I sometimes think some people just aren't cut out for fishing. I've known this fellow club member for four years who is not really into fishing nor has the temperament or the patience. He has a nice boat which is supposed to be for when he retires, and being close to a nearby lake we both fish, can go when he feels like it. Problem is, he remembers the lake as it was
15 years ago when catching fish was easy, which at present going back 5 years is now far more difficult. (I won't go into the reasons why.)
So, he invites me to fish on his boat after my dental appointment and meet at 11 am. But as I'm leaving I get a call that it's not worth it considering he only caught 2 panfish and had one large fish break his line. What the....?!!!! To me, getting out with a partner is a big plus regardless how many fish are caught, especially if it's going to be a nice day - which it was. 2nd, I don't know about the rest of you, but I see it as a challenging learning experience when it comes to the water I'm fishing. His thing is closing his eyes and catching fish; mine is opening my mind and finding more pieces to fit into the puzzle.
The other thing is his daily routine which, me being retired,
is not mine! His thing is to be out on the water by 6 am because he is routinely up by 4:30 am daily. I'm lucky if on the water by 8:30 and rarely see any advantage to being on the water early. In fact most of my best catches have been from 9:30 am to 5 pm or later regardless the water. When he wants to leave the lake at 11 am when the fishing is slow, I start to simmer inside because transporting my stuff to the launch, helping launch his boat, spending far more time running than fishing and then leaving early leaves me wondering why I wasted the gas or time I could have been fishing alone.
It's interesting that he blames the lure as the reason he's not catching fish, remembering lures he used to own that caught fish - again -
with his eyes closed. I would give him different lures I know catch fish when fish are found and yet he would go through 6 different ones before finally catching a fish, insisting it was the
right lure as the reason.
Every year I have to remind myself that sometimes fishing alone is far less frustrating regardless of the catch and yet also rewarding when I can share my experiences with all of the fine gents on crappie.com. Some just don't have the temperament nor the skill which requires many hours on the water regardless the water. I feel for them,
but would rather fish alone in a different boat!