03-19-2002, 01:23 AM
If you enjoy something strongly in a personal way, then you constantly explore ways to make it better and better because you strive to understand empirically what you've seen so you can apply what you've discovered. The challenge is personal and that challenge is the unknown and the mysterious. Nature can astound.<br><br>I've belonged to fishing clubs for 15 years and have never found so many people stuck in a habit of fishing that's beyond belief, namely, follow the crowd, worship the pros and hope lady luck rubs off. I sometimes feel sorry for anglers who are primarily, gamblers who see fishing only as competition for awards, money and recognition. Boys with toys and big dreams.<br><br>I'm a life member of BASS and believe that the organization has provided the means for people to forget their childhood enjoyment of the sport. I don't blame BASS. It's brought economic success to the industry of sport fishing, allowing money to flow into research and development of every aspect of angler equipment. But I've seen the worse side of people in every club I've belonged to. I won't let them in my boat much less share my knowledge with them. I know from experience that the flow of info is really only one way and that winning is their primary reason for asking how I did and 'how did you catch that lunker'?<br><br>There once was a club in Sullivan C., N.Y. that was as friendly and fun as any you could want to be in. A few guys in the federation decided that they were going to impose mandatory federation tournaments on all chapter clubs. Fed. tournaments usually meant fishing hundreds of miles away on strange waters to the north. The old timers rejected the idea and the club split in two just like many clubs in southern N.Y. My first club lost half it's members, members that only wanted to have fiendly outings with different guys having the same interest and love of the sport. Not one of the original guys belongs to any club anymore and some have given up the sport altogether. We had some great times.<br><br>If you find the boater your with, ignoring your casting space and hogging it for his own, chose not to fish with him again if he doesn't take the hint. If he doesn't want to try your suggestions on how to find fish because he's been successful doing it his way, call in sick next time you get picked to fish with him.<br>Don't ruin your day off pleasing someone who is more focused on winning than fishing for the love of it. <br><br>Two heads are always better than one when it comes to learning new things and I think many of the pro's know how to enjoy the sport when not fishing tournaments. Many can't, and reveal how shallow they are when they don't win. <br><br>In computer jargon, KISS - [keep-it-simple-stupid].<br>Simply stated, enjoy something that you've been blessed with the opportunity to involve your heart, soul and brain into, something that has a perpetual draw on you day after day, that gives you solace, excitement and pride of personal accomplishment. If you can fish alone and enjoy the sport almost as much as fishing with another, you've got the bug that was implanted in you the first time you caught that sunny when you were 5. <br><br>Don't allow anyone to corrupt your love of the sport.<br><br><br><br>