Fishing alone

[padlin]

I lost my brother and best friend in the last few years, they were my fishing partners. So now I go alone unless one of the grandkids go along. I really see no downside to fishing alone, quite the opposite. When I have someone along I have to take the boat when I much prefer the canoe. I also spend the day trying to put whoever I’m with on the fish with me taking the back side, which I certainly don’t mind, but it does limit how much fishing I really get in.

[islandbass]

I certainly don’t mind fishing with good company. However, that is not my reality. None of my friends who still

live in the area fish. My kids who used to fish with me have their own lives. My wife wants nothing to do with fish or fishing (and that is not necessarily a bad thing).
 

Consequently, I fish alone 99.9999999999% of the time. However, I am an introvert so I don’t mind at all and it’s my reality. I get to reflect on life, focus on perhaps a technique or two, or experiment, or maybe just throw on a float and bobber fish for blue gill because the bass found out I was coming to the lake and decided to stay home. 

[Mobasser]

I fish alone probably 90% of the time. I'm ok with it.

[gim]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

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

 

My boy turns 6 in November and he's gone with me half a dozen times this past season.  Its a learning process for both of us that requires a lot of patience on my part.

 

 

[herder]

Been exclusively kayak fishing for 20 yrs. Before that own several different boats and shoreline fished at lot too.

So a lot of the time I’m fishing alone, though I do have several friends who I do kayak fish with at times.

Unfortunately like many others here I have lost friends and some that due to health issues are unable to  fish anymore.

I don’t mind fishing alone though my wife is not too keen on it.

I do miss at times the comradery when with others, sharing info and busting on each other.

I’m just extremely grateful that I’m still able to get out and do what I do at 71

[Swamp Girl]

If I'm taking someone fishing, my main task is to help them catch fish. So, I don't catch nearly as many fish when fishing with someone.

 

Alone, I'm focused on fishing, not my partner, and catch accordingly.

 

I enjoy both ways.

[MIbassyaker]

Happy loner here.

 

I fish to avoid people, if only for a little while.  Not that I dislike people (well, some I do), but every other facet of my life requires near-constant social interaction and I need a break.  Often.

 

I know and am friendly with other anglers, but I don't have fishing buddies and don't really want fishing buddies. I don't fish tournaments. I don't belong to any fishing groups or clubs (other than the occasional online forum or comment section...). My wife isn't really into fishing, and we don't have kids, so there is nobody at home to take with me.  I avoid crowded waters like the plague, and I fish at times people are less likely to be out, such as midweek early mornings. 

[Bird]

I have no lack of fishing partners but still enjoy fishing alone if I can keep my mouth shut.

Wife goes often with a book.

[papajoe222]

5 hours ago, gimruis said:

How much is that muskie bait and where can I get one?

I fish alone the majority of the times I get out, especially when I'm targeting a new lake or one I haven't been to in a couple of years. I fish to catch and to figure out where they are, what their mood is and what it takes to catch them on any given day.

When I'm out with someone else, my focus changes to making sure that someone has a good time an hopefully catches a few fish.  Most of the time that someone is a youngster, or a veteran that either has never been fishing, or is a novice.

[GRiver]

I mostly fish alone, I have friends that fish too, but have their own boats, we fish different areas and different species. When we do go at the same time, we meet at the sandwich shop and have a snack and something to drink. We what we caught and what on, that kinda thing. 
 I meet the neighbor a few properties down, a pan fisherman. He stopped by asking about bass fishing, wanted me to help him catch some bass.
Told him I’d take him out and at least he could learn from me what not to do. 

[fishingram24]

I have one long time, 45 years, fishing buddy that I still fish with often but probably 75% of the time I'm alone. I'll be 70 in a few months and it helps to have another person when launching and trailing the boat but it's not a necessity at this point in my life, yet.  When I'm alone I don't have to worry about leaving water for the guy in the back or hoping they have a good day but still nice sometimes to have another opinion as to what we should do. Sometimes it's just nice to have a day to yourself.

[Motoboss]

I fish alone. My fishing partners have either moved away or passed away. What family I have left have never fished and the Wife doesn’t like the water, had a brother drown 20+ years ago. I’ve downsized my boat(s) to a canoe and at 70 enjoy my retirement days on the water. Although I only fish the days and hours my Wife is at work as to not be away when she is home.

 

 I do mostly golf twice a week with a regular group of guys so I’m not totally alienated from social contact but fish time is my time!

[Zcoker]

I can’t say in a million years that I’d  recommend fishing alone where I fish, which is deep in the Florida everglades—at night. But most won’t even consider it, so I go it alone. I go it alone because I want to catch big fish, which is when they roam. Took a LOT of time adjusting, but not a ton of time since I fished a lot at night for sharks off our local beaches. Even with that I had to go at it solo since most passed on the invite. Too scared lol  Some things ya just gotta cut the mustard by yourself, which is ok. I’m having a ball and look forward to it all the time, any time I can. Those night time everglades top water explosions are like a big cup of the strongest coffee Kaboom!  

[PourMyOwn]

On 9/24/2024 at 5:40 PM, Junk Fisherman said:

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'm right there with you. I lost my dad in July and the first trip without him was one of the hardest days I've had.

I have run the trolling motor for the last 10 year or so as he preferred to sit once he turned 70. I caught myself turning around and starting to ask him where he wanted to go, and of course he wasn't there. 

 

Now I go alone, and it's just not the same.

[SC53]

Well, I’m the opposite of most of y’all as I prefer fishing with someone. My wife is my #1 fishing partner for almost 30 years now. We fish great together. She fishes a certain lure while I fish another.  It helps me figure out the pattern much faster. I can make whatever on the water decisions that need made, with her help a lot of times, and we adjust locations.
I have a couple of buddies I fish with, especially saltwater but if it’s bass fishing, it’s the wife. 

[Junk Fisherman]

12 hours ago, PourMyOwn said:

I'm right there with you. I lost my dad in July and the first trip without him was one of the hardest days I've had.

I have run the trolling motor for the last 10 year or so as he preferred to sit once he turned 70. I caught myself turning around and starting to ask him where he wanted to go, and of course he wasn't there. 

 

Now I go alone, and it's just not the same.

That's really hard.  Sorry for your loss.  There's a lake I fish a couple times a year (Newton Lake) that my dad and I would always meet up and fish at.  The first trip after he passed was really hard.  I'd remember the tree where he threw his spinnerbait in, where we ran aground on a sandbar and I had to get out and push the boat off in 50 degree water, where we each caught a 4 lber on back to back casts on a beaver dam.  I actually dreaded the first time going there but knew I had to.  I still think about him all the time but the sadness turned to just missing him.  

[Catt]

I spent a lot of years fishing Team Tournaments where each boat was allowed to weigh 5 bass only. Each angler must catch at least 1 bass. I fished with same partner for 36 years. 

 

I also enjoy fishing alone but there will come a time when that is no longer an option. That time started a year ago for me. I'm still allowed to fish alone but no more running marshes & swamps alone.

[Woody B]

I enjoy fishing alone.  I can stay as long as I want to, or come home as soon as I want.   I enjoy it when my Grandsons go with me.  They're busy hard working young men.  I normally go fishing early.  They don't like to get up early if they aren't working.     My boat is crowded with 3 people but I still enjoy fishing with them,  They're both spur of the moment pond fishermen.   My youngest Grandson (now 18) was a ......wreckless caster.  On one trip, with just him and myself I worked with him on his casting.  He could cast a mile, but not accurate, and sounded like a brick going into the water.    A couple weeks after my casting lessons he caught a 6 pound Bass in a pond where he never caught anything.  He credited accurate, quite casting for the catch.      We send each other fishing pictures all the time.   Last year my oldest Grandson sent me a picture of me.......on Lake Wylie fishing when I was supposed to be working.   He's in construction, and was working on a house on the Lake.   

 

[volzfan59]

I've always enjoyed fishing alone, actually preferred it. Now that I'm older (65) and have balance issues due to a couple of concussions, I've come to realize that having someone onboard isn't the end of the world...... .....as long as they don't talk constantly!

[Functional]

1 minute ago, volzfan59 said:

.....as long as they don't talk constantly!

Among some other things (like feeling like you need to get the other(s) on fish, and length of stay, start/stop times) I feel like this is a big hurdle for a lot of people. The ability to just sit in silence with someone and not feel like you need to fill the void. I have this with both my father and brother in law. I've fished with others but theres always been a need to make it a social event from the other person or even me if they seem awkward. 

 

Between fishing and hunting its amazing the things you'll see and how close you can see them at if you just close your mouth and sit. Not to mention be able to appreciate it all more. 

[StrikePrince]

I love fishing alone or with my brother who is into fishing like me.  It's hard to fish with "newbs" who you have to worry about getting bored.  If I go with newb friends I see it more as a social outing than a real fishing outing.

 

Fishing alone is great- no pressure, freedom to just hang out in a spot even if nothing is happening, trying whatever crazy lures/techniques you want to for however long you want to.

[Bankbeater]

I fish alone 99% of the time.  A lot of the hard core anglers I know also fish by themselves.

[K1500]

On 9/24/2024 at 12:08 PM, HawkeyeSmallie said:

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!  

 

 

 

I am about the same age/stage of life and I feel the same way. I have a 20’ bass boat and to be honest, it’s a fair bit of work to go alone. I do it sometime but would rather go with my kids. One is in college and the other is in high school and not interested fishing (plus school activities take up a lot of time). I guess I’m gonna have to learn to go alone if I want to go, as none of my friends fish. 

[Mrpike]

I'm very lucky for many years fished alone a lot. My wife only came when she was off work we worked opposite shifts for years. I didn't mind fishing alone but it got long and boring some sometimes. My wife had a job change and now we have 3 day weekends together this whole summer I never fished alone once. Except for maybe wanting to try a new method out alone it has been great she can do anything fishing except back the trailer in. I'm a lucky guy. However I can't stand to fish with anyone else especially adults. It's like you need to perform and just throw the lure out and bam a fish. No Thanks. I do enjoy kids though have helped with fishing clinics that kind of stuff it's rewarding. Starting to have some balance issues so it's nice with her in the boat. I'm only 51 she's older 56 and I must admit it's nice having her help. 

[HawkeyeSmallie]

18 hours ago, K1500 said:

I am about the same age/stage of life and I feel the same way. I have a 20’ bass boat and to be honest, it’s a fair bit of work to go alone. I do it sometime but would rather go with my kids. One is in college and the other is in high school and not interested fishing (plus school activities take up a lot of time). I guess I’m gonna have to learn to go alone if I want to go, as none of my friends fish. 

 

Well, at least there are two of us in the world.

 

Not from Iowa are you? LOL