Waning Interest?

[SuthernProg]

Hi all, it's been a little over a year since I last posted here and was wondering about something. For the last few years I had been fishing at least a couple of times a week. Had lots of rods, more tackle than an average sized tackleshop, belonged to a bass club, etc etc. All the things an addict does. Then, without warning in the middle of last year I suddenly started losing interest. Didn't read fishing, didn't watch fishing. Made myself go fishing just cuz I thought I'd re-awaken what HAD to be a bizarre phase. But just yesterday I went fishing for only the third time this year. It felt good, I have to say, though I didn't catch anything. Bad luck didn't factor into the slow down as I usually catch SOMEthing. But I was just wondering if anyone else had gone through the same thing. I hope that yesterday was the beginning of a resurgence in my love for this sport, but I'm not going to push it yet.

Prog

[Shimmer]

I can relate, but not in the same context.

A few years back I was a profesionally sponsored gamer. Payed to fly to LAN Events and play in front of crowds of people, free parts, free computers pretty much my dream come true.

One day though the other things just seemed more important to me like my girlfriend, family ect. I walked away when I had it all and I came back and it feels right but that drive isn't the same.

Fishing is a newer hobby of mine that I replaced gaming with, so I haven't got in that funk yet but for some I think it's a normal thing. Maybe you like to do it but it's not what you LOVE to do. It may come back but you will just have to wait and see  

[Grey Wolf]

Peoples interest levels change . Some become less enamored or more enamored as time goes on.

My interest in fishing has slipped some in the last few years . I have found that my priorities have changed as I have gotten older. There are more important things in my life now than fishing.

[SoFl-native]

Hi all, it's been a little over a year since I last posted here and was wondering about something. For the last few years I had been fishing at least a couple of times a week. Had lots of rods, more tackle than an average sized tackleshop, belonged to a bass club, etc etc. All the things an addict does. Then, without warning in the middle of last year I suddenly started losing interest. Didn't read fishing, didn't watch fishing. Made myself go fishing just cuz I thought I'd re-awaken what HAD to be a bizarre phase. But just yesterday I went fishing for only the third time this year. It felt good, I have to say, though I didn't catch anything. Bad luck didn't factor into the slow down as I usually catch SOMEthing. But I was just wondering if anyone else had gone through the same thing. I hope that yesterday was the beginning of a resurgence in my love for this sport, but I'm not going to push it yet.

Prog

Has you interest shifted to something else?

Personally the only way my interest in one of my favortie activities slips is when i find another.

[SuthernProg]

The only thing I started gaining interest in was building on my vinyl record collection and that's always been second fiddle to fishing. My priorities have pretty much remained the same. Maybe it's just one of those life things. If I suddenly develop a passion for a Porsche and a blonde I'll know what's up. Wait...the wife's a blonde.

[Tin]

Past couple months I could have really cared less about fishing. I have had a lot of family and health issues and don't feel like dealing with the drama or politics involved with club and tournament fishing. I don't even feel like hooking up the boat and driving anywhere. I would rather do something with the girlfriend or family (NEVER thought I would say that).

Sometimes big events can put life in perspective and you realize it isn't all about a hobby and having fun.

[JuniorFisherJJ08]

its just the opposite for me. It seems every year I gain more and more interest into the sport. I have to keep raising the bar. im doing that by competing in larger more challenging events. like next years colliegete bass series. The key is changing it up.. Weather its an old new or a new new. There is something always diff 4 u to try and learn out there...

[flechero]

Go back to what you loved before.  

I've burned out a couple times but only when making it work...  I gave up tourney fishing in the 90's and re-found my love for bass fishing.  It had become work and therefore lost some of its luster.  Now I only fish an occasional event, and then it's only team events... which keeps it more fun for me.

The other times, all I needed was a change of pace...  either fly, striper fishing or saltwater.  I just needed a change of pace, or to catch some fish without overthinking.

[slider head]

For me its just a shift in priorities. I have fished every since I can remember. I have a 4 yr old. A wife who works way too many hours and go's to school full time. Before my son was born I was on the water at least once and most of the time twice a week from March until November. Now, I get to just show up and fish 15-18 tournaments a year. I am lucky to get to just fish 1 time a month now that is not a tournament. Watching my son grow up, keeping an eye on him and things running at home are the priorities now.

The fire for fishing still burns. I am just biding my time hoping my son develops a love for it as well. Although he has allready attended several soccer camps and loves baseball as well. I greatly look forward to being a soccer dad and hopefully coaching him in baseball ( I know nothing at all about soccer) I know fishing will come back for me sometime........I just hope when it does it will be with my son.

[BassmanDan]

I've been going through some of that the last couple years. It may be because my ultimate goal has been to catch a NC ten pounder, and fortunately that happened in March. Now when it's 40 degrees and raining in December staying home and watching football seems like a pretty good idea.

[Tin]

like next years colliegete bass series. The key is changing it up.. Weather its an old new or a new new. There is something always diff 4 u to try and learn out there...

You're not going to last long in college writing like this. You need to start practicing your spelling and writing skills now or you will find yourself in big trouble. My sister, "The Texting Queen", is having some serious issues with writing papers and she is only three weeks into the semester.

[Tin]

I've burned out a couple times but only when making it work... I gave up tourney fishing in the 90's and re-found my love for bass fishing.

X2, I'm 20 and I have had it with tournaments. Worst part is I have made some great money off them but just don't feel like dealing with the crap that comes along with them. For example 40 boats on a 93 acre damed up stream.

For the past couple weeks I have been thinking about hockey and ski season... ;D

[done]

Sounds like you just burned yourself out. One reason I have been hesitant to go the club and tourny route is just that.

To me, working in IT, always surrounded by tech, people, always deadlines, nothing relaxes me more than taking a full day off in the middle of the week (especially fall or spring), getting out on the lake from dawn to dusk by myself (or with my oldest daughter or grandfather). It is simple, it is relaxing, there is no rush, no drama, no deadline, just me, the lake, and hopefully decent fish.

Knowing my personality, if I did it too much or did the whole tourney club, etc thing, I may get to the point where it goes from a release to a stressor.

Good to see ya back here though.

[Raul]

I never lost interest in fishing but for a period of 5-6 years gardening and attending to dog shows took a big chunk of the time I dedicated to fishing.

Showing dogs and attending to dog shows for me is now a thing of the past, now I 'm only waiting for my dogs to die out of old age, from the 15 I had now I 'm down to 4 ( 3 of which are over 12 years old and they aren 't going to last much ). For a brief period of time during the last year I began to regain interest ( I wanted a beagle or a flat coat fox terrier ) but said to myself " what for ? " my wife doesn 't like dogs, my kids don 't pay attention to them, I 'm the doggy guy and I 'd rather not have anymore.

Gardening ? well you can 't plant on top of another plant, now all is mowing, prunning, deadheading and that doesn 't take me too much time because my garden isn 't that big so I 've got a lot of spare time left.

Flying RC planes and helos is cool but the kid 's ability to fly them is questionable to say the least and the club is only open if the weather is good ...

So, let 's go fishin !

[Paul Roberts]

Sounds like fishing, the way you were doing it, has become something of a let down, or as M Starr put it become a stressor. It may be that fishing is not all you need and, at present, it's just not fulfilling it.

So what's missing?

Here are a couple of common ones:

Purpose:

A common lament so many people have is the lack of satisfying purpose day to day. For most of us, esp in this country, life has become a lot about day to day comfort and convenience, and can become pretty hollow.

One of the restorative things I enjoy is wilderness backpacking, esp combined with hunting or fishing. Survival (more the erosion of convenience and comfort ;D) becomes the new ground rules. You HAVE to get a tent set up in an appropriate location, find a good water source, dry firewood, add to the larder, and meter out energy while avoiding getting lost, bears, lightning, etc -much less kill something.

What I love about all this is the feeling of accomplishment and well being that falls over me when I'm sitting around a good fire or snug in my tent despite a surprise squall. And these feelings result from of all those minor but important tasks that kept me busy much of the day. I'm deliciously tired at the end of the day which is likely 8:30pm! None of that, Well..I guess I'll go to bed now, I'm apt to say at home, not really wanting to go to bed with that generally unsatisfied feeling. Backpacking, hunting, fishing, puts me to rights with the real world the one our bodies came from I'd argue.

There are other ways to return those all important on-our-own-terms physical elements to our mostly convenient lives. I just think backpacking is especially fitting. One could also take up running marathons Here's a great book on the subject Why We Run: A Natural History by Bernd Heinrich.

Social:

For many, it's not just the physical that's lacking; It's the social. We're so individually successful that we can safely detach ourselves from community, rely on ourselves, and pursue our OWN interests often to great depth or none at all. We end up belonging to micro-communities: bass clubs for instance that really aren't designed to support people in their fullest sense, but just fishing as hobby and often competitively. Talk about turning a pastime into a job and a stressor. Some of these communities we never actually see think of an on-line fishing, or woodworking, community. The detachment has a price.

For me, and many others I've met, pastimes are only fulfilling, and restorative, if your basic needs are met. Otherwise you can be unhappy, or just hollow, doing just about anything.

[Raul]

Man, what a nice buck you got yourself there Paul !

[fishfordollars]

I got a divorce at 33 and did not pick up a rod for three years. Went to the doctor's office for a check up one day and there was a copy of Bassmaster someone had left out. Picked it up, read several articles, and was off and running again. Had a new boat within four weeks. Other than health issues that keep me off the water at times I've not lost the edge or desire and that was 24 years ago.

[SuthernProg]

Those were all some great answers and a big help in me figuring it out. I think I was looking for something to be wrong as an explanation, and maybe there just doesn't have to be one. Either way, just changed the line on my worm rod and am getting ready for 2 days in a row. Thanks alot ya'll.

Prog

[South FLA]

I think everyone goes through phases.  Sometimes, I get tired of bass fishing and get excited about snook fishing, hunting, or golf.  Duck hunting as another obsession of mine, but I can only harvest donald/daisy certain times of year. Nevertheless, if I had to pick only one hobby to have for the rest of my life it would be fishing.

[Sam]

Yes Marion, it hit me, too.

And I was wondering about you and was going to stop by the restaurant two weeks ago but drove past it before I remembered.

I am burned out.  Too many tournaments and pond fishing this year so I am slowing down.  Never thought it would happen, but it has.

After the three remaining tournaments, I plan to organize my tackle; clean the reels; wash the rods; and just enjoy the winter.

Of course, when the guys say they are going to fish the "hot side" of Lake Anna, I guess I will gas up the boat; put on my warm clothes; and head out with the rest of the crazies.

Want to hit the Hanover pond in October?  PM me and let me know.

Later,

Sam  

[bilgerat]

A couple of years ago I got on an ultra light kick just to mix things up. It was very successful for me and I still fish it often. This year I learned a couple of new baits as I was getting tired of the same old same old.

I doubt fishing will ever get old for me for a couple of reasons. Work and family obligations keep me off of the water except for a few hours on the weekend. Also being shut down when the lakes freeze in the winter only stokes the fire even more.

[warwickforlife]

Only time my desire to fish slows down is when it's hot as hell outside, and I know I'm going to almost die if I go fish.  When fishing, or anything else, is something you truly love, you won't get sick of it.  I could throw a Senko every day all day (so long as I wont die from heat exhaustion) and never get sick of it.  Same with hunting or music (my other hobbies).  I can sit in a tree or int a goose pit every day and never tire of it, or play a D minor scale forever cause I really love those things.  

Maybe fishing was just something you were into for a while?  Who knows, and really it's not a big deal.  Try it again next year.  Maybe the fire will be back.  Oh, and sometimes real life get's in the way of things like fishing.  Nothing wrong with that either.

[dinkman]

I went throught the same thing last year, I have a bass boat I've always wanted, all the tackle and rods a guy could ask for but I wasn't happy with it.  Alot of it has to do with the fact I have to drive at least  1 1/2 hours to get somewhere decent to fish.  All it took for me was a trip home to see my parents and do some trout fishing with my dad with light action spinning rods. That really made me remember how much fun it was to just fish and enjoy the fact that I get to go fishing in a nice boat with lots of gear.  I'm not fishing tourney's this year and I'm already feeling great about not having to think about fishing them.

[skunked_again]

Sounds like fishing, the way you were doing it, has become something of a let down, or as M Starr put it become a stressor. It may be that fishing is not all you need and, at present, it's just not fulfilling it.

So what's missing?

Here are a couple of common ones:

Purpose:

A common lament so many people have is the lack of satisfying purpose day to day. For most of us, esp in this country, life has become a lot about day to day comfort and convenience, and can become pretty hollow.

One of the restorative things I enjoy is wilderness backpacking, esp combined with hunting or fishing. Survival (more the erosion of convenience and comfort ;D) becomes the new ground rules. You HAVE to get a tent set up in an appropriate location, find a good water source, dry firewood, add to the larder, and meter out energy while avoiding getting lost, bears, lightning, etc -much less kill something.

What I love about all this is the feeling of accomplishment and well being that falls over me when I'm sitting around a good fire or snug in my tent despite a surprise squall. And these feelings result from of all those minor but important tasks that kept me busy much of the day. I'm deliciously tired at the end of the day which is likely 8:30pm! None of that, Well..I guess I'll go to bed now, I'm apt to say at home, not really wanting to go to bed with that generally unsatisfied feeling. Backpacking, hunting, fishing, puts me to rights with the real world the one our bodies came from I'd argue.

There are other ways to return those all important on-our-own-terms physical elements to our mostly convenient lives. I just think backpacking is especially fitting. One could also take up running marathons Here's a great book on the subject Why We Run: A Natural History by Bernd Heinrich.

Social:

For many, it's not just the physical that's lacking; It's the social. We're so individually successful that we can safely detach ourselves from community, rely on ourselves, and pursue our OWN interests often to great depth or none at all. We end up belonging to micro-communities: bass clubs for instance that really aren't designed to support people in their fullest sense, but just fishing as hobby and often competitively. Talk about turning a pastime into a job and a stressor. Some of these communities we never actually see think of an on-line fishing, or woodworking, community. The detachment has a price.

For me, and many others I've met, pastimes are only fulfilling, and restorative, if your basic needs are met. Otherwise you can be unhappy, or just hollow, doing just about anything.

real men use recurves.

[mrlitetackle]

since i started fishing avidly (about 15 yrs now) ive gone through a few periods where i lost interest for a while.  The longest being the one that i just broke out of, it lasted about 2 years....  Not to say that i didnt fish for that whole period of time, it was just few and far between.  Right now, im fishing every free chance that i get.... and im sure it will fade for a while again.

Whether im into fishing at every point in time, or not......... one thing is constant....... somewhere in the back of my head, i know that i love to do it.

So in a dry spell, or not,......

i will always end up fishing in the end!