Is this normal for someone new to bass fishing?

[skekoam]

Ok, so as I've stated in my intro post, I'm new to bass fishing.  I've learned everything just by trial and error and the curve has been steep thus far.  

 

Anyhow, over the last few months chasing bass has become almost an obsession.  During my leisure time, all I do is research local lakes to fish along with the latest and greatest baits that might make the fishing a bit easier.  My 9 yr old son is probably worse than me.  He sits in the garage at night practicing flips with his baitcaster and will also go out front to make full casts although I told him not to unless he puts on something safe to throw.  Needless to say, he has wasted tons of line and has also gotten very good at fixing backlash, which is a good thing I guess.

 

We are both huge golfers and now instead of golfing I think it is safe to say that we would both rather fish.  Or better yet, golf and then hopefully get access to a pond and fish afterwards.

 

For those of you who have fished for a long time, does the obsession eventually subside or is it still going strong?

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, skekoam said:

For those of you who have fished for a long time, does the obsession eventually subside or is it still going strong?

I'd guess we all may be a little different as far as what we consider 'obsessed'.

Don't know for sure if I qualify for 'Fished for a long time' status or not but,

after 50 years plus - I blew right past 'obsessed' sometime in July 1972.

Since then, it's been a full on addiction.

And as far as I can tell - It's Terminal.

btw - have you met the bait monkey yet . . . ?

A-Jay

 

[Tizi]

I echo what A-Jay said:  once you got the bug, it is near impossible to shake.  Ask the monkey.

[MN Fisher]

It's a terminal condition with only one treatment...

 

Go out and fish.

[skekoam]

Whose the monkey and when can I meet him?

[MN Fisher]

You don't really meet him...per-se, but his presence is felt most strongly (usually in your bank account) when visiting sites like Tackle Warehouse.

[A-Jay]

On 11/21/2019 at 4:35 PM, skekoam said:

Whose the monkey and when can I meet him?

You don't find him - he finds you.

And you'll probably know when he does . . .

Your tackle storage area might start looking something like this . . . 

A-Jay

[BigAngus752]

The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.

The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.

The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.

The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.

The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.

The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.

The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.

The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.  The monkey is my friend.

[GTN-NY]

1983-1998 all I did was fish and then prepped rigs and boat during the winter. I guess it was to much because I caused a divorce. Well that’s what she said. 

After taking 20 years off I just started fishing again this past spring. I can’t afford another Ranger so I got a real nice kayak. I’ve got a lot to learn again but I’m enjoying it all over again even if I’m spending all my free time thinking about it! Lots of money to!

[Bluebasser86]

My obsession has only gotten worse with time. When you're thinking about your next trip, as you're driving home from fishing, you know it's bad.

[riverbasser]

Highs and lows. My low time comes from my son a little after turning one and wanting to spend more time with him since he couldnt fish with me. I believe fishing will always rank high on my priority list but some things must rank higher.

 

Literally can not wait to share this obsession with him. Just hope he takes to it like yours.

 

Everybody has their "thing" and Bass fishing will always be mine.

[soflabasser]

10 hours ago, skekoam said:

For those of you who have fished for a long time, does the obsession eventually subside or is it still going strong?

I have fished most of my life and feel just as happy catching a bass now than I did when I was a kid. I see myself fishing for the rest of my life. 

[JustJames]

The more I catch, the more I will think about it. I think about fishing almost everyday or every time I have free time. Another reason I visit bass resource many times a day. I’ll think about what lures I’m gonna be using tomorrow, where I’m gonna fish or how I’m gonna work it. This problem getting worse when I buy new gears or new lures. I’ll think/plan about it, since when I order until I catch a fish with it.

Now I’m thinking, how in the hell im gonna get you a bite tomorrow. I went pre fishing a few spots earlier but still cannot get any bite myself. I hope the sun come up tomorrow so we might have more chance.

Wait until spring time come, you and your son might even have more rods than you golf club.

[Swamp Yankee]

When I was 4, my parents bought a house with a trout stream in the backyard. I’m 63 now and I’ve been obsessed with fishing ever since I was 4.

[Joe_w1234]

On 11/21/2019 at 1:05 PM, skekoam said:

We are both huge golfers and now instead of golfing I think it is safe to say that we would both rather fish.  Or better yet, golf and then hopefully get access to a pond and fish afterwards.

Or even use golfing as an excuse to fish the golf course ponds...

[Oregon Native]

Heard from my grandma before she passed away when she would wash the car I would fish in the bucket....then there were tales of me hooking up grandpa's fish on a hook and dragging them around garage when he brought them home!!

Now I'm almost seventy and have had to slow down due to cancer but heard a rumor I may get to drive again down the road...now it's all hitch hikin.   I do love me fishing....BUT....you mentioned golf....I love to do this with my wife but oh this is one sport I really need my eyes....but I have a great excuse for my handicap climbing and climbing.

[river-rat]

I caught my first bass at 10 yrs. old in 1962 and still can't wait to get on the water. I'll be retiring soon and can't hardly think of anything else. So I would have to say the obsession has never died.

[Bird]

I can't say that it's reached the devastation stage as A-Jay but as an older retired fellow.....it consumes pretty much 7 months a year.

 

I preload the boat the night before and always the first one on the water, always. Lol

[Dangerfield]

My in-laws got me into fishing about 4-5 years ago. I remember my brother in law picking out my first rig at BPS cause I didn't have a clue what to look for nor did I care.. That summer was a blast but I got frustrated quick when I had to ask questions about everything. That winter, I dove in, learned how to tie my own knots, rig my own baits, figure out different actions and the difference between rod action/reel speed/lb test and discovered BR. My BILs have been fishing since they were kids, and they might have years of knowledge and tackle but it means nothing when my PBs are bigger than theirs. The addiction is real, the bait monkey is my friend, too bad seasons over and I gotta wat till the 4th Saturday in June to get back to bass fishing. Thank god for lake trout and northern pike

[Paul Roberts]

Now one is... "normal". :))

 

For me, the drive/passion is the same. But, since I know so much more now, there is now SO much more to see out there. But the obsession part -which I believe we come by honestly, that functions by carrying us through the tough times- has been replaced by a more direct approach. The tough times, when I've found myself wondering just what the hell I'm doing out there -like, I should be home mowing the lawn, or something else... productive- are pretty much non-existent now. So, obsession isn't required. I'm more focused. The result is, it only gets more and more intriguing as the years go by and the more I know.

 

That's the fishing part of it. The "stuff" part of it, is a bit different. When I can't go fishing, I'm more apt to buy stuff. As if those enticing ideas in my head are the closest thing I can get to being on the water. Even though I end up with more plans for that new tackle than I actually have time to apply to it all. So... I own more stuff than I can give justice to.

 

But, like the boxes and bins of collected up tools and hardware in the shop, it's nice to have the right tool or doo-hicky for the job, esp if I am able to follow through on an idea, make the right mods, and break through a challenging scenario.

[schplurg]

I'll just say that after my first full season of serious bass fishing I must now consider how good the fishing is wherever I decide to move next. I need to move and there will be bass there.

 

I also have a fishing kayak now, a Youtube channel, and I might make a fishing video game (I'm playing with it now actually, and I want realistic bass behavior to be a huge part of it).

 

And I think about fishing every day.

[N Florida Mike]

When I was young I went several times a week and would fish all day most Saturdays. I mean sun up to sun down. Now my back won’t let me do that anymore. It’s taken the edge off the addiction.

I still go more than most. I have friends that look surprised when I tell them I only went once in the last 2 weeks, like that’s still a lot. Not for me it isn’t.

I don’t do many of the things I did when I was younger , due to marriage , kids , grandkids ,volunteer work, work, financial shortcomings . But fishing has survived it all!!

[Hook2Jaw]

I've been fishing at least once a week for the past 3 years, and I'm 32 now, but I've known how to cast and catch bass since I was 7 or so.  I'm probably as good at it now as I was then, but that's besides the point.

 

Yes, it is normal to be obsessed or even addicted to fishing.

 

I get depressed when I end up at home - I try to go fishing at least once a week and make two runs a month to my closest lake.  Juliette is two hours away and frequently beats me down, but I love it.

[TriStateBassin106]

I only started fishing for bass Hardcore this past April but after fishing like this and getting results it's definitely a obsession for me, I think of it more like a calling or "pulling" towards me. I always felt that itch even after years of not fishing, this year I finally acted and got back into this sport. 

 

 

Bass fishing is a great hobby, period. 

On 12/14/2019 at 5:09 PM, Hook2Jaw said:

I've been fishing at least once a week for the past 3 years, and I'm 32 now, but I've known how to cast and catch bass since I was 7 or so.  I'm probably as good at it now as I was then, but that's besides the point.

 

Yes, it is normal to be obsessed or even addicted to fishing.

 

I get depressed when I end up at home - I try to go fishing at least once a week and make two runs a month to my closest lake.  Juliette is two hours away and frequently beats me down, but I love it.

I know that feeling well!