How to Try and Avoid Winter Depression and Crappie Fishing Withdrawal Symptoms

Where I live in Northern Central Missouri it gets cold and sometimes Winter jumps up on me sooner than I like it too. However, I am a seasonal-based person and I do prefer the Midwest and its seasonal approach to passing life's time span. Now, I am a Licensed Therapist by trade and do work part-time in the Spring, Summer, and Fall seasons as a fishing guide at Truman Lake. So, I do approach most aspects of my life from a psychological perspective, especially crappie fishing. I've tried living in California where there is not a significant amount of seasonal change. I couldn't take it. I moved back to Missouri due to a lack of seasonal change and a lack of space in California.

I know that many anglers have a great deal of success crappie fishing through the Winter months as I have had myself. As far as I'm concerned it's just to cold. I mean for me its just not enjoyable even when I think it is. Over the years I have became pretty creative in finding ways to overcome Crappie fishing withdrawal symptoms and seasonal depression, which I believe can be related to:

A lack of crappie fishing
Knowing that it is going to be awhile before I go crappie fishing
Long-periods of being stuck in the house
Holidays that I cant afford if I am going to further invest in my crappie fishing
My wife constantly on my case because I'm probably depressed because I can't go crappie fishing
Spending extra time with my mother-in-law because I'm stuck in the house
Snow piling up on my driveway
The economy



Seasonal Depression?


I'm sure you can agree the list goes on-and-on and-on.......

This typical pattern of seasonal change has caused me to find several things that I can do to overcome the symptoms in order to enjoy my time-off from crappie fishing in the off months, and often leaves me feeling rejuvenated in the Spring time. I think it is important to take time-off at least for me so that I can keep a youthful interest in crappie fishing and maintain a high level of commitment to the sport. And let's face the crappie need a break too. These are things I usually have to do to maintain my happiness and motivation through the Winter so that I can continue to destroy Crappie in the seasonal months.

Go through all of my tackle and organize
Replace needed items
Thoroughly clean my boat and gear
Perform routine maintenance on boat, motor, trailer
Determine what will need to be updated for next year
Maintain a saving account strictly for my fishing expenses
Shoot my bow
Obtain necessary items for bow season
Bow hunt at least every weekend
Prepare for gun season
Take a week off and gun hunt
Return to bow hunting after gun season and camp at least twice for the weekend bow hunts
February rest and gradually prepare for the Crappie season

March soon comes and its time to enjoy Crappie fishing again as much as possible until next Fall. Hopefully this helps it has proven to be a pretty good plan for me over the years. Enjoy your freedom and the Winter months. I will check back in soon....