do you ever loose the passion?

[Guest avid]

I don't know why, but for some reason I'm not as motivated as usual to go out and fish.  Can't explain it. Yeah it's hot, and I have some aches and pains, but theres nothing new about that.  It never discouraged me before.  Something is missing in the desire department.

Maybe I should take up golf for a while (NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO)

Seriously, I'm at a sort of impasse.

Ever happen to you?

If so, what made it pass.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Hey Avid Ive been there sometimes I think its God's way of helping us keep all the important things in our Lives in Balance

 Ill tell you the single best thing that got me out of a bad I DONT NEED NO SINKIN FISHIN fut. I got a girlfriend who kept wanting me to go shopping with her THAT WAS ENOUGH TO SCARE MY BUTT bsck into a fishing boat

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

That's the benefit of New England, nothing gets old except the people and the buildings.  We have 4 seasons, every one drastically different.  The cabin fever in the winter creates such a drive and passion each year that I do wonder if I would "tire" of it for periods if not for the layover.

The passion doesn't leave.  It will always be there,it's who you are but maybe the need to express it can come to be outweighed by the hassle some days of the aches and pains and troubles it takes to launch the boat,etc, etc.

My passion also mutates.  From freshwater to salt to fly fishing, all different aspects and angles.  Perhaps you could participate in somthing fishing related as opposed to direct time on the water.

Maybe start building rods or making tackle for a hobby. Now your outtings aren't just fishing trips but somthing new,...R & D trips.  You may find a new excitement.

Or perhaps you could go on a mission.  Start a CAST for kids event.

or

Just take someone new fishing with you.  This is my latest mutation.  Dirk can't fish as much anymore, family and all, so I have been taking all kinds of new people right down to the people I meet here.

Anyone wanna fish with Avid?  I know I would if I were more south.  Trust me, it wouldn't be the same as when you go alone,...I PROMISE!

Mix it up, who knows.....

Yersterday I took a UPS buddy who is shipping off to Iraq soon.  Much more rewarding day giving him a thank you gift before he goes than if I went alone.

Sgt  Scott Horridge

[Madhouse27]

Avid, I've been right where you are and it just passed on its own after a couple of days. In this 24/7 world that we live in, it's easy to get burned out on something. We fish after work and on the weekends, shop, post, chat and research fishing on the internet, watch the fishing shows we TIVO'd, work on our equiptment and boats....it's almost insanity. You almost need to take a break if nothing else to simply recharge your battery. I think take a step or two back. Do a project around the house thats going to take a few days. You'll be back as good as new in no time.

[BillyJack]

Take a youngster out and focus on putting them on some good fish. Even if it's just pond hoping. It'll humble you and seeing their reaction to catching fish might remind you why you started fishing to begin with. Key is to take the work or reputition out of it.

I like the "Go Shopping" idea as well. Just the thought of having to makes me want to go hook up the boat!  ;D

[flechero]

I think it happens to almost everyone, especially the hardcore.  It's happens to me every couple of years... usually has lasted a few weeks to a few months.  

You don't really loose the passion, it more like you just need a little time to recharge.  Remember the old saying, everything in moderation?  Well most of us fish well beyond moderation!  ...lol  It's you body and mind saying "time out, I need a rest."

I wouldn't worry about it, you'll be back into the swing of it as soon as you're ready.

Yersterday I took a UPS buddy who is shipping off to Iraq soon

LBH-  Very cool, you are the king of paying it forward!!  

[earthworm77]

Avid, this happened to me in the early 90's. Of course I was fishing about 250 days a year but things just got so passe I lacked any motivation. I solved it by switching gears and learning new methods to catch fish. I became totally engrossed in catching fish on light tackle. It actually started in the Ocala National Forest where I took a 13.9 on 6lb line. I took this light tackle fishing back to Long Island NY and reinvented myself. I've never looked back. When things ger dreary, I pick up a lighter stick and I get happy again.

[dodgeguy]

don't go for 2 weeks.at the end of 2 weeks you'll be shaking for a fix!!!

[KYbass1276]

Avid I have been going through the same here lately I have been switching it around some fishing for some catfish with my dad and yesterday I used a cane pole that a freind had and fished for some bluegill even though I had been catching bass I guess it was something different. Here lately I have gotten my wife interested in fishing for bass and have been teaching her how to use a baitcaster. That has helped alot to keep me going. The more I sit here and think about it The more I think the reason is I don't have a boat yet and when the wife gets out of school I will have one but for now I fish private waters from the bank and it gets old to me being in the same little area it's really no challenge anymore. I'm sure it will pass soon. This site has helped me alot in keeping the fire burinig some.   Thanks for posting on this issue avid I thought about doing it but thought people would think I'm nuts but is nice to know I'm not the only one going through it

[George Welcome]

An absolute way to loose the enjoyment of fishing is to spend too much time cocentrating on the catch and not enough on the fishing. Fishing is far more than that finned critter you are following. Granted, fishing is defined an attempt to catch fish, but is this endeavor truly what brought you to fishing. Perhaps it was the entire experience of enjoying the outdoors, the wildlife, and the serenity that attracted you far more than just the attempt to catch a fish.

I do know from a previous statement that you made, "you are obsessed with catching that 8-pound bass", that you just might have gotten so wrapped up in the chase that you are missing all the other facets that make this leisure activity as enjoyable as it is. Another possibility would be that you might need to spread your wings a bit to some other water.

Think back on why you started fishing!

Do you recall those days of riding the carousel and trying to grab the brass ring? One got so wrapped up in trying to grab the ring that they never experienced the ride.

[K_Mac]

Avid

I think everyone who is serious about anything goes thruogh "dry" times. I believe having real passion about fishing (or most any worthwhile thing) is a blessing. Some people just wander around and never completely "engage" in anything.

When my brother (and fishing partner) was killed a few years ago, I didn't pick up a rod for a couple of years. It has taken a while, but fishing is one of the things I love to do. Right now, for health reasons I can't get out on the water, but I can read, talk about fishing, and I can buy just enough to quiet the monkey. I have so much enthusiasm for fishing now I can barely stand it! I have read enough of your posts to know you are a passionate fisherman (and dancer), and think it is only a matter of time till you are back in the saddle (or canoe) with fire in your eyes.

I just re-read the previous posts and agree with them all. I think George said a mouthful in his post. He may have a future in the fishing bidness.

Good luck.

[Skidder]

NEVER! I go to sleep thinking about fishing, and wake up thinking about fishing!

It is my second most favorite thing to do, most favorite is doing anything with my daughter.

I spoke to Gerald Swindle on the phone this morning, he was doing a tackle show this A.M. and going to talk to some troops this afternoon, then onto Kentucky Lake.

I am fishing the Elite series on Oneida in july, I can't wait!

[J@k3 01s3n]

I think maybe you just need a second hobby. I play guitar, and enjoy doing those 3d puzzles. These come in real handy on those nasty days, or days that are just not convenient enough to go fishing. Sometimes you just need a break. I'd even recommend taking your boat out one day with no fishing gear, and just enjoy your peaceful surroundings for a day. I'm sure you'll come around, heck with the kind of fish I see you post up time after time, I'm sure you couldn't stay way for too long.

[Whopper-Stopper]

Just picture yourself playing golf as much as possible. Pretty soon you'll want to go fishing so bad that you can't stand it. ;D

But seriously you might try using a fly rod. A bass on a fly rod is alot of fun. Bluegill are pretty fun too.

[RoLo]

Well, I must say Avid, you've received a host of superb explanations and suggestions.

Rather than add to what was so eloquently covered, I'm just going to mull it all over.

I can certainly relate to periodic shifts in passion that you alluded to.

I believe that the passion continues to burn strong, but it continually takes on new forms.

I have noticed in myself that I've reached the point in my life where my greatest thrills in fishing

come from bringing others to fruition. One of my grand children was recently down to Florida.

For a whole week, the joys of bass fishing loomed to heights that I haven't experienced in years!

Brian caught his personal best, which he proudly released with pictures as his memory.

I *** the position of George and Scott Welcome, to me that's about as good as it ever gets.

And I cannot sign off without tipping my hat to Russ (LBH).

Roger

[Darold_31]

Avid,

I get a little down on motivation sometimes like everyone else.  I try do something different to spice it up.  It may be go to a lake I have never been to before or sometimes I'll go out and try to learn a new technique.  The last time I got down, I went out on my home lake and only took my spinning rod and shaky head worm and made myself learn how to fish real deep.  It brought more of the competiveness out of me to figure out how to catch them this way.  It really only took me catching a few keepers to get my mind rejuvinated.  It worked for me.  If this doesn't help then go to partypoker.com and start playing no-limit texas holdem'.  Good luck and I hope you get back in the groove.  I enjoy seeing those pictures.  

[cart7t]

Ever happen to you?

If so, what made it pass.

I took up golf for awhile.   ;D

[airborne_angler]

I am medically retired and spent alot of time on the water once it started warming up. I now have my kids for my summer visitation which is limiting me from fishing alone. I have a trip to the Grand Canyon planned this coming Thursday and am taking my Girlfriends 2 girls along as well. I will have my fishing gear loaded up,just in case I can find the time to take em all out to a lake up there. I am itching to go to the lake again but at this point,the weather has me beat..Its just too darn hot for my kids to tolerate it. But you can count on the end of the month that I will be heading out on the water again.

[ww2farmer]

I was pretty into multi species fishing from the time I was old enouh to hold a rod till about 1999. I fished for everything that swam, pike, walleye, perch, bass, bluegill, catfish, and trout. Spent 200 + days a year fishing. Then I just burnt out, nothing interested me. From 1999 till 2002 my fishing time dropped off to MAYBE 10-20 days a year and only for LMB and bluegill.Then all of a sudden in 2003 the fire started again, I am back to fishing 200+ days a year (or as long as we have un-frozen water) but this time LMB are my prey 99% of the time, with the occasional bluegill/panfish trip. I have really become a much better bass angler be focusing on just bass. I am to the point I don't care what other species is a hot bite......I am bass fishing. Also teh time off opened me up to lots of new things, before I was spinnerbait-topwater-texas rigged plastic worm and thats it, now I fish c-rigs, t-rigs, cranks, buzzbaits, jerkbaits, jigs, spinnerbaits, wacky rigs, live bait, weightless t-rigged plastics, top waters, drop shot. I would rather be goo to better than average at catching 1 species than just lucking into a few good fish every year when each seperate species is biting good and easy to catch.

[Guest avid]

Hey Avid Ive been there sometimes I think its God's way of helping us keep all the important things in our Lives in Balance

Ill tell you the single best thing that got me out of a bad I DONT NEED NO SINKIN FISHIN fut. I got a girlfriend who kept wanting me to go shopping with her THAT WAS ENOUGH TO SCARE MY BUTT bsck into a fishing boat

[Needemp]

Maybe its a lack of goals. Do you have any goals you would like to accomplish? If you don't, then maybe search for some and set out to achieve them. Meeting goals is very self-satisfying and it can help make bass fishing a little more than bass fishing. This is what keeps me going.

[Guest avid]

Thanks alot to everyone.  There is much good advice in this post.  This may sound really dumb, but it never occured to me about the off season.  In Florida there IS no off season.  Back in NY I used to get all funky and down when it first got too cold to fish, but then I would perk up, work on my equipment, read books and magazines both old and new, buy new tackle and plan my strategies for the Spring.  Now, with no off season, I don't have that have "down time" and the anitcipation that goes along with it.

Also I did loose sight of my love for the outdoors and concentrated too much on catching an 8 lber.  I had gotten to the point where catching a four pounder meant no more to me than hooking into a patch of weeds.  I'm serious.  I would see it was "only" 4-5 lber and feel like I wasted my time.  

My son is down here visiting for a few days.  He's buying an engagement ring from my daughter who's a jewler.  This is very exciting.  I can now harrass both my kids into giving me Grandchildren.

Really I soooooooo much want to share my knowledge and "give back", so to speak.  I have thought of offering to take some of the kids around the lake fishing but I get all hung up on being thought of as a pervert.  Really, people right now are way suspicious of this sort of stuff and I suppose with good reason.

Anyway.  Once again thanks alot for the encouragement and great advice.  I think I need to take a break.  re-charge the batteries, and rediscover all the joys that are part of the bass fishing experience.

[RoLo]

I have thought of offering to take some of the kids around the lake fishing but I get all hung up

on being thought of as a pervert. Really, people right now are way suspicious of this sort of stuff

and I suppose with good reason.

Isn't that the sad truth?

I had the exact same idea as you, offering to take children on free fishing excursions.

I'm afraid you're right, the deeds of a sordid few have spoiled it for the masses (as always).

With respect to our year-round fishing season here in Florida, do what I do.

I don't only fish for bass, but target whatever species is at peak season.

I fully enjoy fishing for redears, bluegills and chain pickerel, as long as I'm specifically targeting them.

I also fish in saltwater (seatrout, redfish, snook).

In all honesty, I don't miss the northeast, I don't miss scraping ice off my windshield,

and I don't miss getting cabin fever ;D

Roger

[Troutfisher]

If you do something a lot, a lot, a lot, and even more a lot, you will tire of it, usually on about anything, be it golf, hunting, or God forbid, fishing.  It's good to get a break from something once in a while.

Wait, what am I saying?

[Troutfisher]

I can now harrass both my kids into giving me Grandchildren. Really I soooooooo much want to share

my knowledge and "give back", so to speak. I have thought of offering to take some of the kids

around the lake fishing but I get all hung up on being thought of as a pervert. Really, people right now are way suspicious of this sort of stuff and I suppose with good reason.

Isn't that the sad truth?

I had the exact same idea as you, offering to take children on free fishing excursions.

I'm afraid you're right, the deeds of a sordid few have spoiled it for the masses.

Roger

Agreed.  It's a sad world we live in now.