Recently I’ve met some people who think it’s positively weird to go fishing by yourself. I’ve fished around 50 days this year and probably 40 of those were by myself. Honestly, if I didn’t go by myself I’d rarely go as I just don’t have that many friends or family that like to fish that much. Actually, when I’ve got someone with me its slightly annoying because I feel like I’ve got to socialize and try to make sure we’re catching fish…by myself I can do whatever I want.
But, it got me wondering if it is out of the ordinary…so my question is: do you fish alone often or ever? Why or why not? What is your preference? Why?
In the past I fished alone a LOT! Probably 80+% of the time. Still do on occasion but, being 72, I don’t get too far away from help if I’d need it. I really enjoy sharing the fishing experience but there are times when solitude is precious.
Alone must of the time, although I do enjoy going with others mostly my son in-law and my daughter.Like you when ever I take someone I fell like I must get them into some fish. when I go alone I am able to just relax and enjoy the peace. Dont matter if I catch or not.
I fish alone when nobody else is available to go. Like Geezer, when you break that 70 year mark you just naturally become a bit more caution in where you go fishin’. The days when I could swim a couple hundred yards to shore in an emergency are long gone. That said, I am never lonely when I fish alone.
But… given the chance to spend a day with a “boatloadakids” just baitin’ hooks and watching the fun is worth more that any time I might spend fishin’ alone or with cronies.
At my age every day I wake up, fishing or not, is a good day.
i would rather fish alone. i hate everyone! except my wife, and very select few that we have fished with before. when i make a plan to meet somene some where i do enjoy their company, but when im out on the river fishing, by myself, i hate when i see someone that i know that wants to tag along
No wonder we never fished rivers together…[;)]
I am 98% alone. I fish 4 to 5 days a week while hubby is at work
When we go together, I go one way, he goes another.
I love fish alone! I do find when I’m with other people im explaining things to them or helping tie knots, untangle birds nests etc. when I’m alone it’s quiet and peaceful. Although it is nice when someone else is there to share the catches of the day. But overall fishing alone won’t keep me home!
I prefer to go alone for the same reasons as you, so I can do what I Want, try new things that I’m not sure will produce fish or not and not have to entertain other people, plus the fishin stories are always better after I’ve been out alone!
While I’ve had many fun trips fishing with others, I fish alone the majority of the time. I guess I’m a bit of a loaner, but there’s just something about being out on the water with nothing else to think about that does me a lot of good.
I’m alone 95% of the time but really do like it that way. even Ice Fishing which can be scary at times but I never get cold or whine or complain to myself. I’m never late in the morning and I never go home earlier then I want.
Me at AF Boat Harbor.
I thought I was the weird one, though I probably only fish 50% alone. I have a friend that I go with fairly often, however the solo trips are treasured. I have put myself in a bad situation a time or two, usually distracted by my surroundings and exceeding my limits. But I have always managed to return. My wife, used to worry, but has become accustom to my stubbornness and now knows the risk is worth my sanity.
I fish alone about 80% of the time. I only got 1 buddy who serious about fly fishing ( but he is married.) The rest always want to go or bait fish. They never bring any of there own gear and always tell me there going to pay be back for the gas but never do. [pirate]
I like fishing alone, in my boat or my kickboat. I leave on my own terms, fish the way I want, don’t have to worry about “front ending” anyone. I can fish slow, fast, where, when and how I want. I enjoy the time away from people. I took off on a 4 hour excursion a couple weeks ago just to fish the afternoon and morning bite. Had a couple beers, ate a sandwich and slept in the boat. Got up early and hit an epic topwater bite. Unfortunately gas and diesel prices are killin’ me and my ‘local’ solo spot has gone to $hit.
However, I still enjoy fishing with my friends but not as competitors. I’ve only fished one tournament this year and it was a team weigh in. I don’t like competing with the person I’m fishing with.
In the past three years I have went fishing with one other person one time in over a hundered trips.
It’s not that I mind fishing with people it just doesn’t seem to work out for both peoples schedules at the time.
Now if I could just get everybody that is fishing around me to realize that I am supposed to be fishing alone and go away so that I was fishing alone then I would be much better off.
90% of the time I go with someone else! Yep and if I did go alone I at least invited someone to go along. I don’t care if I get anyone on fish. So in a nut shell I still care about myself getting fish and could give a rat azz if the fisherman with me catches anything. The memories made with friends and/or my twin is something that I value dearly.
Now some (but not all) of those backcountry skiing/ice fishing adventures are crazy to do alone.
I fish with a select few people. When with my young son I worry about getting him on fish. But if I’m with my brother or my dad I don’t worry. They are capable of figuring out what they need to do to catch fish. As for conversation, well depends on the topic but for the most part we don’t talk much. I actually learned a great deal from an older gentleman that didn’t talk at all. We just fished together. But the solitude of being out there alone is priceless. Some of my best catches were when I was alone. Guess it just depends on who it is I’m fishing with really.
40% of the time my wife fishes with me. I’d rather fish alone though. Then you don’t have to worry about try this try that, do this and do that to get the other person to get a fish on.
I usually out fish most of my friends and they become irratated, so i prefer to fish alone, makes fishing more relaxing and enjoyable. Not worrying about the other person!
