Most Gratifying thing about fishing?

[Luke at Gouldsboro]

Every time I catch a bass, I won, I figured that fish out. that's what I like.

[BigEbass]

Great question.

Being outside is enough for me...but.

Setting the hook. I usually curse at the fish when I know I've got him. "Got you you #*(&^$#".

HAHAHA - I do the exact thing many times "BAM I got you little bast#^d" but with the utmost respect of course  ;D

[burleytog]

Hearing the pop of the hot peanut oil...

[J Francho]

Hearing the pop of the hot peanut oil...

Does this get you going?

[DINK WHISPERER]

Spending long nights in my garage working on all my equipment(boat, gear etc) down to the letter and than enjoying my labor out on the water.

And the freedom i feel out there too.

[SBM-RL]

Used to be the some of the drag burning when i fished spinning reels. Ill go with bass thumb!

[Hellbenderman]

...that at sixty three, I am still kicking bass...

[Jaben]

Just being outdoors for me.

[fishermantony]

The anticipation of it all.  Then when the day you lost so much sleep over comes and it's as good or better than you anticipated.

[NBR]

For me it's the total experience. I can't recall ever having a bad day fishing. However, there have been some real bad days catching. When I come in my wife always asks how the fishing was and I always say good. Over the years she has learned to ask about the catching and that varies.

I guess even year I took my lower unit off on a rock in a remote lake in Ontario wasn't that bad. I got better in 3 days with a very lucky repair job so I fished the last of the first week and all of week 2.

[zaraspook_dylan2]

the first strike you get of the day.

[NorcalBassin]

Just being out on the water and enjoying the outdoors hanging out with your buddy/pops.

[burleytog]

Hearing the pop of the hot peanut oil...

Does this get you going?

Catfish thawing right now... ;D

[bobbyc]

I may have caught bigger fish in my life than the one pound eel my son caught two years ago, at age 12, but none of those catches bring quite the smile or memory of my son's first fish.

[bass or bass ?]

I simply enjoy the peace, quiet, and solitude of being on my boat on a remote cove on the lake, watching blue herrons, bald eagles, hawks, etc. Catching fish is just a bonus, the icing on the cake. And I love icing.

[Red Bear]

just the relaxation and calm it brings about me is great. and when the fish dont seem to be biting, making a change that works and sharing it with others around me

[shutupnfish]

Most of the time it's about gettin' out with ol' maw nature and the peace and quiet. Yesterday was no exception for the first hour or so. The fish didn't cooperate much though, only one dink and he managed to run up in the cattails and break off. Then pop cruises up in the Gator with his entourage, two dogs and my 4 year old daughter. One lap around the pond with pop hollerin' at one mutt to get out of the water, echoed by my young'n I figured I might as well pack it in. I was determined though and my daughter and I hung around. And I'm sure glad I did. After a few minutes of trying to keep the little one still and quiet, I managed to hang another piglet about two feet from the bank. I knew the young'n would want in on the action and she got to reel up the last foot of the battle. When it was all said and done, we caught one more piglet and one that went about 2lbs. The best part of it all was listening to her tell my folks and her mother about the fish we caught. That's what it was about this time.

Steve

[bear7625]

That after 60 years of fishing, the passion is still burning inside. Seeing that fire now burning in my 3 sons from a small flame I may have started in them.

[Lund Explorer]

When I'm just out fishing, it has to be that first part of the day when the sky to the east starts to brighten up, and all of nature starts to wake up around me.

When I'm in a tournament, its those rare times when you haul a sack full of hawgs up to the weighin stand.  All that muttering noise behind me is almost better than the cash.

[TommyBass]

For me its the satisfaction of figuring out the puzzle and outsmarting the fish. Its like the daily newspaper... sometimes you get hard puzzles and other days they are easier.. but you look forward to them either way.

I also like the friendly competition of tournaments.  Makes it a little more interesting sometimes and it gives you goals to shoot for.

The calm quietness of mother nature is always a plus too, but I feel like I get that feeling better with hunting than fishing.

[Big Fish Rice]

Preparation and seeing the results are great, but "feeling" the bass on the line is what keeps me hooked (no pun intended).