Fishing alone

[HawkeyeSmallie]

When I was younger I used to fish with friends or by myself and it never really bothered me to fish alone.

 

Now, many years later, I'm almost 48 and hate going alone.

 

Sometimes I'll choose to stay home as it's hard for me to get out there by myself.

 

The thing is, once I do go out, I have no problem being alone on the water and have fun.

 

My oldest boy is now in college and my youngest is a freshman in high school and they aren't big into fishing. Although they normally have fun when they go.

 

I'm normally in my kayak and my wife is willing to go sometimes with me but hates fishing out of a kayak. If I get a boat I think she would come a lot more. Fish a little and then read or something when bored. OK, mostly just read.

 

Anyone else like this? I guess it's just nice to have someone share my experience with. Also a cameraman to take your pictures of your catches!  

 

 

 

[DaubsNU1]

I've always enjoyed fishing alone...even as a young kid. Connecting with God / nature / satisfaction of figuring things out myself / freedom to come and go as I please / peace and quiet. 

 

As I have gotten older, and now manage a team, their primary role is customer service...I find myself fishing alone even more(!). 

 

My first boat was pretty small...could fish two, but not comfortably. And the wife wasn't about to hang with me in the old Rich Line. 

 

Last summer upgrade to the Lund...and the wife loves it! I'll head out pre-dawn to my home lake, just 10 minutes from home. Wife will drive out and join me around 10 AM, bringing snacks and her book. It's a great way to relax on the water. She usually lasts about an hour, to an hour-and-a-half, and then we head home together. 

 

I do fish with my 83 year old Dad and brother, which is GREAT! But aside from that, it's me and me alone on that boat. 

 

 

I have a ram mount that my phone goes in...it's easy to take pictures of my fish...

 

[Pat Brown]

Best thing about having co anglers - figuring out the bite quicker - that and spending quality time with the ones we care most about.

 

I got nothing - I feel for you and hope you can find some folks who share your passion to be out on the water with and I simultaneously hope that my son always has time for a trip with Dad but know that it may not always be the case forever.

 

Best we can do is be grateful for the time we have.

[Team9nine]

Fishing alone - wrote a song about it. Like to hear it? Here it goes!

 

"I fish alone.

Yeah, with nobody else.

I fish alone.

Yeah, with nobody else.

Yeah, you know when I fish alone

I prefer to be by myself."

 

Thank you very much!

 

 

 

[A-Jay]

These days it's a special event when my wife is able to fish with me.

However last several season, there are rarely any other people fishing with me.

But that doesn't mean I'm always alone.

A-Jay

 

 

[rboat]

I fish alone also. I have a buddy that will sometimes join me, but we are both retired and his wife has him traveling alot. I really dont mind being by myself, it is just nice to share the chores of loading and unloading the boat at the ramp. It also feels safer with someone and better should any breakdown or problem occur. Someone to watch your gear when you are off parking the truck is also kind of comforting. The best thing is sharing the memories, talking, photos, and trying to out fish eachother for bragging rights. If I want to fish, I am mostly going to be alone.

[TnRiver46]

I fish however it’s available. I prefer going with friends but fish alone plenty when nobody else can go 

[Functional]

99% of the time I'm fishing alone. I'd say a handful of times I have my father or brother in law out with me through the year but thats about it.

 

I enjoy fishing alone, gives me some quiet time. I dont have to stress over "hosting" someone on the boat and making sure I find fish on a slow day. It is nice to have someone out there every now and then and to have someone offer up some thoughts on what to do/where to try. 

[Alex from GA]

My buddy and I use to fish several times a week but since I've been going to FL in the winter he found another partner and I fish alone 90% of the time in the lake.  In rivers I haven't fished alone in years because if I get in trouble I don't have the physical ability to get myself out of it.  No big deal to take pictures; I prop the phone on the dash and shoot away when I'm by myself and I don't have to share the good fishing spots.

[scaleface]

I fish alone mainly because none of my friends are into bass fishing. They fish a few hours with their zebco 33's and become bored  by not catching fish. 

[Koz]

Most of the time I fish alone. In fact, often times I need that to decompress.

 

Have you thought about starting a kayak fishing club in your area? You could get together and fish for fun or all pitch in $5 for the big bass of the day.

 

You could post here on BR in the fishing clubs forum. Heck, maybe I’ll do that and start a GA club for winter fishing once the tournament season ends.

[Spankey]

I’m a bit older than you, I’m 65. Fishing alone is pretty common for me. But over the years I enjoyed having my father and father-in-law come out with me. But they were not regular about it. They have both passed for quite some time now.  But I have grandsons that get out with me. I love getting them out and don’t care if I fish at all when they are with me. I have two other grandsons that are quite younger. 1 1/2 yo and a 3+ yo. I’ve had the 3 yo out but his train of thought is not that long yet. I want to live long enough to get them hooked.  Got to have grandsons to take my stuff when I’m gone. Heck one grandson sort of claimed the boat. He doesn’t have a drivers license yet to even pull it. 
As a kid (9-10) I started taking to fishing for trout pretty seriously (seriously might not be the right word). Sometime other guys would go but I was into it and didn’t care if they went or not. But I was lucky that I was safe from a mishap. I would get heck from mom for it as a kid.  I lied about going many of times but she said she could smell the creek on me. I would not recommend it for kids. 
But in your case you might be able to find a kayak club or kayak group that meets up to go. Might be something that’s was a long time coming. Might open up better opportunities. A change that’s been needed. 

[GreenPig]

  I'm 49 and prefer to bass fish alone and that allows me to make immediate changes in location or presentation. At times I'll go from throwing a 10" Glidebait to dead sticking a TRD from one cast to the next. Also many of my trips are unplanned, spur of the moment deals.

  I do catfish with a friend  and take my sister and a couple friends catfishing several times a year. I'm in a more relaxed state of mind while dragging chicken compared to my hyper focused tunnel vision while bass fishing.

  Plus, I sing using my outside voice while hunting bass. Rock, Pop, Country, Gospel, the Blues,etc., I don't even know what's coming, it just happens.

[gim]

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I fish however it’s available. I prefer going with friends but fish alone plenty when nobody else can go 

 

This is me too.  I ask someone to go with nearly every time I go, but frequently no one else is able to go.  Its called life.  I understand.

 

This 4 legged partner is ALWAYS ready and willing to go.  I just can't let her sit out in the blazing hot sun for very long because she over heats quickly.

 

 

[Susky River Rat]

I fish alone very often. Sometimes I like the company sometimes I do not. My doggie is almost always with me. He loves it and throws a fit when he doesn’t go. So summer time early trips and he has his very own fan

[TnRiver46]

I don’t take dogs often cuz we have 3 and they don’t like being separated 😂 

[gim]

[looking45]

When I fish alone, I ALWAYS let someone know which ramp I’m launching at and what time I expect to be home. I also leave a card on the dash with my name and a contact number other than mine. 

[Junk Fisherman]

For the last couple years I have always fished alone.  I used to have a fishing buddy but we had a falling out.  I really enjoyed fishing with him and we fished just about every weekend for years.  It's great when you have someone that you enjoy being with even if you're not catching fish.  Good conversation, laughter, and sharing memories on the water is what it's all about.  Since my dad passed, I have no one that I really share fishing info with.  My wife listens and is supportive but it's not the same as someone that knows exactly what you're doing and can relate to everything you experienced.  On a side note, my dad passed 4 years ago in December.  Probably the saddest moment I had was the first time I went fishing a couple months later.  After a good day on the water as I was driving home the realization that I couldn't call him and tell him about my day was just crushing and hit me unexpectedly.

 

I hope my son (10) develops a love for fishing.  I'm trying to get him into it but video games and Youtube is currently winning.  Actually, tonight I am rejoining my bass club after a couples years away with a main reason being to fish with others and have a little more camaraderie on the water.  Great topic.    

[Randy Price]

Depends who I'm fishing with.  I'll be 60 next month and sadly have lost three of my favorite fishing partners.  I joined a local musky fishing club but haven't connected with anyone.  I actually enjoy fishing at least one day by myself prior to our little tournament.

[crypt]

I prefer to fish alone. It lets me to decompress after 60+ hour work week......I don't want to talk or see anyone.

[WRB]

I preferred to fish alone in rainy weather in the pre spawn period back in the day when I had a boat. Always fished night tournaments with my son mis fishing with Tommy.

Out lived all my fishing partners and no boat now so if I go fishing it’s as a back seater.

Don’t pass up a chance to go fishing with your kids, make it a priority,

Tom

[Catt]

11 minutes ago, WRB said:

Don’t pass up a chance to go fishing with your kids, make it a priority,

Tom

 

 

"Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers". 

 

 

[LonnieP]

I prefer to fish alone. I enjoy the solitude and getting away from people. It’s probably been at least 10 years since I’ve fished with someone else. 

[LrgmouthShad]

Any day I can get on the water with @thediscochef, @Pat Brown, @FishTax, Jake, or @IcatchDinks is a great day. I need FishTax there to remind me how to set the hook! 
 

I fish with family sometimes at home and I keep a second kayak at the casa for fishing with guests in Texas. I’ve fished with someone else more this year than any year in the past.