Sound Familiar?

[jwo1124]

There is nothing like the battle that raids in my head when the alarm clock goes off at 5:30 am. The sun hasn't even awoken yet for its morning cup of coffee, and there I am lying in bed contemplating on whether I should actually get up and get ready, or give in to the part of me that is screaming to go back to sleep. Mostly every time I find myself in this situation, I take the former route and drag myself up and over to my clothes I had laid out the night before. Soon enough last night's anticipation and excitement rises and shines with me and I feel like I did the previous night when I was thinking about the awaiting fishing trip. I use the phrase fishing trip loosely, since for me it just means driving 20 minutes to a string of city ponds where I fan cast from shore hoping to trick our slimy scaly friends into attacking a lure.

     

    Although I may not be heading out on the fishing expedition of a lifetime, every monotonous drive to the same few fishing holes seems to regain its novelty each time. The anticipation of finding out whether or not today is going to be a great, good, fair, or horrible fishing day seems to be one of the main factors that motivates me to get up while its still dark out and make the, what seems like endless, commute to my liquid destination. Even though most days go as the time before went, with a couple scattered tugs on my line and the resulting one or two pounder, some times I will have better days, and some days I would donate an organ to science just for a one pounder to bite. I try to tell myself that even if I don't catch a fish, just being out in the sun, which is a luxury in the life of an angler since we have the same mentality as postal carriers, that I'm still a winner. Well, anyone who has gotten up at 5:30 on five or six hours of sleep on the weekend and drive close to a half an hour, to beat the banks of the ole fishing hole knows that that is just a load of manure. At heart all of us who hold in our hand a fishing pole and in our hearts a dream to catch the big one, knows that being out and becoming one with nature is great for the kids and the old retirees, but for us, its all about that slime on your hand after you release that tuckered out fish following a brief but exhilarating battle between man and beast.

Just a little piece of my fishing expereience I wanted to share, I'm sure many of you have felt this way before.

[Grey Wolf]

That was great.

[Jake P]

That was a good read  . I do the same thing when i wake up, contemplate whether or no to get up and get dressed. Usually my brain tells me to forget about fishing stay in the nice, warm, comfortable bed for just 5 more minutes. Then 5 minutes later its ok, 2 more minutes.Then about an hour and a half later i finally get up.

[thetr20one]

I am with ya. I went fishing with my dad yesterday. I got up at 5 drove 60 miles, fished, drove back 60 miles, took the wife out for a Mothers day gathering, stopped at wal-mart on the way home at 12:30 a.m. Finally went to bed about 2:30. Then woke up at 4:30 this morning to go fishing with a friend and am dead tired right now. This was a liitle more than the average weekend because of Mothers day, but I fish like 2 tourneys a month plus alot of fun fishing. I sometimes ask myself why but I have no answer. As soon as you hook up on a good fish that question is forgotten. I think all uf us that do these things are crazy!!

[NinjaFishin]

At heart all of us who hold in our hand a fishing pole and in our hearts a dream to catch the big one, knows that being out and becoming one with nature is great for the kids and the old retirees, but for us, its all about that slime on your hand after you release that tuckered out fish following a brief but exhilarating battle between man and beast.

Very well said!    That is why we do what we do!  The rush of excitement when your pole bends, your drag screams, and your heart pounds, that is what it's all about!    Then there's mans commune w/ nature too.  A relaxing and deep calm that comes with getting away from our daily routine and from the stress of life.  It is a therapeutic relaxation time meeting a roller coaster adrenaline rush, all in one day. 8-)

[Catt]

I'm totally opposite  

The night before I can barely sleep with anticipation, most nights I will not sleep at all. Of course for me I'm up at 4:30 every day of the week and usually don't get into bed until 11:30 or 12:00. To me every fishing trip is an expedition of a lifetime and if it doesn't happen it just makes me even more determined to return.

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

Good stuff!

I am with Catt x2

[ba7ss3in]

Normally, most people try to catch up on sleep during the weekend or when they have off but I tend to loose more sleep because of fishing.

[Little Luey]

I know what you mean, I keep telling myself that I like to sleep in during the weekend, but I end up awake by 6:30-7:00 am at the latest, when it is not the wife, it's the kids or the 4 legged kids in the house asking for food. Then after that I can go fishing.

A couple of weeks ago I went fishing with an accuantance and he hooked up a huge (2lbs) fish. I say huge because all I ever catch are 14in fish and smaller, to see him fight that fish was awsome and I keep thinking that I will get one like that soon, all I have to do is keep my bait in the water, and sooner or later ...

[b@ssman]

I wish my lovely wife would have let me fish TWICE on Mother's Day weekend, you are a lucky man.  I did manage a brief trip to BPS though.

I am with ya. I went fishing with my dad yesterday. I got up at 5 drove 60 miles, fished, drove back 60 miles, took the wife out for a Mothers day gathering, stopped at wal-mart on the way home at 12:30 a.m. Finally went to bed about 2:30. Then woke up at 4:30 this morning to go fishing with a friend and am dead tired right now. This was a liitle more than the average weekend because of Mothers day, but I fish like 2 tourneys a month plus alot of fun fishing. I sometimes ask myself why but I have no answer. As soon as you hook up on a good fish that question is forgotten. I think all uf us that do these things are crazy!!

[Joel W]

I only get to fish once per week, so no matter the weather except for major storms and ultra windy conditions, I'm out on one of NYC reservoirs fishing.

My day starts very early at 4:15am after trying to get some sleep which really is more like tossing and turning with anticipation of a great day on the water. Then it's off to 7-11 for coffee and some breakfast. My drive to any of the reservoirs is about 1 1/2 hours to cover the 100+ mile trip. Row all day, then take the drive back home again. Needless to say I'm beat by the time I get home.

Will continue to do this every week, year after year, until time just takes it's toll on me. Then I'll find another way to get out and fish for Mr. & Mrs. Bass.

[OBX-BASS]

very nice story!!  sounds familar around my house hold!

[bassmedic46]

I have to agree with catt as well.