serious about bass fishing.

[king fisher]

Does any one else have a hard time finding friends to go fishing with that are willing to spend a full day concentrating on Bass fishing?

     All my friends here salt water fish.  For most of them a day on the water is a party that hopefully includes catching a big fish to eat.  They like to make it back to the bar in time for happy hour, and rarely will stay out all day.

     Where I bass fish the chance of catching a double digit bass is as good as anywhere, but you have to fish hard from dawn to dusk plus drive 3 hours each way.  I tell my friends if they go bass fishing with me they can't drink 12 beers apiece before lunch and expect to catch a big bass.  Their casts have to be accurate, and some days the fish don't bite. There are no margaritas, girls in bikinis, and a big fish wont feed every person at the bar. They just thank me for the invitation and tell me to give them a call when the bite is on and it's not so difficult to catch the big ones.  Everywhere else I have lived I have always had a couple friends that were serious fishermen who always put the time and effort in to catching fish, and there wasn't even a chance at a double digit bass.  Here making it back to happy hour is more important than a chance at a 10 pounder.  I don't get it.

     My friends say I'm to serious and need to relax.  Nothing against partying, or relaxing, just not when I'm bass fishing.  To me fishing is more than a party with fishing rods involved. I am very busy at work, and get far to few days to target bass to spend those days baby sitting drunk fishermen.  I have to do that far to often while working.  I guess for now I will just keep going by myself with my kayak and enjoy the solitude, and the occasional giant bass.

      

[soflabasser]

Throughout the years I have fished with lots of friends, some are very reliable others are not. Fishing friends are easy to make especially when you know how to fish and can prove it. With that said I prefer fishing with my Wife since she is the most reliable and trustworthy person I have fished with.

[TriStateBassin106]

You need to find yourself a local bass/fishing club my friend, best decision I ever made in my Fishing passion, learned a lot about local waters and tips for them. Also met amazing people, some I have developed strong friendships with and I fish with weekly. 

[DitchPanda]

Out of the 4 or so guys I fish with only 1 is a serious bass guy like me. Still like pan fishing and perch fishing with the other guys.

[FishinBuck07]

I have a bunch a friends that can't pull their heads out of their other half's you know what long enough to go for a couple hours, don't know what I would have to do to get them to go for a whole day!  Haha

[Junk Fisherman]

I prefer to fish by myself for the most part.  While it would be nice to have another guy with me to use different techniques and try to narrow down a pattern, I am willing to give that up to have total control of where and how I am fishing.  When I get a little bored I listen to some podcasts or music.  I used to fish with different guys and had a few fishing buddies but I don't really feel like I am really missing out.  After a long week of work, I love the solitude and the time to reflect that fishing by myself offers.  

[Bruce424]

thats why i fish by myself. get tired of dealing with guys who cant do an activity with out a beer

[DitchPanda]

15 minutes ago, Bruce424 said:

thats why i fish by myself. get tired of dealing with guys who cant do an activity with out a beer

This is also a good point. I used to have several buddies who wanted to go "fishing" which meant drink a case then drive home. When I was younger this was ok...at least young dumb me thought it was. Now I don't fish with anybody who isn't there for the fishing. I can't even remember the last time I had a beer while fishing. Been years.

[Johnpenguin]

4 hours ago, king fisher said:

Does any one else have a hard time finding friends to go fishing with that are willing to spend a full day concentrating on Bass fishing?

     All my friends here salt water fish.  For most of them a day on the water is a party that hopefully includes catching a big fish to eat.  They like to make it back to the bar in time for happy hour, and rarely will stay out all day.

     Where I bass fish the chance of catching a double digit bass is as good as anywhere, but you have to fish hard from dawn to dusk plus drive 3 hours each way.  I tell my friends if they go bass fishing with me they can't drink 12 beers apiece before lunch and expect to catch a big bass.  Their casts have to be accurate, and some days the fish don't bite. There are no margaritas, girls in bikinis, and a big fish wont feed every person at the bar. They just thank me for the invitation and tell me to give them a call when the bite is on and it's not so difficult to catch the big ones.  Everywhere else I have lived I have always had a couple friends that were serious fishermen who always put the time and effort in to catching fish, and there wasn't even a chance at a double digit bass.  Here making it back to happy hour is more important than a chance at a 10 pounder.  I don't get it.

     My friends say I'm to serious and need to relax.  Nothing against partying, or relaxing, just not when I'm bass fishing.  To me fishing is more than a party with fishing rods involved. I am very busy at work, and get far to few days to target bass to spend those days baby sitting drunk fishermen.  I have to do that far to often while working.  I guess for now I will just keep going by myself with my kayak and enjoy the solitude, and the occasional giant bass.

      

I feel you, none of my buddies, besides my gf, will fish with me unless alcohol and weed is a part of it. 

5 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

This is also a good point. I used to have several buddies who wanted to go "fishing" which meant drink a case then drive home. When I was younger this was ok...at least young dumb me thought it was. Now I don't fish with anybody who isn't there for the fishing. I can't even remember the last time I had a beer while fishing. Been years.

Same. I would be so ticked at myself if I lost a fish Bc I was intoxicated.

[king fisher]

Don't get me wrong.  I have nothing against having a couple beers while fishing.  I just don't like to have a couple casts while drinking.  When I go salt water fishing with friends, they drink and land fish.  I drive their boat rig the baits, watch the electronics, look for birds and make sure we get back safe, have some fish in the box help clean the fish, wash the boat, and appreciate the opportunity.

     When I bass I fish.  

[GreenPig]

Anyone I'm willing to take fishing has no money left to spend on alcohol after their weekly tackle orders. No alcohol is allowed on my boat... Had a long time friend meet me at the lake one evening for a night trip and had already drank his drink because I wouldn't allow it, left him standing on the dock with his mouth hanging open. I do fish with a bud once a week that's serious bass only but he fishes the same places year round. I happily fish alone the rest of the time and fish where I want, as long as I want, with what I want.

[DitchPanda]

31 minutes ago, Johnpenguin said:

I feel you, none of my buddies, besides my gf, will fish with me unless alcohol and weed is a part of it. 

Same. I would be so ticked at myself if I lost a fish Bc I was intoxicated.

For me its less about that and more about the absolute stupidity of drinking and driving. I love fishing so much that I dont need to be inebriated to enjoy it. Also if I hurt or killed someone because of drunk driving I don't think I could live with myself.

[WRB]

Unfortunately you live in PV Mexico with world class tuna and Marlin fishing that attracts anglers around the world. Unlke San Diego where salt water game fishing is also excellent and you can drive 30 minutes to fish for DD plus several bass fishing clubs are available.

The best you can do is find a buddy who likes to bass fish. I dought any fresh water fishing is popular in PV where fish are food and employment.

Tom

 

[BrianMDTX]

I fish like I bowhunt. 

 

Solo

[Alex from GA]

When I was younger I use to fish like you, sunup til sundown but no more.  A few times a year I'll go on a river float that lasts all day but most of my bass fishing, on lakes, is much shorter and I will have a beer on a hot day.  My boat's in a dock on the lake so no driving.

[Bluebasser86]

Man when I bought a boat, all the sudden I had more friends than I knew what to do with. I realize now a lot of them are just looking for a free ride in a boat (since very few offer gas money or if they do, it's actually enough to even cover the day's gas usage), and to get to be taken to where the fish are. They don't ever call unless it's to ask if they can ride along to go fishing. I've got a couple good friends that I fish with on occasion, otherwise I'd about prefer to just fish alone.

[TnRiver46]

I’ll fish with ya @king fisher! Now I just gotta figure out how to teleport to Mexico..........

 

quantam LEAP! 

[Jaderose]

I believe George Thorogood summed up my feelings about bass fishing....."You know when I fish alone, I prefer to be by myself."

[scaleface]

6 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I realize now a lot of them are just looking for a free ride in a boat (since very few offer gas money or if they do, it's actually enough to even cover the day's gas usage), and to get to be taken to where the fish are.

I use to take a guy who bought the beer, I paid for the gas . Then he would drink most the beer because I have to drive home.  Anymore , I just go by myself . Its more enjoyable and I catch more fish . Social entertainment  is what bowling night is for . 

[BrianMDTX]

1 hour ago, Jaderose said:

I believe George Thorogood summed up my feelings about bass fishing....."You know when I fish alone, I prefer to be by myself."

“The other day before breakfast,
On the boat was nobody but me. 
Headin’ out on the water,

That’s all I ever need.

’Cause I fish alone...

 

[12poundbass]

No one I know is a bass angler. Everyone around here is after bluegill, walleye, steelhead. 

[NoShoes]

Some of y’all need to relax. A beer or a drink doesn’t equal intoxicated. 

 

Of course you shouldn’t get drunk or intoxicated out on the boat. But a beer? Come on. 

[Koz]

I can't believe you make a 6 hour round trip to go fishing for the day.

 

Personally, I don't see the fun of drinking and fishing. And I HATE it when I find discarded beer and liquor bottles when I'm out fishing.

 

And while I occasionally enjoy going fishing with a friend, I really like heading out by myself. For me, it's one of the best ways to relax and clear my head.

[Shimano_1]

This is the very reason I have only 2 good buddies i fish with and my old man. Lots of acquaintances at work ask me when I'm going to take them all the time and I just kinda always play it off like yeah sometime we'll go. I totally understand why most people don't take it as seriously nor do I expect them to. Bass fishing seriously is an expensive habit that is much more work than most casual fisherman will ever put into it and that makes perfect sense to me. Its developed into a borderline obsession for me and luckily my dad is a guy who could do it for 14 hrs every time out.  Id suggest not even trying to get someone to be serious about it if they aren't. Branch out and maybe try some kayak tournaments etc as there are plenty of people who take it seriously just gotta find some like minded individuals.  Id be all over the chance to fish somewhere that a double digit fish lives, just wouldn't do it from a kayak lol

[OCdockskipper]

13 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

I fish like I bowhunt. 

 

 

In a tree?