....but I would never subject myself to it again.  Year round fishing is not something I'll go without ever again

[GReb]

I took about a 8 year break while in college and traveling for my first job. Spent my fishing time playing golf. Finally moved back to my hometown and got back into it thanks to my wife and father. For a few years I was completely apathetic towards it though. There were several occasions where I’d go pond hopping with friends and wouldn’t even wet a line. Growing up on a lake I fished everyday until college though

[hoosierbass07]

 

 I'm slowly fishing less and less since I picked up recurve archery.  I can shoot my recurve before work, in the winter, on windy days, on days and seasons I can't go fishing.  I mostly fish clear water strip pits that are tough to fish.  Only going to catch one to two really giant bass a year and that's with fishing a lot, every weekend.  So, do I go fishing and strike out again or keep trying to perfect my form and shoot the perfect arrow over and over and over and over?  My recurve bow has moved to my number one hobby/sport.  Still, I do go bass fishing.  

[RB 77]

I have a different take on this. I quit surfing because of fishing. I grew up on the beaches of Southern California and have been a life long surfer since I was a youngster. High School surf team (yes, that is an actual thing. Haha), local competitions, built surfboards, worked in the industry , etc the whole nine. Then one day I called my friend to go surfing and he mentioned he was going Bass fishing. I showed some interest and he kind of brushed me off. I said I could borrow some of my pops gear and off we went. I'm not kidding when I say that day when I hooked my first Bass since I was a wee youngster it was intoxicating. Instantly hooked, game on!

 

Several years later I own dozens of setups, a plethora of lures, fish both fresh and salt water, work in the sportfishing industry (two different jobs actually!), build rods, make lures, etc. I still have dozens of boards and a 1/2 dozen wetsuits, but my surfing has dropped off from 200+ days in the water on average to just a single session last year. On the other hand, I try to get out on the water to fish 100+ times in a good year. Actually just did three in a row! I will always be a surfer at heart, as I will always be a fisherman, but I thought I would share a little story from the other side of the fence to show just how captivating our way of life can be.

[geo g]

I know several friends that have sold their boat and equipment and just left the sport behind.  These are guys that were die hard fisherman at one time.  Health issues are the #1 reason for their decision.  As we get older something is going to get you eventually.  Hopefully it's later than sooner.  Several of these guys just didn't have confidence to do all the things you need to handle the boat, load and unload.  Bank fishing was not their thing.  Sad but everyone has to make their own decisions.  Enjoy every minute on the water, because you just never know what tomorrow will bring!  

[Alec McMillan]

On 5/28/2019 at 7:48 PM, NittyGrittyBoy said:

Only a few rivers and ponds. Well my dad said no where to fish I guess, sold his boat, 25ish rods, and all his tackle. After a few years I showed him Bass fishing our local rivers. 

 

Fellow south Georgian I fish Eufaula and Seminole along with some smaller lakes and ponds. Also sometimes the ol Flint River. 

[redmeansdistortion]

2 hours ago, Dangerfield said:

me too, it's hard reading/watching/listening to this board for 1/2 the year when the ice is hard or I can't target bass. It's the law, there's only 1 zone in Ontario where bass is open all year.

I dunno what the ON laws are, but here in SE MI when all of my fellow fishermen are out on the hard water jigging for perch, I take to the streams for steelhead.  Winter steelhead is a blast.  They're hungry and aggressive, and if keeping is your thing, very tasty too.  The best part is the streams are largely vacant due to the ice fishermen, so I often have the stream to myself.

[N Florida Mike]

On 5/29/2019 at 2:00 PM, the reel ess said:

I knew a guy who was fanatical about fishing. In fact, he taught me everything I knew about largemouth at that point. Then he discovered golf. It was on then! He sold his boat and his house at the lake and as far as I know he never fished again. He became a golf fanatic. That's why I stay away from golf.

I played golf once with friends from work. I couldn’t quit laughing at all my miscues. For some reason they never asked me to go again !

I like it better than soccer though   (but that aint saying much )

I actually seriously considered getting a golf course membership so I could fish all the ponds!?

[BassThumb]

I know a college student who did it for a few years for financial reasons. Otherwise, the others were due to aging and health reasons. Some people have a hard time launching a boat alone in old age. 

[WRB]

What are calling old?

Tom

[NittyGrittyBoy]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

What are calling old?

Tom

50+

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

What are calling old?

Tom

 

Just now, NittyGrittyBoy said:

50+

That's it...I'm old even though my mom says I can't be. Turn 60 before the year is out.

[the reel ess]

 

 

 

 

3

4 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

I played golf once with friends from work. I couldn’t quit laughing at all my miscues. For some reason they never asked me to go again !

I like it better than soccer though   (but that aint saying much )

I actually seriously considered getting a golf course membership so I could fish all the ponds!?

If you have a membership you can fish? Now you're talking!

[soflabasser]

2 hours ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

50+

Most people would consider that upper middle age. Anyone 65 or older is what is generally considered ''old age'' by most people. Plenty of +65 year olds that run marathons, have +1000 pound powerlifting totals, and other athletic feats so it is not how old you are but how well you take care yourself that matters most when you reach an advanced age. 

6 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

I actually seriously considered getting a golf course membership so I could fish all the ponds!

I do not care much for golf either and the golf course ponds is the only thing I might care about on a golf course. Even then I will never waste a penny in a golf course membership since I am surrounded by very good public water fisheries.

[WRB]

I have a daughter 50+ don't tell her she is old.

65 is retirement age not old age, 80 is elderly....did I mention Dee Thomas is 80 and caught a 12+ lb bass flipping a few weeks ago on the Delta, he hasn't quit!

50+ is over 25 years ago for me, I have learned a few things and caught a few bass since then.

Tom

[Oregon Native]

Well...never have quit...but have slowed down when daughter fought cancer for nine years....lot's and lots of doctor visits....lot's.  Then I got acute pancreatitis and was one step from flower food for a number of months....this too slowed me down.  Then the ol boat decides to be a pain ... so this is a minor slow down.  But after 69 years I still have the passion and the drive.  I guess I could watch sports on TV or keep a cell phone in one hand all the time but will leave that to others!!!

Tight Lines

[Shimano_1]

I understand family and health could dictate what one chooses to do. Even if either forced me to take a step back I wouldn't think of selling my gear or quitting.  I also dont judge people so if someone doesnt feel like fishing anymore who am I to question it. 

[Columbia Craw]

Life is filled with priorities.  Many change.

[OCdockskipper]

On 5/28/2019 at 4:10 PM, A-Jay said:

BTW - if I'm lucky, this may be what the day after I stop fishing looks like.

#itsinmydna

A-Jay

 

Why would you stop fishing in order to become a minister or funeral director?  Then again, maybe that minister is just looking at pictures of all the fish the dead guy caught.

 

I knew one guy who stopped fishing, Mitch Kumstein.  He was good enough to go pro, until he got kicked off his college fishing team for night fishing.  He was just fishing at night, with the 15 year old daughter of the dean.  His roommate was Ty Webb.