What’s wrong with me! No motivation to go fishing?

[Captain Phil]

I can relate to all of this.  As I got older, my energy level has decreased.  I have been tested for low T and have been getting shots every three weeks for years.  This has been a big help.  I have back trouble and underwent a spinal fusion in March.   Recovery has been slow, but I am back fishing now.  What you may be experiencing is depression. This is very common with older men and not something to be ashamed of.  You need something to reignite your passion.  I just bought a new boat and can't wait to get back on the water.  Kayak fishing is fun when you are young, I wouldn't want to do it now.  You should also find a new fishing buddy.   You won't have trouble finding one if you try.  The fact that you are posting about this is a healthy sign.    

[ike8120]

I get like that, but it shall pass

[GTN-NY]

So after reading everyone’s comments, which I thank you very much for, I asked my wife to promise me I was not allowed to go or do anything until I took at least my flyrod to the closest lake to mess with some panfish. 
I went this morning for about 90 minutes and got a couple 4” bluegills and 3 rudds. 
Thank you everyone!!

[Koz]

Yesterday was my first full day off in months but I did not go fishing. The problem is that I store my kayak at my hotel, and if I went there to go fishing I'd get sucked into something for at least 5 or 6 hours.

 

So last night I went to bed early and set my alarm for 5:30 to get up and go fishing. But after more than 24 hours of not getting an emergency call for one thing or another at the hotel I could not find the motivation to fish and cross paths with the hotel. I need the time away.

 

It's now two in the afternoon and I'm still debating whether or not to head there and go out on my kayak, but I still lack the motivation. The wind has picked up, so that's my current excuse. I think I want to fish, but lugging the kayak and possibly getting caught up in work is a huge deterrent.

 

That should change later this week as I have new electronics and gear coming in by Wednesday, plus some new baits and a new St. Croix rod arriving. That should be plenty of motivation.

[TnRiver46]

I got a fever and the only cure is more fishing 

[NavyVet1204]

On 6/12/2021 at 7:49 AM, A-Jay said:

Perhaps consider switching 'something up'.

Maybe come up with your own type of 'challenge'.

Like only bring one type of bait with you,

 or fish very light tackle, 

or if you really want a bit of a rush,

go at night.

Might re-light the candle for you.

Good Luck & Fish Hard

A-Jay

 

This. This is why I love bank fishing and don’t so much mind not having a boat. I get tired of fishing the same holes quite often so I usually make it a point to try a new lure or at least a different color of a productive lure while walking for miles to get to different spots. Yeah it sounds crazy but I thoroughly enjoy the outdoors and the exercise to boot because lord knows I need it and the time to clear my mind in the process is invaluable. It’s times like your having when I pull out those lures that I bought on a whim that never got used for lack of interest or something other and I have been surprised quite a few times with that method. 

[BassinCNY]

10 hours ago, GTN-NY said:

So after reading everyone’s comments, which I thank you very much for, I asked my wife to promise me I was not allowed to go or do anything until I took at least my flyrod to the closest lake to mess with some panfish. 
I went this morning for about 90 minutes and got a couple 4” bluegills and 3 rudds. 
Thank you everyone!!

What the heck is a rudd? And I noticed you weren't there on Saturday. Hopefully I see you at the next one.

[GTN-NY]

7 hours ago, BassinCNY said:

What the heck is a rudd? And I noticed you weren't there on Saturday. Hopefully I see you at the next one.

Well we used to call them golden shiners when I was a kid. We used them for pike bait. They weren’t this big though. 

[geo g]

On 6/12/2021 at 3:58 PM, WRB said:

Know grief all too well lost my only son 22 Jan 2020 from cancer. There isn’t anything I can add as I sold my boat and all my tackle except a few things. Didn’t fish for over 2 years, still difficult. I know my son would want me to enjoy the things in life we shared together, that is my only motivation to back seat occasionally. 

It’s Fathers Day this weekend, very very difficult time when you lose your son or daughter. ?

Tom

 

Tom I feel your pain, but can't imagine your loss.  God bless you, and I hope he brings you some comfort, and peace.  Wish I could invite you to go out and catch some peas in the glades, that would be a real honor for me.  You are appreciated by so many on this site!

[MGF]

The relentless crowds are what's putting me off the most. The quiet river that my wife and I used to enjoy has hundreds of drunks playing loud music bombarding us now. Last week a crowd came at us with one saying..."I hope there aren't any hooks in the water". They use the boat for a hand rail...of course there are hooks!

 

Then there's the mediocre (at best) fishing. I've caught a million fish just like any one I'm going to catch now. How much aggravation would I suffer for another 16" bass?

 

You sit through a long cold boring winter looking forward to a fishing season that just comes to nothing. I'm about ready to sell my equipment. I gave up hunting for lack of decent hunting grounds and fishing may not be far behind.

[The Bassman]

Didn't really notice this thread until now. I guess I'm not the only one with this issue. Here in IN we're in one of the best times of the year for size and numbers. I'm pretty much fishing daily with good success. You know you're wearing it out when it starts feeling like work. Everything in moderation. I'm sure I'll get over it, though.

[WRB]

8 hours ago, geo g said:

 

Tom I feel your pain, but can't imagine your loss.  God bless you, and I hope he brings you some comfort, and peace.  Wish I could invite you to go out and catch some peas in the glades, that would be a real honor for me.  You are appreciated by so many on this site!

This is about grief a father loosing his son and the OP also lost his sons wife, Fathers Day is this weekend so give thanks and support to all the fathers and pray for those who out I lived their children. Nothing can prepare a parent for the grief and remembering the good times is all we can hope for.

Thank you,

Tom 

[GTN-NY]

1 minute ago, WRB said:

This is about grief a father loosing his son and the OP also lost his sons wife, Fathers Day is this weekend so give thanks and support to all the fathers and pray for those who out I lived their children. Nothing can prepare a parent for the grief and remembering the good times is all we can hope for.

Thank you,

Tom 

Tom all so very true. 
maybe I just read your post wrong but I lost my son and his girlfriend. 
And I guess I should clarify about my son. My son while under the influence of booze and drugs killed his girlfriend with a knife. He caused 100’s of people so much pain. He is in prison where he belongs for the rest of his life. 
My pain isn’t the same as Tom’s but the grief and depression are still real because in my eyes I lost my son that day and a monster took his place. At 33 he was still my baby, my fishing partner and my best friend and that’s gone now. 
It’s taken me 3 years to put that in writing. 

[NHBull]

Your mind has a funny way of playing you and your not alone.

 

Exercise....even walking, can turn things around.  Climbing stairs can give you a sense of accomplishment.  You need small wins

 

Changing daily habits is another thing that help.

Start small...wake up earlier, make your bed, have something different for breakfast, wear you watch on your other hand.  Go out of your way to compliment others

 

Chalenger yourself....pick a short window to fish, bring a bait you are not proficient with and fish it for 2 hrs....

 

.....this isn't about fishing...

 

 

 

 

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, GTN-NY said:

Tom all so very true. 
maybe I just read your post wrong but I lost my son and his girlfriend. 
And I guess I should clarify about my son. My son while under the influence of booze and drugs killed his girlfriend with a knife. He caused 100’s of people so much pain. He is in prison where he belongs for the rest of his life. 
My pain isn’t the same as Tom’s but the grief and depression are still real because in my eyes I lost my son that day and a monster took his place. At 33 he was still my baby, my fishing partner and my best friend and that’s gone now. 
It’s taken me 3 years to put that in writing. 

Wow I know that was hard to share, your Bass resource family is here for you buddy! 

[throttleplate]

7 hours ago, The Bassman said:

Didn't really notice this thread until now. I guess I'm not the only one with this issue. Here in IN we're in one of the best times of the year for size and numbers. I'm pretty much fishing daily with good success. You know you're wearing it out when it starts feeling like work. Everything in moderation. I'm sure I'll get over it, though.

i caught a bunch of bass the last 2 weeks on different lures trying to keep it interesting that way so i feel i accomplished something.

It gets old catching 3 lbers, a 4.5 and up gets me excited reeling it in thinking it may break my pb of 6. Now a days i want a big one over 6 so i go searching with waders where others dont and throwing different lures and it is then challenging to myself.

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, throttleplate said:

 

It gets old catching 3 lbers

(Insert kiss my rear end emoji)

[Bird]

The crowds have certainly taken the wind out of the sail.

Before the pandemic I was fishing 3 days a week, that has plummeted to 2 days per week. 

 

It's perfectly fine to take a break as fishing can be taxing at times.

Wakeup thinking positive thoughts and make someone smile. 

It just may require an emotional adjustment. 

[TOXIC]

I haven’t been as motivated since I got back from fishing a week straight in Michigan.  Of course catching 30 to 75 smallmouth, rock bass, largemouth and the occasional white bass, pike and walleye every day has kind of filled my fishing dance card for a while.  The weather hasn’t helped either.  

[throttleplate]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

(Insert kiss my rear end emoji)

 

My wife is a tough fisherwoman, just the other day she caught 25 bass in 5 1/2 hrs standing in the same spot. When she catches anything under 4 lbs she says aw just another small one?.

 

[TnRiver46]

27 minutes ago, throttleplate said:

 

My wife is a tough fisherwoman, just the other day she caught 25 bass in 5 1/2 hrs standing in the same spot. When she catches anything under 4 lbs she says aw just another small one?.

 

Somebody has to do the hard work of catching all the big ones, looks like y’all have made the sacrifice and agreed to take on the project 

 

ill just keep fishing for 13 hours straight and catching a couple dinks, I don’t want bore myself catching a bunch of  3 lbers!.........

[volzfan59]

7 hours ago, GTN-NY said:

Tom all so very true. 
maybe I just read your post wrong but I lost my son and his girlfriend. 
And I guess I should clarify about my son. My son while under the influence of booze and drugs killed his girlfriend with a knife. He caused 100’s of people so much pain. He is in prison where he belongs for the rest of his life. 
My pain isn’t the same as Tom’s but the grief and depression are still real because in my eyes I lost my son that day and a monster took his place. At 33 he was still my baby, my fishing partner and my best friend and that’s gone now. 
It’s taken me 3 years to put that in writing. 

I'll be thinking about you this weekend.

[schplurg]

I want to go fishing, or maybe I feel like I have to, today. But ya, it's hard sometimes. Like I said before not sure what it is with me. Depression from a tough year, maybe had Covid awhile back and didn't know it. Tired too much!

 

Today it's kinda hot, so I will wait a bit and hit either the creek or the lake. Better chances at the creek, but kinda tired of it. The lake - it's like I'm talking myself out of it. "It's farther, hardly catch anything, kinda warm..."

 

Since when do I make excuses NOT to fish? What happened to "show me a puddle and I'll fish it"?

 

I think I'll do this to take pressure off - bring food, bring drinks, and plan on getting some fresh air...and MAYBE I'll catch a few in the process. Sometimes it's all about how you look at things.

 

I'm goin doggone it!!!!!! And nothing I say to myself will change my mind haha!

 

Everyone who sees this msg tonight, just go!  

 

Edit:

Oh cool I got my new UV shirts and my new UV gloves today, gonna try them out and do some UV fishin'!

[schplurg]

Okay I'm back already. No fish, no bites. Heck the water is so low even by the dam...man that's depressing and it's not even summer yet!  

 

But I got out and fished. A few other guys were around. No bites for them either, could hear them talking. I have little confidence here anyways, but when I catch a bass it's usually pretty good and healthy looking.

 

A guy arrived with one rod and a jerkbait tied on as I left. He looked like he knew something I didn't. I intended to night fish but I got there way too early.

 

But man that low water. That's why I like the creek, it's always full! I wanted to fish longer but I got frustrated and left after an hour. I mean I'm like 2 fish for 15 visits here so my confidence is kinda dwindling LOL.

 

But the main point was to get out and fish and I'm glad I did. I could have gone closer to home but I wanted to try the lake. I'd say water is at least 35 feet low. Tried a crankbait that was already tied onto my BC, then a plastic thingy on spinning for about 10 casts, then a chatterbait the rest of the time.

 

Two hours ago (that's a cast not a catch).

 

PS: The UV shirt (Hanes from Amazon $18 for 2)) seems good. It was pretty warm today and it kept that heat off my arms. Never fished with long sleeves before. Didn't try the gloves (Kast King).

 

One more thing - I've had my best days and a PB on days where I wasn't sure I really wanted to go but went anyways. You just never know.

 

Edit to add:

Fishing helps take my mind off of things. I hope others here like you GTN-NY can get that out of it.

[zmcfishing]

I lose motivation from time to time too. I personally think it's from not wanting to drive 30 minutes just to go fish somewhere that isn't private or poor overall due to the amount of pressure. Fishing in Indiana, in my opinion, is just terrible unless you have access to a boat to get off the bank and I find it easy to lose motivation.