Solo or group fishing -- your preference

[done]

I have come across folks who NEVER want another soul around them, friend or not and others who will go only if someone else if with them. Now I am talking solely about Bass fishing (for me my answer changes with Trout stream or deep sea fishing).

Personally, I can do either and really enjoy having A bud around (large groups [4+] I loathe) but, if I had to choose, I would say I have slightly more fun heading out by myself. Having the solitude, the way I rig the boat when I am solo, and (sounds selfish but..) not having to position the boat correctly for 2 folks, just bring it slightly above a trip with a bud.

So I am curious where everyone else falls in for Bass fishing on this...

[BassnMan Mike]

Me personally, I like both equally as well. There are times when I enjoy one more than the other but overall I enjoy both.

[Olebiker]

While I thouroughly enjoy fishing with my bass club, I would rather fish alone most of the time.  If I am fishing with someone else, I would prefer to be in the back of the boat, letting them run the trolling motor.

[Crestliner2008]

I've always enjoyed company, but when I'm alone is when I "learn" something from the fish & nature. This is also when I have a tendencey to try something new. When I have another fisherman aboard, I feel a bit obligated to make sure they get into some fish, regardless of whether or not I'm catching.

[Sam]

Sometimes yes and sometimes no.

Depends on how I am feeling and if I just want to get away and be by myself.

I love to hit the water during the week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays) as I have the place all to myself.

I take a nice lunch; the morning paper; a radio; and will float around and enjoy the beautiful environment.

I also fish as I want to fish, doing crazy things with baits and techniques just to see how they work, or don't work.

Then again, I love to go out with other guys fishing with them in my boat or their boat and in tournaments.

People are sociable beings so being with people who love what you do is good, too.

But there is nothing like being on the James or Pamunkey Rivers or Lake Chesdin all by yourself in the middle of the week.  Great mental refreshment.      

[cart7t]

If I'm out for big fish, solo is the way to go.  I don't want the hassle of keeping a boat in position for 2 anglers plus I can fish a little more creatively if it's just me in the boat.

OTOH

It is really nice to socialize both to and from the lake and while fishing.  Those trips are the ones I take where catching fish is a definite plus but not a necessity for me.  

[Jig Man]

I prefer by my self.  If I have someone in the back it is twice as hard to keep the boat positioned.

I can tolerate someone in the back if they don't talk all the time and mess with my concentration.

[CRFisher]

Fishing from shore in many places I find there usually isn't enough decent spots to keep multiple people happy so in these spots I prefer to fish alone.   I could go with someone, but they'd be 50 feet away obscured by trees so it's really like two people going fishing alone but sharing a ride.  Boat or fishing open shore I have no problem with company though.  

[dmac14]

Group, helps find a pattern quicker. And also gives a little competition which IMO makes me fish better.

[DINK WHISPERER]

I enjoy both but i seldom go alone! Like dmac14 said, the competition is great!

[tritz18]

2 friends is my limit

[CWB]

I like both as well. Benefits of going alone are there is no one to blame anything on but yourself. You can't blame your partner for making a bad cast and spooking a lunker you might both see or constantly getting hung up wasting your time to undo him. Flipside is when you are alone there is no one to share the moment with when you do get a good one or to take a picture for you. Also comradery is priceless.

[Okieracer]

I used to always fish with 2 or 3 buddies. But I always felt like I had something to prove to them. After countless hours pouring over articles, reading materials, and practice I feel like I'm more informed and a more rounded angler than they are. Now that I don't feel like I have anything to prove and don't feel like its always a competition I lean towards fishing by myself. I feel like I can concentrate on my technique and learning new baits better without that pressure over my head.

[Fish Chris]

Absolutely, positively, by myself "always"..... at least when I'm bass fishing. I've had fun in the past, fishing with friends, during wide open bites for Catfish, or Crappie.... or should I say, bites that were so wide open, that no thinking was required :-)

But when I'm trophy bass fishing, I need to be able to forget the whole rest of the world, and get into my "tunnel vision" mode.

In all seriousness, I have big time AADD, so I can't "think about fishing" and "socialize" at the same time. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to run my mouth about fishing, before, or after a trip, at the launch ramp, or here on the forum, but when I'm after a big bass, please just give me my space.

Then, I saw where a few of you (like most of my buddies) are very competitive. While I'm the least competitive guy on the planet. I don't even care if I do better than the next guy. The only guy on the planet I'm trying to outdo is myself..... Okay.... and maybe George Perry ;-)  LOL

The other thing about having somebody in my boat with me, is that if they rock my boat even 1" (which is totally unavoidable) or they make the slightest of bumps, it just makes my skin crawl !

I curse myself for bumping or rocking my own boat ! So Lord knows it kills me when somebody else does it !

But then again, being the oddball that I am, it's hard to find anybody (no pun intended) in the same boat that I'm in ;-)

Peace,

Fish

[sal669]

Bass fishing, definitly alone if it's my boat. I have this conception that if you invite somebody on your boat, you are responsible of them catching fish/having fun.

I don't mind at all being in the back of other guy's boat, even if I'm not catching anything. There is a lot to learn just by watching somebody fish/ make decisions, especialy if they tell you what are they doing and why. You might even teach them something new, if they are not as good fisherman as you, and they are willing to listen.

For most of the other species I prefer to have company.

[nickb]

When I am bass fishing in the lakes, I like to be with someone, and have a little bit of company to be able to show off my catches and chat a bit.  But, when I am trout fishing in the mountains, I like to be by myself to navigate the stream and make decisions about the river on my own.  I feel like I know where the fish are going to be in those situations, and I don't like it when people try to persuade me in those circumstances.  It sounds selfish, but that is what I like.

[Bassn Blvd]

I'm going outside to load the boat up right now and head out by myself.  Does that answer your question?

[Quinn]

On the bank, I suppose it is the same as being alone even when friends are along because you need your space.

If I had my own boat, I suppose I would prefer being alone unless the guest in my boat was up for what I wanted to do (sounds selfish but let me explain:)

I usually get to fish from a boat with my step brother in his boat, but when we are in an area/condition where plastics fished on the bottom would work, I can't convince him to anchor the boat and give it a good try before he wants to blast off to some other spot.  God bless him for taking me and I appreciate the spot in his boat, but many times we get to the ramp and he says "Sorry I couldn't put you on any fish".

We have a great time anyway, so I don't complain.

Q

[CatBassin]

Depends. When bass fishing it just depends on my mood and where I go. I don't have to worry about boat positioning since I just got a boat but need to do an overhaul on it, but sometimes it's nice not to havta deal with someone else. If I'm crappie or bream fishing usually with someone just because it's more fun to me. Now if catfishing I always want to be with someone since it's more of waiting game and someone to talk to helps kill time, plus it's better to drink with someone while catfishing than alone.

[aarogb]

Since I have only been fishing for bass about 2 years now I would perfer to fish with a buddy because I can always learn something from somebody no matter who I fish with.

[ProCrafter]

I am the AmbBASSador Director for our club and I love it when we meet once a month on the 1st Saturday for our "Fish-Ins"..... good folks learning new things and having a great lunch at noon and then our regular tounament weekend the third weekend...still leaves me two weekends and some weekdays to go it alone for the "ME" time we all need.

[bigfruits]

i like to a friend along every time

[bass wrangler569]

It depends on my mood. Sometimes I want to try new things or I want some alone time, in which case I want to  fish by myself. Sometimes though, some company is nice as long as they're reasonably competent and can handle fishing for long periods of time.

[swilly78]

I can go fishing either way, but I mostly enjoy going out with my fishin buddy Rick(Izzy3374).  Good company is hard to find, and we pretty well understand each others rules.  I actually also bringing along my ol' lady, but she is not real into fishing, so it gets kinda dufficult to have her around.

[silvercliff_46]

I enjoy fishing with the wife.  She doesn't talk much, mostly just asks questions.  She's a good fisher gal, packs a good lunch, makes sure I eat so I don't fall on my nose (diabetic).  Truth be known, I enjoy seeing her catch fish, and I get a kick out of it when she beats me (so does she).  Of coarse we only been at it about 48 years so it may get old one of these days.

It's nice to see the town folks out in spring before the tourists get here, and in fall after they leave.  Sometimes the boat landing is like a town meeting (without the arguing)