I’m assuming that most people (sooner or later) get infected with the winter-doldrum virus once they’ve hung up their gear for the season. In saying that, at times…I too, suffer from this sickness. Although I can’t say it always happens. Life can sometimes fill that void rather quickly and keep me busy up until I hear the first false reports of new fish being caught in my local waters.

Even though something happens to me during the month of January in regards to how I look at the upcoming fish-able year. I don’t know if it has to do with it being a “New” year or not, because it’s still cold enough to make an Eskimo shrink while peeing…but anyway…As I drive past my local waters I begin to gaze out into the abyss and actually get excited when I start thinking that these same waters will be infested with predators chasing their prey not too long from now. The anticipation of seeing the first herring arrive along with the menhaden shortly after is all but consuming at times. It’s odd because I only feel this way in January. The next few months following this phase, up until they (keeper size bass) actually do arrive, I anger with anticipation. I do not enjoy getting my gear ready when dragged out over the next few months. That’s just plain torture to me. I enjoy playing (if I can call it that) with my gear, but not preparing…just seeing what I have, what I’ve forgotten I had…and what I think I still need. I will not ready my plug-bag until I’m ready to use it. God knows I’ll be changing its contents numerous times if I were to do that. We all know that the next 4 months will fly by sooner than we think…and then BAM!! we’re right back into the thick of things.

On to my existing problem. I must first confess that I used to fish ALOT more than I do now. I can't stress that enough. And NO, not stripers but just about anything that swam or settled along our saltwater shorelines. I'm not going to list them all because you'd think I was lying. For some reason, possibly life events stealing more and more of my time and therefore changing my priorities, I just haven’t had the urge to chase our winter-resident fish or for that matter, the many other species available to us through-out the fish-able year. It seems that what time I do dedicate to fishing, is strictly Striper fishing. What happened?

During the winter months, perhaps the pay-off of catching 3 or 4 schoolies or a mystery tommy-cod while I’m out numbing my toes no loner makes it worth my effort. I can remember back when we’d be looking for that last white-chinner in December while at the same time trying to jig up some mackerel in the surrounding snow-drifts of Newport. I also do not remember having a problem getting all bundled up just to try and catch some tommy-cod on old, frozen clam necks during the months of January and February. What happened to me? I see people ice-fishing, sitting on their bucket, cold-smoke blowing out both nostrils just watching their tippets. They look so content. I don’t envy them; I simply shiver and think they’re nutz. What happened to me? How do you get that drive back? Don’t get me wrong, when it’s on it’s on in referring to the Striper season. But what about when it’s not on…what happened to the desire to get out there anyway? And NO, I am not addicted to Striper fishing. I truly enjoy ALL fishing...so why do I choose to place my focus on Stripers? Could it be that perhaps they are our largest catchable shore fish and subconciously, I just want to catch BIG fish? Because consciously I don't feel that way. I will openly admit I LOVE A BLUEFISH BLITZ, I don't care what size they are and I don't care if Clammer don't love me anymore cuz I said that. I get all fuzzy inside remembering when we could drive out onto the Melville pier and catch about 10 different species of fish on the same day. What a challenge that would be to me. What happened? Where did that challenge go?

Am I alone?

Could I have fished myself sense-less in my younger years that now I’ve all but lost my will to just simply fish regardless of what happens?

I know this is a striper site, and most of you won't understand...but in case someone can relate...Help!!!

You are NOT alone...but for some reason the ice has called me again...

I think you said it yourself. You get older and more things fill your time. Seems like you just enjoy fishing and I know myself I got to the point where I was fishing so much it became more like a chore than a hobby. I think with age and a little more "life wisdom" under my belt I realized I can enjoy the same things without making myself suffer through an all nighter (I dont do well without sleep :devil2:) The DRIVE to fish is still there. Just not the "I have to be a maniac about it" part. I truly think I burnt myself out on fishing. I used to love freshwater fishing but turned my nose up at it for the most part during the "maniac" years but have found myself loving it once again....because now its just fishing that I want, not just catching the allmighty striper. Yes Clammer can hate me too but I love a good bluefish blitz and I am confident enough now to openly admit it.:uhuh:

As for winter I have my winter sport. Even that too started to get a bit stale for me at one point. But alas I bought a new sled and went back to riding in my favorite place. Suddenly my passion for it was renewed and refreshed. Maybe even stronger than before!

I wouldnt sweat it if I were you. Chalk this one up to just simply that we all change throughout life and so do our desires.

Get another boat......

Nice post Gilly. How come we don't see anymore of your graphic arts posted here anymore??????

Embracing Ice Fishing, Smelt Fishing in the winter as great getaways.

JENN & GILLY / I LOVE YA & ALWAYS WILL .... CAN,T & DON,T WANNA FORGET THE 1ST COUPLE OF YEARS ON THIS SITE :love:

BUT ITS NOT ME THAT YOU ARE GOING TO ANSWER TOO FOR LOVING BLOOFISH .AIN,T MY F #$%^&*() PROBLEM ;

JENN / I DON,T KNOW WHY YOUR HAVING A PROBLEM ...IT MAYBE THAT THE CLAMMER SHUT YOU OFF THE WINTER 3 SOMES ;;WITH & WITHOUT FMS.S ;

GILLY PROBLEM[S] IS F %^&*() REAL EASY >. YA BUILT A HOUSE & GOT F#$%^&*() MARRIED ;;

ONE YA ALREADY HAD & THE OTHER /MUCH EASIER WAYS OF ACCOMPLISHING THAT ;;

TO TELL YA THE HONEST TRUTH ,I FISH MUCH MORE IN THE SO_CALLED OFF MONTHS ;;
NO TROUBLE PARKING
NO TRASH;
NO CROWDS
& MANY TIMES ALOT MORE FISH ;;




PS ;; GILLY .. TOM-COD BROUGHT BACK SOME GREAT MEMORIES /FISHING WITH THE PORTUGUESE CLAN OFF THE SOUTH SIDE HICKS BRIDGE ;; JUST THROWING THEM ON THE SNOW & THREE HOURS LATER WHEN YA PICKED THEM UP -THEY SLOWLY CAME BACK TO LIFE ON THE NORTH SIDE . WE WOULD GET NICE SIZE OYSTERS ,.,.,.,:fishin::buds:

I make myself much more available this time of year for things other than fishing, knowing that my mistress arrives in May.

If I was single I'd be chasing like that, well, I'd probably go to Florida for a couple weekends a month. But now, I just wait. And hope to get a couple quick trips in with friends.

I had gone through my winter blues stage years ago, until I found something that required me to g outside to enjoy it.
That was skiing some 20+ tears ago. After thet came snowboarding until the knees (and cost) drove me off the slopes. I still had a desire to be outside in the winter, so I tried ice fishing. The first year was sooo boring, but once I started catching, I was really "hooked".
As it is now, I start thinking about first ice around Thanksgiving.
If you need a good incentive, at least for me, picture had lining a 3, 5 or 10+ lb. fish through a 8-10" hole. At times like these you don't feel the cold, only the surge of strength from the fish on the line.

We all have our wasys of dealing with the cold, and this is mine.

Oh, and when you get into late Feb and early March, you can have some really balmy days on the ice, so that cold isn't the problem, but more about cooling off.

peeing…

in. where is this too freakin cold to pee event gonna take place?

B E N N Y ><><><:jump1:

Balance Gilly balance, you got it. Trust me most people would luv to be in your shoes, the problem is they don't have they're priorities straight. So what if you don't have that 20 something year old drive...whip dee doo. When I think about the $$ I've spent and the countless hours that only me and God know I wasted, scary and foolish. Experience comes with a price.

I have made a winter list for you.
*Go perrywinkling.
*Tie flys.:laugha:
*Paint the walls for the miss's
*Write a book on crabbin
*Go qauhoggin,I do
*Wax my boat
*Call me for some wings, hoot hoot ;)

two words Gilly...
Ice fishing!
Then there's planning for the ice fishing, meetings to plan for the ice fishing, buying ice fishing stuff...it's awesome!
I sound like Yosemite Sam...boiled coconut, fried coconut, New England Broiled Coconut!

:claps:....there are some very interesting replies on here. Thank you.


Jenn, I'm glad I'm not alone in being a closet bluefish blitzen...:jump1:...."we all change throughout life and so do our desires",...honey, I still haven't figured out whether it's our life that changes our desires or if it's our desires that change our life?? ;)

Ross, ..."get - :wall: - another - :wall:...boat" .....although I'm not so sure that would solve my problem or add to it. Buddy, luckily you're past my stage as far as raising kids...I first need to get through the diaper stage before engaging in different types of bilge pumps. and pix? :( NO TIME

Dad, Tim and Rick...I will definitely have to try this ice-fishing stuff one of these years. Gonna have to borrow the bottle of human anti-freeze from Milo though....

JR - I don't have to.. "make myself much more available this time of year for things other than fishing"....I have a wife that does that for me. LOL....

Mike - YOU RULE, and yeah...you're right, life has never been the same since I entered the twilight zone!!, and the memories of Tommys on the Hix are just that...memories. :(

Benny, before I start reading your posts again,...you need to come out of left field and do some relief pitching again.

...and my beloved Goose :love: Thanks for the words of encouragement...but balance I don't have. You see my friend, balance is when things evenly weigh themselves out...the balance you see in my life is me lifting the side that needs to be lifted in order to get that balance. That's not a happy way of achieving life's necessary balance. Perhaps 18 years from now I'll have that figured out a little better. For now...I'll keep learning about this new life of mine. With the help of my family & friends, I'm sure to survive it.

Winter List revisited:

Go periwinkling ** I've always had a hard time sh#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g them off the rocks, can you assist?
Tie flys** I don't tie flies, I swat them
Paint the walls for the missus ** if she cooperated more often, I wouldn't have to paint the walls or ceilings...:hee:
*** I've often thought about writing a book or two....gonna call one of em' "Secret Spots", I'm still gathering the necessary information though
**Wax your boat??? :soon:...and with korkers on!!!
** Wings???....Let's do it!!!!

...and lastly.....quahogs. All I gotta say is........

There is a tendency to think that we should never outgrow something, or have our fill of something, or reach an end - but people do, all the time.

Milo's antifreeze :drool:

Wait until you start feeling that way about sex. I want to see that post!

Everything goes in cycles... weather it is fish stocks or your desire to chase said fish... or even the enjoyment of the changing seasons.. for me.. even though the winter is hard on my aging joints, I embrace the fact that we live in an area of the country that allows us to be outside enjoying the outdoors each and every season.... standing on a frozen lake may not be everyones cup of tea.. but it has it's own soothing qualities.. a morning walk in the winter woods can do wonders for the sole.. and then there are the winter chores... the making of plugs, invisioning how each one will be enhaled by a hungry striper, repairing or building your favorite rod, or soon to be favorite rod...forming battle plans for each month as you look at the tide charts and phases of the moon.... winter time is a welcome break.. with out it, it striper fishing would not be quite as special.. before i know it, I'll be taking the cover off the boat and chasing the first cod and haddock of the spring, It's already the middle of january and the days are getting longer.. it's right around the corner... I hope I have time to get everything done....

yep three cycles

the germination

the growth

the flowering

then termination... to begin again

I think I've found a possible solution. All I have to do is wait until I feel safe or comfortable enough to put the little guy on the rocks with a rod in his hand, and then maybe I can relive or revive some of those desires that remain dormant inside of me.

That's when again, this thing called balance or more like sacrifice comes into play. I know I won't be chasing Stripes all night then taking the little guy early morning scuppin', toggin, flukin', etc//etc/...somethings gotta give, and I'm sure It'll be me. :huh:,, I knew I'd be making sacrifices when visions of dirty-diapers were still but a twinkle in me eye, but I guess I never looked this deep into it. Sometimes I wish I was the type of father who cared less about being involved as much, and just let the mother pick up my slack...but I just can't.
I laugh to,,, or rather at myself when I think about all the juggling I had to do last year just to fish when I did...and I thank my friends who waited around while I wrapped up daddy-duties for the night.

Although Ross.........perhaps a boat is more of a complete answer. :think:

Milo's antifreeze :drool:

Oh, Jeez...hope there's none of that at the SABBIT!

I knew I'd be making sacrifices when visions of dirty-diapers were still but a twinkle in me eye, but I guess I never looked this deep into it. Sometimes I wish I was the type of father who cared less about being involved as much, and just let the mother pick up my slack...but I just can't.

:wid: You read like one of those men who are actually an adult also. At certain times of your life you have to realize it's not all about you.

Take him trout fishing with you, it's easy.
I used to do that with Danny since he was a baby, I'd let the wife sleep late and I would get up to do the feeding, then off to the pond for a few hours, back home for breakfast then get to the home improvements around the house. That was my weekend routine for years when they were young.
if he's old enough for sunnies, it won't be long before largemouth.
I am not sure you need to fix anything, is something broke? You have the right attitude.
Enjoy what you have!

Hey Gilly - great post brother, can relate 100%. Here's a little something to look forward to in the winter. Last Saturday, I coached my son's hockey practice for the first time and Monday we went to the Bruins game. I still love to fish, but quality time with The Boy is different. You will be there before you know it.

Now, how does MV over Memorial Day weekend sound?

[QUOTE=bloocrab;739246]
honey, I still haven't figured out whether it's our life that changes our desires or if it's our desires that change our life?? ;)
[QUOTE]

I think it may be both! But either way does it really matter? :love:

I love what Slip said....Go trout fishing or remember what its like to catch your first pumpkinseed through the eyes of a child. Its all still fishing, just a little different. They will become you fondest fishing memories one day. Trust me on this, I dont even have kids but I took a friends child fishing quite a bit this past year. Who would think a 13 year old could help me "revive" me passion for largemouth? Or that I could be so proud of him as is he were my own flesh and blood, now imagine if he were! thats GOT to be a hell of a feeling. Now go enjoy it!