Do you agree with this quote?

[Swamp Girl]

I just read this line the trout-fishing book, "At the Loch of the Green Corrie" and I'm wondering if you agree with it. If so, why? If not, why not?

 

"If you don't enjoy fishing when you don't catch a fish, you shouldn't be a fisherman."

 

I know this is true for me because I didn't catch fish when I first started fishing, but I still kept fishing. I loved and love the act of casting. And I loved and love the uncertainty, never knowing if and when. I even loved and love opening my tackle box and wondering what might work.

[WRB]

I love to fish catching is a bonus.

Tom

[A-Jay]

"If you don't enjoy fishing when you don't catch a fish, you shouldn't be a fisherman."

 

There is so much more to it for me than simply wetting a line.

Slipping the net under a fat bass is the cumulation of quite a bit of time & energy that doesn't show up in the end of season fish catching stats.

But it plays a huge role and I enjoy it all.

Including this thread.

 

So my response would be something like  . . . 

For me to be successful, I need to love it all.

Fish catching results will take care of themselves.

Bass Hard

A-Jay

 

[Hammer 4]

I agree with it. Can't count how many times I've been skunked, but still had a good time.

[Team9nine]

Nope - 

 

"You go fishing to catch fish. Forget the defensive rationalization about the fresh air, sunshine, and pretty scenery. People talk about these things only to disguise the fact they're not catching fish. Concentrate on the fish. Then you'll enjoy the fringe benefits even more."

 

Bill Binkelman

December, 1963

 

YMMV 

 

[N Florida Mike]

I enjoy the whole experience.

That being said , I enjoy catching fish THE MOST.

I can still experience and enjoy the essence of nature without fishing and not catching anything. I go to catch fish. The other stuff is icing on the cake of catching!

And then there’s also eating some, which you will also not experience if you don’t catch any !

[MN Fisher]

Catching is a bonus...being out on the lake is my 'down time' from the real world.

[gim]

4 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Catching is a bonus...being out on the lake is my 'down time' from the real world.

There was a time when I was younger when I was hell bent on catching AND harvesting fish. Anything less was a failure. Those days are long behind me. It feels great to just get in my boat for a few hours, throttle down, and avoid the rigors of daily life for a while.

 

I feel the same way when I’m hunting now too. I find it to be very peaceful. It helps reduce stress.

[Johnbt]

"You go fishing to catch fish."

 

If all I wanted was a fish, I'd go to the fish market.

[Darth-Baiter]

"enjoyment" isn't single speed.  there are many levels.  (for me at least)

 

I dont agree with it.  

[king fisher]

I believe in the old saying.  It's not the kill, It's the thrill of the hunt.  Same goes for fishing.

[PressuredFishing]

Well, I find alot of fun in the equipment; tackle, lures, and the environment, but lots of the urban parts of SOCAL are trashy, unsafe/dangerous, and you are around alot of people that aren't kind. So sometimes I just go fishing in terrible areas just to catch fish, and when I don't it's not a great day

 

Maybe I'll move to a more rural state or clean state that doesn't have human fecalmatter around every block and  homeless bathing in lakes.

[Chris Catignani]

1 hour ago, ol'crickety said:

...

"If you don't enjoy fishing when you don't catch a fish, you shouldn't be a fisherman."

...

I have to agree. I love being on the water...and it's those slow days that gets me on the trail to new water.

[Catt]

I enjoy the hunt as much as the catch. 

[Team9nine]

25 minutes ago, Johnbt said:

"You go fishing to catch fish."

 

If all I wanted was a fish, I'd go to the fish market.

That would work if ‘harvesting fish’ and ‘catching fish’ were one and the same thing to you   
 

They both probably cost about the same these days, too ?

[king fisher]

When I was a kid I liked to play baseball.  When I hit a home run, I was on top of the world, but when I struck out I still liked playing baseball.  I was always sure the next time at bat I would hit a home run.  Fishing is the same.  When I catch a big bass I am very happy, but when I am not catching, I'm still trying and having fun at the same time.  The best part is, I never know when the next cast will be the one I catch my PB on.  At the end of the day even if I get skunked I can always say I will catch them tomorrow. there is always another time at bat, and maybe if I buy a new lure, I wont get skunked the next time.

[scaleface]

I can handle bad outings but if every outing was bad I would find something else .

[GreenPig]

Don't catch fish? No. No. That's at odds with my religion. I must catch, photo, and send them in to satisfy my court ordered fishing trips.

[Catt]

2 hours ago, Catt said:

I enjoy the hunt as much as the catch. 

 

I like to compare bass fishing to deer hunting. When I say deer hunting I don't mean setting in a stand over looking a feeder. I'm on the ground, rifle in hand, stealthily moving through the woods.

 

My fish finder is tied to the end of my line.

[WRB]

The Scott quote in context comes a purist fly fisherman that the pursuit is as important as the catch.

The catch doesn’t get you out of bed at O’dark 30 the pursuit does. If catching is your goal get up at 9 AM and catch numbers of keeper size fish, little challenge in that.

The pursuit keeps you focused on your goal catching fish or not.

Tom

 

[desmobob]

I can still enjoy the day if I get skunked and I certainly believe there is more to fishing than catching fish.   But if I never caught fish, or got skunked on most trips, or never caught a big one occasionally... I might start spending the time on other hobbies.  ?

[MinDoFmejiA]

One of my favorite quotes actually comes from king of the hill

Hank : We don't fish for the fish. 90% of what I like about this sport, and it is a sport, is sittin' in the boat for 5 hours doin' nuthin'. And the icing on the cake is when God smiles on you and you hook one. And when you're reeling it in, everything else falls away. You don't think about taxes, or traffic, or that pushy gal that's tryin' to get into The Citadel, or who's gonna take care of you when your mother and I are old and incapacitated. All there is is a man, a rod, a lake, and a fish

[LrgmouthShad]

From commentary on a Journal Science study done sixty years ago on the effects of dopamine:

 

“But instead of pleasure, intoxication, or happiness, they [the study participants] tended to repeatedly stimulate an area of the Midline Thalamus [being able to choose to stimulate different parts of their brain]. It causes mild frustration and anticipation. Huberman calls it the hope center of the brain.”

 

The hunt is very enjoyable

 

 

Source:

https://medium.com/mind-cafe/a-neuroscientists-simple-recommendation-for-a-more-enjoyable-life-77cf343a0c3

[Susky River Rat]

I enjoy the putting the pieces of the puzzle together and catching fish. Sure if it’s a nice day I will enjoy being out I get to see things like man that is cool. At the end of the day though I want to catch fish. If I didn’t catch fish on most of my days out I probably would not do it anymore. The accomplishment is what I like. I also wouldn’t deal with the headaches of the boat ramp and the pleasure yakkers if I didn’t catch fish.

[Deleted account]

Nope, I enjoy the catching, the fishing is just a prerequisite.