The Challenge vs. the Enjoyment

[Mobasser]

I enjoy hooking and fighting bass, but I enjoy the challenge of locating them and hunting for them a lot also. If the fish are nicer size that's even better

[BassNJake]

I typed out a few different replies but I just love fishing

 

Its the challenge, its the enjoyment, its the being surrounded by the peacefulness of nature, its the rainy days and the days the fog takes all morning to lift, its that look on my kids face during the fight, the sun warming my skin, the awesome way darkness gives way to light and the whole morning comes alive with the sounds of birds, frogs and dogs barking because I swear I always hear dogs barking, it's the making the decisions on where to start, what to use, how deep to go. It's the way it has led me to making some of my own lures, it's the close personal relationships that I have built by sharing this appreciation of fishing, its the way I spend my time off the water reading, learning, thinking and posting about all this greatness that comes from fishing.

 

Bassheads come in all shapes and sizes and by spending time here kinda verifies you are one

[TriStateBassin106]

Don't care what size it is, the fact that I have a bass on the end of my line and that feeling of sensation is enough to keep me motivated and continue fishing.

 

The fight is the best part of fishing for me. 

[Fishing_FF]

4 hours ago, Catt said:

 

I don't even care if I touch it just knowing I was in the right place at the right time using the right technique is quite satisfying.

I think I’ve heard this somewhere before. ? 

 

The sentence is the sum of the challenge and enjoyment.

[Bigassbass]

Top water bite for sure and let it be LMB  wow can't get any better.  I love being outdoors so nature is wonderful can't be duplicated, every fishing event is a memory of how good life is!

 

[Jaderose]

My favorite way to fish is froggin in HEAVY slop.  The thrill of the explosion (or that toilet bowl flush sound if it's a REALLY big one) is what drives me when I'm dialed in on a warm summer day.  When you set the hook on a heavy slop frog fish, you d**n well better NOT be "fighting" them.  If they get down in the mess, you have most likely lost.  You got to get them up and out FAST.  I like to have them skiing over the top of the slop.

 

[JustJames]

Fishing is enjoyment for me period, doesn’t matter if I catch any or what kind as long as I can go out and fish. That is one of the main reason we moved here to Canyon Lake.
I also like to challenge myself from time to time, to catch bass with different type lures. It wouldn’t be that much fun if I went to same spot catching bass with the same lure everyday. Two year ago, I leaned and caught a lot of bass with jig, last year I caught my first bass with lipless crank and this year I learn how to fish paddle tail swimbait and caught quite a few of bass already. 
Fighting fish is not really in any part of enjoyment or challenge, but it is part of the game to land fish with proper gear. I’m not gonna use 15/20lb with MH rod to land 2-3lb bass and be happy nor to land 4-5lb with UltraLight rod, ultralight line and be proud of it. I admit I like Ultralight fishing and caught a lot of bass with it, I have fun but most importantly is technique to land bass.

[WRB]

I brought up this topic on another forum under Line for Texas rigs and jigs.

I mentioned that Jason Lucas was my mentor reading his articles in Sports Afield in the 50's. Lucas was the fishing editor and author of his book Lucas on Bass. Jay was a sportsmen who believed in giving the bass a fighting chance by using appropriate tackle and influenced my bass fishing presentations over my lifetime.

Bass anglers are influenced by the pro tournament anglers who ski bass across the surface followed by bouncing the fish into boat letting flop around on the carpet. Nothing sporting about using tackle with line strong enough to land fish the anglers weight.

Average bass is somewhere between 1 1/2 to 3 lbs, why use 30 lb test line unless the lure requires it like big heavy swimbaits.

My 5 heaviest bass listed were caught using jigs with 10 & 12 lb mono line. Develop skills to fight and control the bass using sporting tackle and you will enjoy catching these special fish more.

Tom

 

 

 

[JustJames]

To be fair for those that use braid line including myself, 30lb braid is the diameter that less prone to have problem when use with casting gear. 

[soflabasser]

14 hours ago, BassNJake said:

 I just love fishing

That is how I feel about fishing as well. I will gladly fish for bluegills just like I will go saltwater fishing for big gamefish. I just love being on the water fishing and enjoying the outdoors.

[PhishLI]

I love all the obvious things about bass fishing. What's not to like? Friends, laughs, and photographs. The adrenaline pump is beserk. It's multiple challenges are relentless. Bass fishing checks everyone's ego constantly. But there are intangibles that are just as important to me. Firstly, regardless of how sophisticated my fishing has become  compared to when I was young, I feel exactly the same now doing it as when I was 12. Fishing is the only activity I've found that never feels old to me. I'm never bored by it. I've revisited other former hobbies but the juice just wasn't the same. The bass fishing vibe is unique and has remained unchanged for me. It's like stepping through a timeless time machine. Perfection.

 

What's even more valuable to me is this: The absolute peace of mind it gives me. The woods I walk through on my way to the lake act like an invisible filter. Every step I take through the filter removes any and every burden or grown-up mental stress spinning around in my head. Once I make that first cast I'm truly free. As free as a 12 year old. Awesome.

[schplurg]

I want to catch fish.

 

I love the outdoors, and I do notice and appreciate it when I'm there - I love it - but I want to catch fish. That's why I carry a rod and tackle when I visit nature.

 

Put it this way, if I never ever caught fish I would find another outdoor hobby. Wouldn't you? Fish come first, nature-watching a very respectable second.

 

All this "getting with nature" is fine and dandy, but that ain't gonna cut it forever. Come on admit it! Nature Shmature! Thoreau can eat my shorts! He probably just sucked at fishing.

 

 

[Harold Scoggins]

I'll always enjoy fooling a fish into eating the fake food I throw at it. However, I'm getting to value sights like this even more, because at my age I'm not sure how many I have left. (Sunset on our local refuge.)

[The Bassman]

4 hours ago, schplurg said:

I want to catch fish.

 

I love the outdoors, and I do notice and appreciate it when I'm there - I love it - but I want to catch fish. That's why I carry a rod and tackle when I visit nature.

 

Put it this way, if I never ever caught fish I would find another outdoor hobby. Wouldn't you? Fish come first, nature-watching a very respectable second.

 

All this "getting with nature" is fine and dandy, but that ain't gonna cut it forever. Come on admit it! Nature Shmature! Thoreau can eat my shorts! He probably just sucked at fishing.

 

 

This is why when I fish neighborhood lakes that I have to just "tune out" the trash I see laying around. Of course I love a pristine setting but I love catching fish more. Good thought @schplurg.

[WRB]

5 hours ago, Harold Scoggins said:

I'll always enjoy fooling a fish into eating the fake food I throw at it. However, I'm getting to value sights like this even more, because at my age I'm not sure how many I have left. (Sunset on our local refuge.)

Assume photo!

[r3825]

For me every time I get out on that water it's like I'm 5 years old on my grandpa's pontoon again,  I love everything about it,  there's nothing like it in the world.