For those that fish everyday...How happy are you? :)

[gim]

5 hours ago, Bird said:

From a retirement perspective, fishing every day or even every other day is actually a grind.

 

Batteries need recharged, cooler repacked, leaders retied, on the road again.

Can't speak for everyone but I find fishing for 5 - 6 hrs very fatiguing, especially in the hot sun.

 

2 - 3 days per week feels like harmony and preferably not back to back but the weather and lunar phase dictates a lot as well.

 

This is how I see myself when I retire (which is many years from now).  Both my parents are retired now and they regularly fish together about twice/week.  The only difference now is that they can go on a Tuesday when the conditions are better as opposed to going on a Saturday when they had the time to.

 

They still have daily obligations to attend to like a dog, a house, a yard, and regular maintenance on their boat.  Those duties don't go away when you retire.

[TOXIC]

I always thought that when I retired, I could fish all day every day.  Honest result was like AJay said, I’m the only one of my friends that is retired and I found, solo fishing is ok but I like the social side of it better.  When I was working a full time job and guiding on the side, fishing was my recharge.  I needed to fish.  When I lived in Florida and my boat was on a lift in my front yard, it was easy to grab the rods and go for a quick 3 hours after work.  I also tournament fished in Florida.  When I came back to Virginia it took me a couple of years to get another boat since I sold mine in Florida.  So, here I was back in Virginia working and fishing every weekend.  Then I retired. It made it easier for me to go with my friend but he is limited to the weekends.  We’ve taken a weeklong trip to Michigan every year for the last 20 years and for the last 5 years we take a weeklong trip to Florida.  I have found that not living on the water is a big hindrance to my effort level since I now feel I don’t “have” to fish.  I’m 64 and still healthy so launching and loading my 21 foot boat is still well within my abilities, my closest bodies of good water are anywhere from 45-65+ miles away.  If I choose my most productive of late river, it is heavily tidal and has a bit of a tricky launch which is small.  I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that launch could pose a problem in certain tides.  Likewise, I’m just getting to the point where fueling the truck and boat for a trip will run easily over $100 depending on how much running I do.  Bottom line I get much more enjoyment fishing with my buddy now and we always have a good time.  If I move to a place on the water, that would change my motivation I’m sure.  
 

Oh and by the way, I’m just finishing up with my 3rd oral surgery to fix a genetic bone disease and will be getting full implants.  I have the price of a new bass boat invested in my mouth right now.  

[TnRiver46]

Since I’ll be working til I’m dead, I need to do my fishing while I still can haha

[Bankc]

I fish just about every day.  And I'm not retired.  But I like to get in a half hour of fishing during my lunch break.  Maybe that counts, maybe it doesn't.  But I always look forward to fishing.  

 

I can tell you that happiness is just a state of mind.  Which means, believe it or not, ultimately it is you who is in control of how you feel.  Fishing won't make you happy.  Fishing might make it easier for you to make yourself happy.  But at the end of the day, how you feel is totally under your control.  

I've known people who've maintained happiness in some of the most absolutely tragic moments of life imaginable.  And I've known people who couldn't overcome their depression even during the most joyous events.  We may be influenced by what happens to us, but we are not controlled by it.  

 

My point being, don't rely on people, events or things to make you happy.  Instead, train yourself to find the happiness in anything, and you'll thank yourself everyday, for the rest of your life.  Because it's not the amount of joy that's possible that matters.  It's the amount of joy you find.  

[Zcoker]

I don't need to be retired to fish everyday, even if I wanted to fish every day. And needing to get out for those quiet, peaceful, and tranquil moments, I certainly don't need to be fishing for that. Sometimes, even, I find the exact opposite. I have more free time when I don't have the free time lol Kinda weird, I know, but space/time can be made for anything. A compact and fulfilled day, full of many, many things, fishing included, is a well rounded approach to life, my 2 pennies. 

[clemsondds]

Wow ha this was from a thread 2 years ago.  Good thoughts from everyone.  Here is part of my original post...

 I know there are lots of other factors that go into this (family/relationships, spiritual fulfillment, financial peace...) but just looking at the fishing aspect of it, at what point have you received the most fun out of fishing?  Is it fishing every day, fishing tournaments, fishing random weekends when you were working...?  Just curious how it feels when you are retired and get to fish alot more.  I assume it's heaven on earth    And please don't make this too serious and negative...I'm not looking for life lessons.  I treasure the days I have right now with my kids and love the stage of life I am at...but I still wish I could fish a little more   Tight Lines

[Gera]

I guess if I went fishing every day I would be very unhappy, that would mean I have nothing else going on. 

[WVU-SCPA]

23 hours ago, Bankc said:

I fish just about every day.  And I'm not retired.  But I like to get in a half hour of fishing during my lunch break.  Maybe that counts, maybe it doesn't.  But I always look forward to fishing.  

I do the same thing or fish before coming into work.  It does make it tough to leave a bite at times.  In the spring/fall I'll fish 7 days a week but the boat stays home for 5. 

 

That flexibility has kept me from moving up in my career, but I'm happy with the balance it's created.

[crypt]

when I retire I will fish as much as I can.if it's everyday, great.If not that's ok also.but just the fact that I have the chance to do what I love to do will be great.

[DitchPanda]

I'm 39 so retirement is a dot on the horizon unless I win the Powerball ...which is impossible since I don't buy tickets. That said I've got a pretty good work schedule...7-330 5 days a week...usually sneak a little over time in so about 42hrs a week. Also its just me,my lady and the cats...no kids running around. So I have alot of free time which I occupy with working out and fishing. I probably average 3 trips a week 2.5-4 hours each. Some weeks ill fish 5 days. I'm very happy.

[Woody B]

I'm 58 and work 45 to 50 hours per week.   I make really good money....would work only 40 hours a week if I had a choice.   I fish pretty much every Saturday and Sunday, and sneak in a few hours after work once every week or 2.   

 

I quit fishing, and sold the boat I had 30 years ago due to "life" and not having time to fish.  I bought a boat in December and I've caught at least 1 bass every week since then.   I've got a weeks vacation coming up.  I'll fish every day that week.   My Wife enjoys fishing and goes with me 1/2 the time or so.  She doesn't like to go at night, or when it's really hot or really cold.   

 

So...why did I buy a boat now, instead of waiting a few years until I retire?   I was pinching pennies, saving every single dime I could....basically not doing anything "fun" that cost money.  My Dad is 87,  still in decent health, but not in good enough shape to do much of anything.  He can't hardly walk.   He's got more money than he'll ever spend, even if he lives to be 130.   He just sits at home basically doing nothing.  My Wife and I decided we were going to spend some of our money while we could still enjoy it.   We bought a camper and a boat.  We occasionally spend a 3 day weekend at a lakeside campground now.   

 

 

No one should neglect their family to go fishing but if you're meeting or have met all of your family responsibilities go fishing.   

[roadwarrior]

Before I retired I fished a lot. Now I fish a lot more!

 

                                       

                                             

[PaulVE64]

Too happy 

[Jim Levite]

If I get the fish once a week I feel blessed. I'd give anything to be able to fish more. 16-hour work days does not help my fishing life ☹️

[Deleted account]

Happiness is a state of mind, fishing more or less, or doing or not doing other things you like or don't like, only situationally affect your contentment in the present. The problem with chasing happiness is that often we are seeking it in what brought us that feeling in the past, so when it arrives we are surprised and disappointed that the activities, relationships, or possessions that we counted on for it, don't do it. 

[LrgmouthShad]

4 hours ago, Deleted account said:

Happiness is a state of mind

Yeah, I love to tell people that look upset, “Hey, what are you doing? Just be happy!” The more upset they are, the more they need to hear it. 
 

Funny though, most people don’t seem to understand it. Doesn’t really seem to work. Hmm ?

[garroyo130]

Far from retirement here but fish every day ... sorta. I go through seasons I would say during which I will fish minimum 5 days a week then will swap to panfish or trout or stop fishing entirely for a month or two. I only fish when it doesn't interfere with work or family which usually means early outings. I bank fish from 6 am to 7 or 8 am most days and the goal is to get a limit during that time. I think fishing full days 6+ hours, 5 days a week would turn fishing into a job for me. 

[Bubba 460]

 

 

All things in moderation. I can fish when I want.  My kids are all grown and have their own lives. My wife has her job as a teacher in a private school and loves it and is a homebody in the summer. I usually fish on average 4-5 days a week, sometimes more, sometimes less all year. Depending on the weather or what water I want to fish. Personally I like smaller bodies of water, under 100 ac. Gnarly is my cup of tea over open water. Standing timber, stumps, lay-downs, pads, lots of pads. grass, feeding flats. I hunt for bass in their lair. The presentation for me is the fun thing; to have a bass slam a frog on the pads or next to that lay-down that you just know a bass is hunkered under and to get him to commit. That explosion of water on a big Whopper Plopper or that subtle 'tic" on a wacky.

 

  Age dictates time on the water coupled with productivity. After about 3 or 4 hours the pain starts, how much pain I put up with depends on how the fish are responding so bring pain killers.  On a good day I can put up with a lot of pain. Used to stand most of the time now I sit most of the time. Now it hurts to do either so I switch.

 

 You can not enjoy fishing if you are preoccupied with worrying about personal things, family, health, or anything that is constantly on your mind. It will eventually pass and you'll know when it's time to hit the water again. A break can be a good thing and there's always something to do around the house that fishing has kept you from doing. I really don't have another "hobby" at this time but I do enjoy physical work over mind exercises when I am not fishing.

[geo g]

I am retired and fish almost everyday from the bank or the boat.  My house is surrounded by man made lakes, with flats with thick  vegetation surrounding deep drop-offs, with open water.  The grass is manicured around the lakes and you can walk it easily.  I'll fish an hour in the evening after the heat of the day drops.  On the weekend I will take the boat to the everglades, or some other fresh water body.  The problem is getting someone to fish, since most are still working, and with my age I hate to go out alone.  As my  Granny would say, "Youth is wasted on the young!"  I never realized what she was taking about until  my 70's!  Lol

 

I am super happy, I live in a fishing paradise!  Black Bass, Peacock, freshwater snook and tarpon, and big clown knife fish.  There are no winter breaks or off time, and you are truly living in the tropics!  Life is good!

[schplurg]

On 6/15/2022 at 11:34 AM, WVU-SCPA said:

I do the same thing or fish before coming into work.  It does make it tough to leave a bite at times.  In the spring/fall I'll fish 7 days a week but the boat stays home for 5. 

 

That flexibility has kept me from moving up in my career, but I'm happy with the balance it's created.

 

 

 

What is a person more likely to say on their deathbed?:

 

wish I would have fished more

with I would have worked more

[clemsondds]

On 6/17/2022 at 2:12 PM, Bubba 460 said:

 

 

All things in moderation. I can fish when I want.  My kids are all grown and have their own lives. My wife has her job as a teacher in a private school and loves it and is a homebody in the summer. I usually fish on average 4-5 days a week, sometimes more, sometimes less all year. Depending on the weather or what water I want to fish. Personally I like smaller bodies of water, under 100 ac. Gnarly is my cup of tea over open water. Standing timber, stumps, lay-downs, pads, lots of pads. grass, feeding flats. I hunt for bass in their lair. The presentation for me is the fun thing; to have a bass slam a frog on the pads or next to that lay-down that you just know a bass is hunkered under and to get him to commit. That explosion of water on a big Whopper Plopper or that subtle 'tic" on a wacky.

 

  Age dictates time on the water coupled with productivity. After about 3 or 4 hours the pain starts, how much pain I put up with depends on how the fish are responding so bring pain killers.  On a good day I can put up with a lot of pain. Used to stand most of the time now I sit most of the time. Now it hurts to do either so I switch.

 

 You can not enjoy fishing if you are preoccupied with worrying about personal things, family, health, or anything that is constantly on your mind. It will eventually pass and you'll know when it's time to hit the water again. A break can be a good thing and there's always something to do around the house that fishing has kept you from doing. I really don't have another "hobby" at this time but I do enjoy physical work over mind exercises when I am not fishing.

Fantastic post! Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for the feedback and advice! 
Everyone’s posts have been great! 

[NYWayfarer]

I fish weekends and my days remote on my job, usually 2 days a week. 4 days out of a seven day week. 
 

I take short trips. If I find myself tired, too lazy to tie on another lure or hungry I go home. This keeps my mood in the happy zone.

[TnRiver46]

I have a customer with raccoons in her attic right now. I caught two, but there’s still more at large and I haven’t been able to catch them for a couple weeks. Yesterday she said “I just don’t know what to do” and I said “me neither, im retiring and going fishing” 

 

luckily she knew I was joking and laughed 

[Jim Levite]

For those that are able to fish everyday. Even if it was almost every day. I AM EXTREMELY JEALOUS ?

[Alex from GA]

I go fishing almost every weekday if it's not blowing 20mph or 100* outside.  All winter I launch my boat somewhere close; I have a bunch of places less than 1/2 hour away.  We also live on a pond so I usually throw a worm or frog before breakfast and sometimes catch a fish.  In summer I fish Lake Lanier several times a week unless I'm fishing a river, in my kayak, for the GA Bass Slam.  I use by buddy's dock on the lake about 1/4 mile from our house.  BTW I'm 81.