Time

[Mobasser]

I'm not retired yet, but hope to be next year. I still work three days per week full time, and two days part time for three to four hrs per day.                                      Usually, I'm able to fish two or three nights per week after work. These are always bank trips by myself, as there's usually not enoupgh time to load the boat in the evening. Saturday morning is usually open, and I fish then for five or six hrs, with an older friend who goes with me.        But, many times something comes up. Projects around the house, family commitments, or helping someone out with something.                               Simply put, it can be hard to find the time to fish as much as I'd like to.                  I've heard many guys say," I can't wait until I retire, then, I can fish all the time"! I think it doesn't always work out like that. So many other things to do.                             How do you manage your fishing time? Can you go as much as you'd like to? Hopefully next year, I'll have more time to devote to my favourite sport. Time will tell....

[scaleface]

I am retired but have a small business  that keeps me occupied . I fish less now then when I worked full time .

[MN Fisher]

I am retired, but with a semi-disabled wife that I function as her PCA...getting time to go fishing is problematic. We do have someone who can come in once a week for four hours - that's my fishing time. Of course sometimes things come up and a scheduled visit has to be cancelled, or the weather is just NOT conducive for the canoe.

 

Two months since open water, one month since bass opener...and I've been out a total of four times so far.

[Mobasser]

5 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I am retired but have a small business  that keeps me occupied . I fish less now then when I worked full time .

This is what I'm afraid of next year. I plan to have a small business when I retire next year also. I wanted to keep it about 20 hrs per week, but, you know how that goes....

[A-Jay]

Clearly we each lead different lives, have different priorities and different situations to manage. 

My wife & I both separated from the service in 2007 - did slip in a few years of working from home but mostly been on A-Jay time.

It's a good feeling.

 My fishing season is fairly condensed so I'm always looking to wet a line.

However, my wife has some serious medical concerns that will always drive my train.

As time has gone on my fishing although still a very important part of my life,

plays less and less of a role; especially since my wife can only rarely go with me.

We live very 'small' lives, by design.

It allows and makes most everything I decide to participate in a big deal, 

while at the same time enables me to give it all a high level of effort; usually results in success. 

Regardless how routine it may seem to others. 

So I'm not 'retired' I simply get to focus ALL my energies on what is important to me. 

I am fortunate in that I have managed to maintain decent health; makes everything easier.

 Once you figure out what's important to you and what works for you, you'll settle into it.

Good Luck moving forward.

A-Jay

 

[Team9nine]

Did the early retirement thing myself this year. Try and keep boat trips through the week only, but between crappy spring weather and ridiculous Covid crowds at the lakes this year, boat trips have only been once or twice a week. That said, similar to you I've been filling in with bank trips (I consider it my daily exercise routine) and have never spent more time fishing than this year...and that’s saying something because I’ve always fished a lot ?

[Mobasser]

15 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Clearly we each lead different lives, have different priorities and different situations to manage. 

My wife & I both separated from the service in 2007 - did slip in a few years of working from home but mostly been on A-Jay time.

It's a good feeling.

 My fishing season is fairly condensed so I'm always looking to wet a line.

However, my wife has some serious medial concerns that will always drive my train.

As time has gone on my fishing although still a very important part of my life,

plays less and less of a role; especially since my wife can only rarely go with me.

We live very 'small' lives, by design.

It allows and makes most everything I decide to participate in a big deal, 

while at the same time enables me to give it all a high level of effort; usually results in success. 

Regardless how routine it may seem to others. 

So I'm not 'retired' I simply get to focus ALL my energies on what is important to me. 

I am fortunate in that I have managed to maintain decent health; makes everything easier.

 Once you figure out what's important to you and what works for you, you'll settle into it.

Good Luck moving forward.

A-Jay

 

A-Jay, one thing I do now which helps me out is I spend more time on lubing a reel, spooling new line, replacing or sharpening hooks, etc. Usually in the evenings. Also spend more time reading about fishing in general. It's just my wife and I at home now, my children are married and on they're own, and I get bored with TV pretty quickly. It's not the same as actually fishing, but helps fill in when you can't go.

[Tennessee Boy]

43 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

I've heard many guys say," I can't wait until I retire, then, I can fish all the time"! 

I can't wait until I retire,  then, I can fish all the time ?

 

I'll be very disappointed if it doesn't work out that way.  Should be retiring in a couple of years.

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, Mobasser said:

A-Jay, one thing I do now which helps me out is I spend more time on lubing a reel, spooling new line, replacing or sharpening hooks, etc. Usually in the evenings. Also spend more time reading about fishing in general. It's just my wife and I at home now, my children are married and on they're own, and I get bored with TV pretty quickly. It's not the same as actually fishing, but helps fill in when you can't go.

I hear that - 

My day before a trip 'preps' are definitely part of the process and something I also thoroughly enjoy. 

Besides, thorough preparation almost always enhances performance. 

My hard water season teaches the importance of patience & pacing myself.

Also makes every trip on the water seem extra special.

So quality over quantity.

I share videos of many of my trips, but not all of them.

The ones I don't post are often some of my favorite, as they are the ones that are just for me.

A-Jay

 

 

[Mobasser]

1 minute ago, A-Jay said:

I hear that - 

My day before a trip 'preps' are definitely part of the process and something I also thoroughly enjoy. 

Besides, thorough preparation almost always enhances performance. 

My hard water season teaches the importance of patience & pacing myself.

Also makes every trip on the water seem extra special.

So quality over quantity.

I share videos of many of my trips, but not all of them.

The ones I don't post are often some of my favorite, as they are the ones that are just for me.

A-Jay

 

 

Yes. My wife will look over and say" playing with you fishing stuff again"? I always just say " yes". She knows me all too well

[A-Jay]

11 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

I can't wait until I retire,  then, I can fish all the time ?

 

I'll be very disappointed if it doesn't work out that way.  Should be retiring in a couple of years.

I hope whatever happens - you Sir are Happy & Healthy.

But we should save this one because I'm willing to bet if we add up all your fishing days from the last 5 years and then the 5 years after you 'retire', it will be very close to the same. 

Quality over Quantity could be the way to go.

A-Jay

 

[Mobasser]

6 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I hope whatever happens - you Sir are Happy & Healthy.

But we should save this one because I willing to bet if we add up all your fishing days from the last 5 years

and then the 5 years after you 'retire', it will be very close to the same. 

Quality over Quantity could be the way to go.

A-Jay

 

Very true. It might be fun to compare before and after retirement. It may not change all that much. One thing I've done over the past two years is get up very early on Saturday mornings, and bank fish a small lake near home. I like to get there at first light, especially when it gets really hot and humid around here. I can fish for two or three hrs, then head home and start the day. I often have the entire lake to myself. I've caught quite a few bass this way too. Man, I love the early morning trips. There's nothing like getting there and making your first cast as the fog is still lifting off the water. It's the perfect time for bass fishing.

[A-Jay]

7 hours ago, Mobasser said:

Very true. It might be fun to compare before and after retirement. It may not change all that much. One thing I've done over the past two years is get up very early on Saturday mornings, and bank fish a small lake near home. I like to get there at first light, especially when it gets really hot and humid around here. I can fish for two or three hrs, then head home and start the day. I often have the entire lake to myself. I've caught quite a few bass this way too. Man, I love the early morning trips. There's nothing like getting there and making your first cast as the fog is still lifting off the water. It's the perfect time for bass fishing.

No Doubt ~ 

This is my preferred Modus operandi any time I can swing it. 

Love waking up with the lake and then leaving just before the circus comes to town. 

A-Jay

[Tennessee Boy]

37 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I hope whatever happens - you Sir are Happy & Healthy.

But we should save this one because I'm willing to bet if we add up all your fishing days from the last 5 years and then the 5 years after you 'retire', it will be very close to the same. 

Quality over Quantity could be the way to go.

A-Jay

 

Yeah.. my non-fishing retirement todo list is about 5 years long and growing.

[Bird]

I was fortunate to retire at 58 last year and without doubt, time on the water quadrupled but so did household responsibilities. 

I now do all the laundry and dishes. Lol

 

All my weekends are spent with my wife, usually RVing and always have my boat in the truck......a lake must be present at every campground/state park. ?

 

To answer your question " can you fish as much as you like? ", pretty much but I've slowed down considerably due to the drastic increase in fishing pressure of late.

[Cdn Angler]

It is a struggle to do all of the fishing I want along with everything else that needs to get done. 

 

I have too many hobbies. I lift weights, run sorta competitively, try to get out golfing, hiking, I try to read a book every 2 weeks or so etc. 

 

I also have an active dog, a pool to maintain, friends to visit, gf to hang with, parents to visit, other family to visit. And my job. No kids though. 

 

I try my best to balance it all, but I'm often running myself into the ground or feel like I'm neglecting something. 

 

For fishing I try to use holidays to go backcountry camping where I can also fish. With friends and my gf/dog. 

 

I also try to set a few goals for fishing that are attainable. Then once I reach them I feel like I can chill out a bit.

 

For example I wanted to catch 2 muskies this year. Already accomplished by accident so check that off. 

 

I also wanted to get good fishing jerkbaits, hit a specific lake with my dad/gf: all mission accomplished. 

 

I have more attainable goals for summer when bass season starts. 

 

As I'm getting better at fishing and know the water around me better I need to use less time to reach my goals, which is a nice bonus.  

 

The one thing I'll never grasp is why my gf seems to care if I'm out fishing. She seems perpetually worried when I'm gone for no real reason. It's a low risk activity and it isn't like I'm pounding beers at the club or something. If I'm gone there's no extra work at home as we don't have any kids. 

[WRB]

Looking back I worked too long retiring in my early 70's. Could of and should of retired earlier. I was recovering from spine fashion surgery my year of retirement reducing most activity. When you are healthy all your life and maintaining your physical condition you think aging isn't a big factor.

I always liked to fish during the week at my own pace. After retiring I continued fishing with my retired buddies planing weekly trips around vacations traveling around the world. Life was good until my buddies started moving away from high cost of living and passing away from health issues. 

This January my son passed away from cancer and lost my desire to fish.

Time slips away.

Tom

[Scott F]

In another month, I’ll be retired for 4 years. I have all the time to fish as often as I’d like. I just find that I’m not interested in fishing as much as I could. My attitude about what I expected my retirement to be is different now than what it was when I was younger. 

[Log Catcher]

I have been retired for 4.5 years now. I haven't done near as much fishing as I thought I would. I had so much knee pain from arthritis I didn't feel like dealing with getting everything ready to go. Then last year I had knee replacement surgery on both knees. I have recovered from them but it does limit your movements in some ways.

 

Now when I go my wife wants to go with me in case I have a problem and need some help. I don't mind but she doesn't like to be gone too long. I don't get real excited about fishing anymore like I did in my younger days.

 

I hope your retirement goes well for you with no major problems.

[Guitarfish]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Looking back I worked too long retiring in my early 70's. Could of and should of retired earlier. I was recovering from spine fashion surgery my year of retirement reducing most activity. When you are healthy all your life and maintaining your physical condition you think aging isn't a big factor.

I always liked to fish during the week at my own pace. After retiring I continued fishing with my retired buddies planing weekly trips around vacations traveling around the world. Life was good until my buddies started moving away from high cost of living and passing away from health issues. 

This January my son passed away from cancer and lost my desire to fish.

Time slips away.

Tom

I hear you Tom.  I'm signing up for retirement now.  But my fishing has slowed for almost the exact same reasons. My delta fishing buddy died of cancer a long while ago. Somehow the urge to go slowed.  I am determined to get back out.

[Log Catcher]

Meant to add in my other post that I only fish during the week. I don't fight the weekend crowd anymore. Around here the lakes have been so busy you would think it was the weekend everyday plus tournaments going on.

[Logan S]

I'm a long way from retiring...But in my career I've always sought out jobs/companies with maximum PTO and/or flexibility to accommodate maximum fishing time.  It's worked out well for me, I've been able to fish more than many I'm sure.  

 

Right now I have 2 young kids (4 and almost 2) so fishing time is limited to what it used to be, but I still get out enough...No complaints here.  I also get to mix fishing and family time occasionally which is the best of both worlds

  

[Way north bass guy]

Being only 40, and self employed, I have a “few” more years until I can pack it in. I’m  of the mindset that I could work like a dog and retire earlier, or I can pace myself a bit with work and enjoy a bit more time to do what I want while I’m younger. Some of my buddies work almost constantly, and that doesn’t seem like a fulfilling way to go about life to me. I know they aren’t real happy with their life, but some of them feel like that’s just what you have to do while you’re young. 
The way I look at it, my bills are being paid, my family is happy, and I’m not stressed to the point of exhaustion both physically and mentally. 
Plus, there’s also that whole “ you never know when your time is up” thing, and I don’t want to work like crazy and snuff it early, and not have the time to enjoy life a bit. 

Being self employed has a few advantages, in that I can make my own hours and with some of my jobs being water access locations, I often take my fishing boat and if I’m done early in the day I can fish my way back to the ramp, had some pretty memorable days doing that. 
That’s my take on it, I’m gonna keep rolling and try to get as much time on the water as I can, and when I retire if I still have good health and can extend my fishing time, well that’s even better!

[813basstard]

Grandma used to say:

”you can have time or you can have money...you can’t have both”

 

Boy was she ever right. I’ve been having more time lately ?

[BassNJake]

2 hours ago, Mobasser said:

Very true. It might be fun to compare before and after retirement. It may not change all that much. One thing I've done over the past two years is get up very early on Saturday mornings, and bank fish a small lake near home. I like to get there at first light, especially when it gets really hot and humid around here. I can fish for two or three hrs, then head home and start the day. I often have the entire lake to myself. I've caught quite a few bass this way too. Man, I love the early morning trips. There's nothing like getting there and making your first cast as the fog is still lifting off the water. It's the perfect time for bass fishing.

 

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

No Doubt ~ 

This is my preferred Modus operandi any time I can swing it. 

Love waking up with the lake and then leaving just before the circus come to town. 

A-Jay

 

I agree.

That early morning time is peaceful and I love how everything comes to life.

I'm glad I can appreciate what mother nature has given us