Solo or group fishing -- your preference

[FordNFishinLover]

Both...

When i wanna go and actully catch fish, or know im gunna be out there for awhile, 6+ hours, i go alone.

When its a beautiful day and just wanna get out and maybe catch a few, i enjoy bring a friend or 2.

[Muad Dib]

25% of the time i like fishing with my dad. id rather have more but time restraints restrict that. 40% with my other fishing buddy. usually on a boat.  and the other 35% i need to fish by my self. it helps me relax and not worry about outfishing the other guy. i also like to focus stricly on the rod and whats on the other end ;D

trav

[Tom H.]

I can do either or . On the weekdays it's just me (work 2nd shift so no one else is around) On the weekends I like to take my ol'lady and kids with me . Nothing like running back and forth taking big ol gills off the kids hooks .

[ZeNoob]

i had to actualy think about this one.

Catfishing is easy, i like the company, throw the bait in toss a few beers down, mindless chatter. Thats fun.

Bass fishing is different, ive fished with the wife and tell her how far away she has to be for us both to toss lures out without hitting each other. thats actually peaceful (simple questions and she is quit) yep would have to say when throwing lures i gotta concentrate.

i guess as a shore fisherman it depends on what im fishing for, and what im fishing with.

[Fish Chris]

CatfishKing said

or know im gunna be out there for awhile, 6+ hours, i go alone.

Yea' ! Me too..... but since I NEVER fish less than 6 hours.... ;-)

NY Trav said

25% of the time i like fishing with my dad. id rather have more but time restraints restrict that. 40% with my other fishing buddy. usually on a boat.  and the other 35% i need to fish by my self.

I hear you..... 25% of the time I fish by myself..... 40% of the time I fish alone..... and the other 35% I fish with nobody with me ;-)

Hey in all seriousness, I'm kind of surprised that so many of you, fish so much of the time by yourselves.

And one other thought comes to mind.... Several of you said something to the effect of > I know this sounds selfish < .... But I don't neccessarily think so. Everyone needs some time to themselves. I think their are probably a lot of guys who "give" at work... who "give" at home, etc..... but of whom "their own personal time" is spent on the water. Nothing wrong with that in my book.

Peace,

Fish

[basspimple]

its a toss up for me. most of the time i like to bass fish alone. i actually catch fish that way. ;D but i do like catfishing with my buddy. he runs a trotline while i use jugs. who ever gets the most whiskers buys breakfast. his wallet sure does take a hurtin while hes with me.

[Hawghead]

It varies for me also.  Sometimes I am all about solo, or pretty selective who I ask along.  I dont have my own boat but I do fish a CA that rents boats.  

I also do a lot of shore fishing.  Just kinda roll with the punches.  I think last summer I didnt more solo than with a partner.  My kids require a whole lot more attention and thats a different animal all together.

But like others, there are times when I dont want anyone around.  I go solo even if its just for a couple of hours just for myself to try and land a few decent bass. When I come home I am 10 times more relaxed, cooperative, and ready for the day to come.

I teach high school and coach high school basketball.  I also have 4 kids.  I have lots of things that demand my time so I sneak away for just a few hours when I can.  Same way with bowhunting.  I have worked hard to secure some decent spots within 45 minutes from my house so that I can take those short little trips whether it be fishing or hunting.

My favorite trip is one where I go with my dad and 4 brothers.  6 guys and 3 bass boats for a long weekend at Lake of the Ozarks.  It is some kind of fun, but we also get pretty serious into catching bass and crappie.  It is a total blast....leaving in a little over two weeks. ;D

[nboucher]

Solo. I like to concentrate and observe, not chat. Sometimes I even forget to eat lunch.

[fishinfiend]

I enjoy both very much.

[baboosicbass08]

Basically it's just if I can find people to go with then I would definately go with a group of friends, but if they can't then I also enjoy going out solo, it's always good to go out with friends because if the fish aren't biting its good to be killing time with your buddies

[Fisher of Men]

During "Big Bass Season" (i.e. pre/post spawn) I'd prefer to be alone or if I'm fishing with someone else, have limited conversation.  Like many of you, I get into a "zone" and don't want to be bothered, especially after a short strike or seeing the water boil.  Other times of the year, conversation and company are great things.  I have, however, been fishing with a few chatterboxes with whom I wished came with a "mute" button.   ;D

[roadwarrior]

I fish alone, but would always prefer fishing with someone.

I don't like drinkin' by myself either, unless I'm alone!

8-)

[farmpond1]

Great question!  My answer depends on several things.  First, if I am fishing from a boat, I'd usually rather be with someone.  It's safer, makes boat launching and recovery so much easier, and makes for good company.  If I am fishing from the bank, a lot of times I'd rather go it alone so I can concentrate and move freely.  Unless the other person doesn't mind picking up when I do, it's often easier to go it alone.  But all of this depends on who I am going with.  With some folks, I always enjoy their company and will make the necessary accomodations.  With others, I'd stay home just to avoid them.

[bassmedic46]

I like solo, just being out and enjoying nature

[wagn]

90% of the time I like to fish with someone else. I really enjoy the company and the ability to fish different lures and try different things with another person. The only time I really like to fish alone is when I go float tubing in some of the quiet ponds around me.

[Raul]

I like either, I prefer to go with somebody else, no that I "need" company, competition ? well, if you measure sucess that way good for you, I don 't give a rat 's arse what the other guy is catching if he 's catching anything.

But, it 's safer to fish if you have company, you never know what may happen ........ and there you are all by your lonesome in the middle of nowhere where you usually don 't have cell phone signal in the middle of the night with your truck stuck and sunk in 3 ft of mud ( been there done that  : ), just to exemplify one of the many s*ty situations you can get in when you go fishing.

[crappiekid24]

I will go out by myself but generally like to fish with someone else.

[bassmaster3000]

I think solo is better for when you just want to get away from it all. Group fishing is just for fun and sport. There's no "I" in team!  ;D ;D

[silvercliff_46]

Group fishing is just for fun and sport. There's no "I" in team! ;D ;D

I know there are some pros and wannabe's on this site.  IF your one of those folks, you need to work at it.  Maybe the rest of us whether you enjoy fishing alone, or with someone, should remember it is supposed to be fun.  We probably would get more out of it.  I guess that's I.M.O. anyway.

[fatbass]

I prefer to fish by myself. Don't tell the wife though.  

I get more uptight with another in the boat.  It really fires me up when they can't cast well and I'm wasting my time on their snags >

I do enjoy the time with another person though but I change my attitude to accomodate the additional person.  

The wife is a good coangler and helps to find patterns that I don't notice.

Dad can fish with me anytime and I'm glad to have him aboard.

[CFFF 1.5]

I almost always go with someone else and I prefer it that way. I have only fished from a boat by myself maybe 10 times.

[FishingPirate]

I have not a choice since if I go its usually due to the much appreciated kindness of a fishing buddy. I get so focused most of the time that I wont say more than a few words per hour. Most people think Im having a bad time when Im really having the time of my life. Deep water jig fishing is when its at its worst : thats kinda my thing lol.

[Fishing Doug]

For me, it depends:

1. If I am fishing lakes around St. Louis with the boat, always fishing with my partner, Jared. Sometimes we have a 3rd person with us.

2. If I am at the family farm and taking some time for myself, I fish my ponds by myself.

3. If my niece wants to go fishing, she joins me on the pond banks.

Wouldn't change a thing.

FD

[Cire]

I guess I prefer a group, either my dad or brother-in-law. It gives me someone to tell true stories to and also share the experience. Of course, I don't fish tournements so I get to pick them. I would hate to fish with someone that I don't know.

Eric

[SirSnookalot]

I love fishing alone, but always enjoy others around me with only 3 stipulations.  

1. Don't cast over me

2. Leave your phone in the car.

3. If you own a scale, I don't even want to know you.