Horrified!!!!!

[Flaptail]

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.

[BigFish]

I have dibbs on all your plugs!

[BigFish]

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???

[numbskull]

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.

[RIJIMMY]

viagra

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by numbskull

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.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

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....

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by numbskull

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.

[eastendlu]

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.

[numbskull]

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.

[The Dad Fisherman]

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

[Raven]

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.

[PaulS]

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.

[ProfessorM]

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.

[Backbeach Jake]

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...

[DZ]

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

[Slipknot]

Horrified ??? 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

[Slingah]

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..

[2na]

You don't fool me

[Raven]

except to QUOTE a very good motivational speaker

he said...

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

[Steve K]

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.

[Raven]

or re-define's

as it has been said....

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

[Clammer]

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 ><<>< MIKE

[vineyardblues]

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

[whiplash]

What are you getting old or something?

[piemma]

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.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by piemma

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...


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!

[Sweetwater]

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.

[Adam_777]

Your obviously depressed and miserable.Welcome to the club.

[justplugit]

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.