Don’t Take the Fun out of Fishing
The fall of the year can be some of the toughest times on the water. There is bait fish galore everywhere, and many times getting a bass to pay attention to an artificial bait is impossible. Hence, I have seen many days on the water where the tough days of fishing bring out frustration for many anglers. You are on the water for hours, and getting a bite seems impossible, or it’s more work than you anticipated; to me you just cannot let your competitive drive take the fun out of your day.
Do not make it work against you, fishing is relaxing and should put a smile on your face regardless of your results that day. Make it fun, enjoy the day, and let the pure fact that you are on the water help you enjoy your day!
We all love to win, to be first and appear accomplished by our peers as good at what you do; I know that this drives many of us. It is the competitive spirit, the drive for success that forces your reaction to good and bad days on the water. The key to me is just taking that spirit and making it your friend, putting the workday behind you, and soothing your mind and inner spirit should be enough to make fishing fun regardless of results. The thing is, when we all do things, we feel compelled to be the best, and that driving force, if you let it, will take the fun out of a day on the water.
We all have frustrations. Today’s world is tough. Making a living is certainly not easy, and the pressure of everyday life never goes away. I believe we all fish to help relieve that pressure, so do not let the bad days control your emotion.
Make fishing your way to overcome the tough days of just existing, enjoy yourself and smile. It will help you be at peace with yourself. When you come off the water at the end of a day, look back at it as fun. It will help you survive the tough days we all put in. Daily life is just not easy, but relaxing can be. Enjoy yourself, and put the tough times behind you while you are on the water.
-Captain Mike Gerry