So I have a long weekend and reports are coming in thick and fast about how a certain stretch of water that connects Buzzards Bay to Cape Cod Bay is alive with fish, and big fish at that. Normally I would have been all over that situation but for some reason, I don't really care. Didn't fish for bass at all all weekend and could care less.

Can it really get boring after a while? I mean year after year beating yourself to death to catch a striped bass? Can you reach a point where you have done it so long, where it has dominated your life in so many ways that finally it just isn't that exciting anymore?

I live 20 minutes from the canal, on Cape Cod. My God! What's happening to me?

I had to push myself to get the skiff ready this year, finally did that on Saturday, I go on two weeks vacation this friday, and I am not that excited about it. Man, I never thought I could ever feel this way.

Very strange, my wife is worried that I have a girl friend or something, no no girlfriend just not enthused as I normally am.

ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

I have dibbs on all your plugs!:biglaugh:

Flap.....I have had a tough time getting going this year! Went out at 3:00am this morning and I had all I could do not to turn the truck around and go back to bed! Then I get to my destination and I really had a hard time getting motivated.......but then they showed up.....and I am raring to go! Maybe challenge yourself with a different method of fishing?? Get a kayak?? Wetsuit?? Or maybe you are ready for a lounge chair and a white bucket on the beach???:bgi:

You're over-worked, over-stressed, and depressed. Duh. Now quit feeling sorry for yourself, come to the canal and watch me try to cast........THAT would cheer anyone up.

viagra

You're over-worked, over-stressed, and depressed. Duh. Now quit feeling sorry for yourself, come to the canal and watch me try to cast........THAT would cheer anyone up.

Yeah, if anything or anyone could cheer me up it would be you casting (if you can call it that) on breaking fish on the canal. I should borrow a video camera and put you on YouTube.:eek5:

Normally I would have been all over that situation but for some reason, I don't really care. Didn't fish for bass at all all weekend and could care less.

This descibes my weekend activities and attitude too. For me, I didn't enter any contests this year and also let my commercial license go.(no more unnecessary stress for me anymore) The license was no biggie as I haven't landed sellable numbers of fish in eons, but the no contest thing makes a difference for me. Believe it or not, I battled and dropped a real large fish at my feet this morning and started laughing. I was on my way home from fishing when a good friend called me over to where he was and I hooked up on the fish shortly after arriving. Its become much more fun now with nothing on the line and I'm having a great season as a result.

You're not losing it Flap, you're simply not allowing it to consume you, at least not yet. Its a Zen thing....

come to the canal and watch me try to cast........THAT would cheer anyone up.

Let me know what pole number you'll be at and I'll bring the coffee along with plenty of film.

I get in those types of ruts once in a while also.My remedy is to take some time off and go up to the cape and fish with some good friends and have fun and laugh my arse off at all the shenanigans and goings on during the trip.Since you seem to be unmotivated you have just made me decide to go up to your hunting grounds for a few days of fishing and laughs.I will be up on the 5th for a few days Flap hope to be able to fish with you and George and some others.

You guys are wimps. Big fish, long casts.........bah that's nothing! Lets see you land fish with these hazards......the dog is bad enough but fishing next to this loser.........well enough said.

I haven't made it out yet this year either......gotta do a couple of trips just to get the motivation up myself.

Been to busy w/ other stuff recently.....haven't even gotten the gear ready yet

it's only a phase....and you'll grow out of it...

eventually you'll discover some new facet that
will astound you ...or a new approach just by
accident.... and it then becomes Fun again to try
it specifically with that new method.

that's how it is for me....anyway's

hell, i'm still friggan mowing ....

i had a great memorial day weekend this year
had too...to make up for last years disaster.

I have the same issue w/biking long distances. Take some time off and don't get obsessive when you start fishing again. Also, sometimes if you force yourself to go, you'll find that after actually being out there brings back the feeling that causes you to love the sport.

Sorry I missed you this morning George but I think I was on the other side and I was too late.

Steve once you get out in your tin during the weekday at your favorite spot and no one else is around, well maybe some dip %$%$%$%$ fishing a spook and laughing, and the fish are cooperative I think you will be fine. You know how relaxing it is out there floating along.
I actually had fun at the canal the last couple days and I didn't catch squat among all the guys catching large fish. It was just nice to put the tin boat away and do something different. Too much of a good thing gets old fast for me nowadays. So I'll look for a tall lanky guy in a small boat on Monday morning, June 1st.

Same thing here, Flap. So far I have a grand total of 20 minutes flipping plugs. I know that I'm missing some prime time but I don't give a rat's patoot. Of course the wisdom tooth that's kicking my ass might have something to do with my bout of malaise...

Steve,
I'm feeling the same way the last few seasons and I'm sure age/experience has much to do with it. It seems I have that "Been there, done that"; "I really do have a life" attitude. Maybe because I've grown to appreciate just the atmosphere of getting out and enjoying what I like to do with no pressure. I guess it's all relative when you consider everything else that life throws at you.

On occasion I still get the "pangs" to get out and help educate Roccus on what not to strike, be it plug or eel. Then I go out, release a few, and I'm whole again.

Enjoy life's changes.

DZ

Horrified:huh: ??? what are you horrified of? that you are bored, unmotivated? So What! Just get the hell going and pick yourself up and go, once you get out and have fun you'll feel better. Try some new places, some other challenges, go fish for salmon with stifftip if that's what it takes to get your blood flowing again. It can't be all that bad Flap. See you out there Sat. AM or sooner. Turn a new howdy and try it out , that'll work. If you need a kick in the arse, my size 14's can get that done :hidin:

I was going to post a similar thread a few weeks ago Steve...I am having a hard time getting going here too...I landed a couple nic e fish this a.m. and it got the junkie in me going but plan on fishing less all around....low drive this year....
dont worry or be horrified....just take a break...or take the season off...you dont HAVE to fish..

You don't fool me

except to QUOTE a very good motivational speaker

he said...

when you think or say: I can't,........ therefore, you must! :btu:

I have been in a rut the last couple of years regarding fishing. I have come to realize that for me fishing is about the quality not the quantity of trips. I have come to balance the role fishing has is my life with other things that I like to do. There is definitely a feeling of been there done that at times and then I know that I need to take a break. One thing that I do enjoy is taking people who have never fished fishing. It readjusts my expectations about what fishing is all about.

or re-define's

as it has been said....

that the best way to learn a subject is to teach it....

Steve;

it has various names ;;

burnout // age // satisfied// not satisfied // other pressures// desire or lack of // other priorties // work //

family // && the list goes on .. it will change only if you figure out what is keeping you from going / & you make the choice to change those things or not .

If your not upset ..That your not going >< that,s a good thing .. contentment is a wonderful feeling ;;

don,t feel guilty ..feel satisfied ><<><:fishin: MIKE

Gee, I thought you ran into Bassmaster or something, fishing at the townhall in P-Town again!

What are you getting old or something?

You guys ARE wimps!!

I got up 4 days in a row at 2:00 AM and was in my boat on the bay by 3. Fog, rain, wind, I don't care I love this sport.

Maybe because my big C returned and I figure I may not have a lifetime left to fish.

Enjoy it while you can guys. You get old quickly and it creeps up on you.

Anyway, I has 2 great days with a total of 15 fish all over 15# up to 25.5#.
I also got absolutely skunked 2 days but I was fishing in my boat so I loved every minute of it.

Maybe because my big C returned and I figure I may not have a lifetime left to fish.
WTF.. were you going to tell anyone... :confused:


Steve, I can empathize... a lot of higher priorities, and just don't have the drive to do 100+ nights a season like years past. I'm sure it will be back, but for now, fishing knows it's place!

Not to judge...but maybe you've started fishing for the wrong reasons. Guys who have built reputations as top fishermen might feel that they need to go out year after year to maintain that status. They may not even be aware that they're doing it.

Remember when you fished for the pure enjoyment of it? If you got skunked, you got skunked. If you caught fish, great!

Nobody follows me around on the beach or in a boat. Nobody calls me for advice or for info on spots. I'm not fishing to prove anything to myself or to others. Nobody knows me. When fishing stops being relaxing and rejuvenating....I'll quit.

Your obviously depressed and miserable.Welcome to the club.

Flap, have Slip move this thread over to Grumpy Old Pharts forum,
your gettin old, take Clamah's advice, he's the oldest member on S/B. :hihi: :D

he came over on the mayflower.....


and he was the one yelling Clams ho

You need to ask yourself how satisfied you are with respect to the rest of your life.
Fishing, for a lot of people, fills up empty spaces in thier lives - but it does not fill them permanantly.

The last few years I find myself more often at the fish market buying a piece of haddock some steamers and a dozen oysters instead of getting up at 3:00 AM and spending the money to drive to the canal.













What is wrong with me ?:splat:

I get that way sometimes with hunting...I drag myself out even on the days I didn't want to go because anything can happen anyday!.( I hunted every day of the spring turkey season wih the bow in 2 states---Up at 3 am everyday)...Try a different routine....Throw on the waders with an ultralight set up and go hammer backwater fish or do some light tackle fluke fishin mabey... mix it up!

I hear you. I ran a golf trip at the Cape for 10+ years..(we always ran into the same group of fishermen at the Thunderbird in Yarmouth.....got to talking to some of the guys year after year....)

Anyways, Last year I put the clubs away and have been fishing ever since......I suck at both sports....but I'm enjoying fishing at least!

I don't even know where my clubs are...

Anyways, Last year I put the clubs away and have been fishing ever since......I suck at both sports....but I'm enjoying fishing at least!

I don't even know where my clubs are...

they should be on Ebay or craig's list
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

A sucky day fishing is better
than your best day Golfing....

Surf Fishing when you really want to.....No better feeling!!!

When it's not about the numbers anymore it will be clear why we fish.

You need to ask yourself how satisfied you are with respect to the rest of your life.
Fishing, for a lot of people, fills up empty spaces in thier lives - but it does not fill them permanantly.


Thats pretty good......


There was a time where all I wanted to do was fish. Now, not as much. I still love it but I had a period where it just became almost like a burden to go sometimes.

Dont worry Flap its nothing to be horrified over. I think everyone goes through it at some point (even if they dont admit it, or they have not gone through it yet) Dont let it burden you, only go if and when you KNOW you will enjoy it. Maybe you just need to look at it in a different light???

don't forget the words of MR. Miyagi :grins:

Steve, I'm not sure how old you are but it sounds like male menopause from where I'm sitting. I wish I had friends to tell me where the fish are,consider yourself fortunate for a lot of reasons. I think you have come to the realization that your time has come and gone so put your feet up and enjoy the twilight of life at your own pace.I can tell you what motivates me are days like I had Monday with my oldest boy at the canal. Nothing can compare with the smile on his face while banging quality fish. The old codgers in the crowd love to see it too. My youngest even has started to enjoy the tin boat in Narragansett Bay and even got spooled on his Star Wars rod at age 4.I think you probably are feeling like you are climbing back down the hill at this point now that your daughter has graduated and you realize what really is important. Time DOES fly people, so never make fishing the most important thing in your life. Otherwise you will get old and wonder where the time went while you were chasing fish instead of enjoying the truly important moments life has to offer.

Flaptail...don't fight it. You're done. Move on to other things.


Please send your rods, plugs and gear to me. I'll send my address. Thank you.

You guys ARE wimps!!

I got up 4 days in a row at 2:00 AM and was in my boat on the bay by 3. Fog, rain, wind, I don't care I love this sport.

Maybe because my big C returned and I figure I may not have a lifetime left to fish.

Enjoy it while you can guys. You get old quickly and it creeps up on you.

Anyway, I has 2 great days with a total of 15 fish all over 15# up to 25.5#.
I also got absolutely skunked 2 days but I was fishing in my boat so I loved every minute of it.

Sorry to hear about the C paul... my thought are w/you.

My boat is still in my Driveway...it is nearly ready, I had a really hard time getting going on it and even a harder time writing a check for the slip. (which the guy raised 20% this year..) Then had the usual boaters problems with "stuff" that needed attn..so it took me a loong time to get motivated. It is pretty much done now, paid for and everything is working but I feel your pain.

As for surf fishing, I still enjoy it and like to go frequently...but only like to go for a couple hours and don't want to fish till I can't function anymore. There was a time that is what I did. My motto is...if your not enjoying yourself, STOP and do something that you do enjoy...fast, Life is too short to do something that you don't like. For some reason these days I am only fishing with some of my weird looking plugs and having fun with that and not hunting for best my personal best each time I go out, just catch a few fish and enjoy your surroundings.

You guys are wimps. Big fish, long casts.........bah that's nothing! Lets see you land fish with these hazards......the dog is bad enough but fishing next to this loser.........well enough said.


So Numbskull that was you across the way with your Golden today.

Steve,, I can help ... The past years you've been living like a kid in a candy store .. Your jaded .. I suggest house swap .. I spend the season living in Falmouth .. You and your family enjoy my house in Brockton .. Next season you'll be good as new and raring to go ...

Sorry to hear you are feeling that way. Try bait fishing for scup, sea bass, or just sunnies in freshwater with some kids. I did that on Monday afternoon and remembered what fishing is about. This was after waking up at 3 and fishing the canal with my brother and a buddy and having a great time. Seeing someone else have fun fishing under your wing is a great thing.

You guys are wimps. Big fish, long casts.........bah that's nothing! Lets see you land fish with these hazards......the dog is bad enough but fishing next to this loser.........well enough said.
Dude, that's Swine Flu Charlie and his superpup Sars. Any luck?

You guys are wimps. Big fish, long casts.........bah that's nothing! Lets see you land fish with these hazards......the dog is bad enough but fishing next to this loser.........well enough said.



Surf ninja???

don't forget the words of MR. Miyagi :grins:

hhahaha.... yah you just need to get back out there :uhuh:

I have also decided not to enter any contests this year..
I have fished only a few times..I have been playing golf.
The fishing scene in NJ has just turned me off.
"Too many puppies with guns in there hands"
The work situation has been such where I have to make hay when the sun shines so fishing long nights is not in the cards right now...
It'll be back I have been a fisherman all my life.
Just a normal course..

Paul I hope all works out for ya..
Good Luck..

Steve,
We all get burned out from time to time, years and years of whacky hours take their toll... part of the problem is dealing with the crowds... you get to a point where catching one more fish just isnt worth the aggrivation to stand elbow to elbow to catch it... as soon as the easy fishing is done and the warm breezes blow, the urge to find a quiet spot to be alone with the fish will return... then old feelings will return and some how loosing a little sleep just wont seem all that bad.... I've been there too!

wtf....??? have u gone girly man on me :musc:,your all gayed out on brown trout . i think your all tweeken out about life and all the head trips .:topic: dont worry we will leave u some schoolies at the end of this run :kewl:.just think one more day and 2wks vacation. steveie everyone is catching big fish ...even the wingnuts ...but u gutta b there .....:rotflmao: love ya stiffy:angel:

wtf....??? have u gone girly man on me :musc:,your all gayed out on brown trout . i think your all tweeken out about life and all the head trips .:topic: dont worry we will leave u some schoolies at the end of this run :kewl:.just think one more day and 2wks vacation. steveie everyone is catching big fish ...even the wingnuts ...but u gutta b there .....:rotflmao: love ya stiffy:angel:

also i think your acting like a sissie man :agree:

Dear Steve,

You obviously need something to motivate you. Why not take a newbie or two fishing for a couple of months and teach them how to fish. Maybe you are just bored with the fishing scene here in the Northeast, it seems to me like you have seen and done it all up here, and done it successfully too. Maybe a vacation to a far off place with your wife, and maybe find some new fishing adventures there. I hope you feel better soon.

PS: Before you know it StiffTipp will have you all over the earth and back catching Tuna and this thread will seem like a distant memory

I have also decided not to enter any contests this year..
I have fished only a few times..I have been playing golf.
The fishing scene in NJ has just turned me off.
"Too many puppies with guns in there hands"
The work situation has been such where I have to make hay when the sun shines so fishing long nights is not in the cards right now...
It'll be back I have been a fisherman all my life.
Just a normal course..

Paul I hope all works out for ya..
Good Luck..

Thanks Tony. I'll get through it. Just gotta keep fighting....

Dear Steve,

You obviously need something to motivate you. Why not take a newbie or two fishing for a couple of months and teach them how to fish.

I could use some fishing help!:jump:

I dunno, Flap - sounds like you've finally come to the point in age where you're not sure what you want...or why...:huh:

It happens, at a certain point your life starts to shift gears...and you won't figure it out 'til you come out the other side - where ever that may be for you.

Old age is the only totally unexpected thing that will ever happen to a man - make the most of it and start living like you mean it

The point of the whole trip, as we used to say in the '60's, is to get back to where you started and truly understand it for the first time.

Very strange, my wife is worried that I have a girl friend or something, no no girlfriend just not enthused as I normally am.

ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.


Introduce someone to fishing if their joy and enthus.. doesnt get you fired up ...try golf

Very strange, my wife is worried that I have a girl friend or something, no no girlfriend just not enthused as I normally am.

ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.


Tell her to get some sexy new lingerie or some new toys...that usually helps...:rotf3:Sorry I couldn't resist.

If it's one good day a weekend, I'm more likely to end up on a golf course, don't have the same drive to do it.

Thanks all, I really do appreciate the suggestions, today I start my vacation, we will see what develops.

I actually tried fishing the canl the other night after a vsit from Numby which got me fired up a bit but after several hours in the dark shadows of the canal just west of the Sagamore, I went home with the big skunkeroo. I had some delicious looking 3 oz eelskins bouncing bottom, some RonZ's and some jig head w/ sluggos and some bottle plugs wiggling thru the water but to no avail.

Obviously I have the big stink on me for some reason so I would stay away from me until I sliop out from under it's grasp.

Piemma, my thoughts are with you and your new round of health issues, I send you the very best of luck and may God's hand be on your shoulders. You'll beat it no doubt.

I have been fishing trout in a local salt creek and doing very well and that is one of the things that have kept me away from the bass fishing. No other people at all, a beautifull sunset each night that the sun is shining across a broad salt marsh, hell I even found a few plugs this past week on the marsh that must have come in on the new moon tides. My perserverance in the salter fishing paid off last Monday evening with a once in a lifetime catch and release of an 18 inch sea run Rainbow. I guess you could call it a Cape Cod Steelhead.
Neon green back crimson swath along it's sides with a broad tail and solid as a rock. It still swims there still along with several Browns I have caught and released to just under 21 inches, the bug has even taken a few school bass mixed in the bunch.

Like the construction trades the hard life of a surfcaster is a young man's game, knees and back get sorer each year and the urge to sleep more prevails. Crowds more than anything are what make me not want to get up and go. I stopped fishing the cnal when the herring run and chunk bait fishing peaked several years back. Last year was phenomenal plugging there, higher gas prices kept a lot of people away and boat traffic to a minimum. This year, now that plugging has come back into vogue and gas prices are lower, the crowds are back.

I look forward to this next two weeks, to seeing Prof M laughing his arse off whikle chatting out loud to the bass and the many ghosts that haunt the flats we fish and seeing Saltfly walking in ankle deep water flyrod in hand surrounded by hundreds of backs, dorsal fins and tails and of course the applauding bass. To fishing with 2na on the outer Cape and numby, sauerkraut, stiffy and ESL along the upper cape and island shores.

Like someone said previously, I will do it with no pressure, no expectations and just to have fun.

I will report on our progress.

Flap

Atta boy. I will be there early Monday morning, perfect tide. hope to see yeah out there.

Flaptail, if you decide not to spend as much time fishing as in the past, I hope you devote more time to writing. I love reading your older stories about fishing experiences on the Cape. You have a great way of making the reader picture exactly what you are describing. Each winter, I go back and read your Monomoy piece from the OTW compilation and I enjoy it just as much each time. You have a real talent.

After reading this thread over, I've come to realize that I may have contracted Mac-NewellGuy's Disease.*- A realizition that I have other pressing responsibilities and tasks to be done.
One day I woke up to find my house is in need of attention, my yard is knee high, my garage has fallen down, and on and on. I have so much to do and only so little time.
That coupled with my dental health episode, I had a dentist who took x-rays but never bother look at them and now I'm paying for that too. My time is limited, I'll fish when I can as a reward for a task done here and there...

* you could look it up in JAMA, Similar Peter Pan Syndrome only curable.

LOL. I think we all have some form or another of that. I know I do Fred. Good luck with the dental issues. I hate the dentist, sadistic bastards.

What Jake said.

Sooner or later you get to the point where you realize your life is out of balance - otherwise you just end up completely fishing yourself around the bend.

Reread #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&'s post on the darkside of fishing, sometime - you're having a fishing epiphany, Flap. And it is age related without a doubt - you're just going through the labor pains of wisdom.

Lay off for a while, take care of whatever you feel you need to do and come back to it when it feels right...you'll appreciate it more in the end...:uhuh:

I don't think your alone with these feelings. I think this has been a tough year, as years go. With all the change and uncertainty that is around us, no wonder folks are laking desire or motivation. I too feel it. I just play the whole tape, and I shake off the negative feelings. I look for the reasons to go, for it is easy, when down in the dumps to just say, " the heck with it". It's early yet, but being in a funk for too long is no good, for anything, not just this thing we do.:kewl:

I think I average about 6 trips to the canal a year the last ten years. Many times I'm on the Cape but its on the great sweetwater ponds chaseing bass, trout and salmon. Midsummer on a quiet lake with very few others and its nice and quiet. My canal trips are usually between midnight and early morning, then I'll hang with the boys and hit Gray Gables for lunch.

steve....its not u...here it is. sometime life sucks big time , why me ? or worst ...we all been there .i'm there right now ! but we all get over it and move on u have no choice .u got a case of the dont give a sh its. you'll b ok .life could b worst..........

I have to echo Fishbones sentiments......I love reading anything you write Steve! Have not read anything new for awhile? You have a gift for crafting a great story and I would love to see more!:rtfm:

Steve I hope you enjoy your vacation and find your mojo!

Good to see you fighting through it...1@15 on a mm last night.....anything else after that ? Nada here.

You'd be horrified if I told you what you missed after you left on Wed.

After reading this thread over, I've come to realize that I may have contracted Mac-NewellGuy's Disease.*- A realizition that I have other pressing responsibilities and tasks to be done.
One day I woke up to find my house is in need of attention, my yard is knee high, my garage has fallen down, and on and on. I have so much to do and only so little time.
That coupled with my dental health episode, I had a dentist who took x-rays but never bother look at them and now I'm paying for that too. My time is limited, I'll fish when I can as a reward for a task done here and there...

* you could look it up in JAMA, Similar Peter Pan Syndrome only curable.

Well, I just cut the lawn for the first time in 12 days. I have fished 12 early mornings straight. I have neglected my yard, my job, my family and I don't care. After 40 odd years of chasing the striped ones I have it all in perspective. Fish when you want and everything else can wait. This year I just don't care about anything except snagging pogies and crushing bass.

I am actually taking the boat out with the intent of pursuing fish.
I haven't had the desire nor the time. I think nailing down the new job has stimulated me to actually want to fish now.

Flap, I know exactly how you feel, but challenging your self with other methods does help. This is how Sponge Bob came into my life a few years ago. I was bored with the same rutting of catching fish. After a while something does go missing and why sometimes I envy new comers and children to the sport. That first time feeling of catching fish or your first blitz ect. is amazing, I will never forget mine but you only get to live it so many times before it all starts to cloud together. The fact that I fish so much and for so many diffrent species in both fresh & salt makes it hard to motivate my self sometimes...so your not alone........I spent a whole tide with fish in the 28lb-38lb range busting on top the other day and just sat back and took pictures of the guys I was with enjoying them selves and it felt good...........Your not alone.

YOU WILL KNOW IT! :bl:

I finally got the urge to go, and this AM and it was a great kick-off to my season from the get-go.

I saw my good luck fox at the parking lot - had the place to myself- tide was perfect- had 4 bumps my first drift- hooked up on the second drift- and had steady action for over an hour and landed my first 4 fish of the season before the tide let go. IT WAS MY TIME! :kewl:

Patience young grasshoppa- your time will come, and you won't rook back.


Jon

I hear ya..I just sold my boat last month, bought another street bike, been busy with that, work, the girlfriend, and a lot of other stuff..haven't been out once this year. Usually I'm out after schoolies in April and fishing hard by the middle of May.. This year something has been different.... things/friends have changed, my life and priorities are differnet I guess... once in a while I think about going (some fresh food for the table would be nice) but I just dont have the time for it.. Im starting to feel guilty because my uncle has been doing well lately and keeps asking me go with him but Im just not interested.

Once I stop drinking long enough to have solid movements again I plan on fishing seriously this year.Some years are worse than others.This one is a slump for me so far.Haven't got a fish yet !Only went out twice and just casted a few times then packed it in.Glad to hear your having success doing what your doing.I hate the crowds just the same.Last time I hit my local spot there was two guys with at least 15 rods each covering most of the area and a cooler full of 5 inch scup.:yak: