Why go Fishing?

[steve2]

I'm not fishing for anything else now other than pure pleasure.

Always find it strange when I read this in a post what other reason is there for going fishing other than pleasure?
Does anyone on here go fishing for any other reason?
Do you go because they hate it and it’s a chore?

Me, I go when I can for the pleasure I get from fishing. Catch or not.

 

[103841]

Reading Daniel’s quote in its full context, it does beg the question why match fish if it isn’t bringing “pure pleasure”?

I think it’s banded around as a term which labels us into specific niches speci angler, match angler or a pleasure angler. I’m just an ........”angler”, not always pure pleasure I’ll have to admit.

 

[Another Dave]

Some of the pleasure of match fishing is surely the chance to win money and prizes. It's still pleasure, just not directly from fishing.

 

[sam vimes]

It shouldn't be so, but I've come to dislike the term "pleasure angler". So often it is preceeded "just a", as if pleasure anglers are somehow inferior to those that consider themselves match or specialist anglers. There are those that use the term in such a sneery way that it's become a marginally more polite way of calling someone a noddy.

 

[nottskev]

"Pleasure fishing" can just be a term to distinguish it from match fishing - but it doesn't mean there's no pleasure in fishing matches! And some of that pleasure is unrelated to prizes, but connected to the company, the craic, the rivalry, the challenge and so on.

Language can't be taken too literally, and labels often don't stand examination. The pleasure in "pleasure fishing" could be anything from chasing a target, to tackling a difficult water, to mastering a new method, to catching whatever turns up, to just being there.

And does anyone experience only pleasure from fishing? I love it, overall, but I wouldn't pretend it doesn't involve some frustrations, disappointments, dull moments, discomfort, tedious chores.....

It's a good question, whether anyone goes fishing for anything other than pleasure. I'd go so far as to say some people go fishing because they have to - it's a compulsion. On a continental weekend away with a girlfriend, we were strolling through the town by a river. I realised I was appraising the water. This looked like a good roach swim. Bet there's bream in there...... Embarrassing but true.

 

[rayner]

I never use the pleasure word with regard to my fishing.
Why I go fishing has turned to a real mystery to me of late. It's not my catch rate, the waters I'm fishing at the moment aren't anything like a task to catch. I like the fact that I put a bait in and get almost instant bites. The amount of fish is ridiculous, it's a British waterways owned venue. I'm told by the bailiff that there are plans to stock a few thousand skimmers at the end of the year.
At best it's hard work for me, at worst tedious, bordering on boring. I just can't stop myself doing what I do. I've had my share of blanking, I'm certainly not wanting to go back to sitting on my box scratching my head at what to do next.
I'm well prepared to think to myself I know what I'm doing even if it's all smoke and mirrors.

 

[mikench]

The forecast for tomorrow has improved so I plan to go fishing. I have just " messed about" for 20 Minutes or so riddling my maggots, preparing bread, making a butty, deciding on venue, method and tactics and enjoyed every minute. I know I'll enjoy setting up tomorrow and putting my cunning plan( it's Baldrick remember) into effect. I know I'll catch something and whatever it is I'll be happy. I'll start on the float with my Acolyte and set up a feeder rod to try something different( not at the same time or simultaneously or even contemporaneously) and if the rain holds off I will be as happy as a pig in ****. That is pleasure all of it and I hope it remains so.

 

[Stalker]

RE match fishing and pleasure - wasn't it the late great Jan Porter who wasn't overly keen on match fishing and very much considered it to be a vocation and a bit of a chore, but did it because he happened to be incredibly good at it and earned a decent wedge from it at a time when specimen angling (his "real" fishing pleasure) wasn't much of a money spinner for all but the very lucky few?

 

[mikench]

I'm after a few specimens tomorrow - gudgeon! They are a delightful little fish.

 

[103841]

In my four years of fishing I’ve caught just ONE! Caught hundreds as a kid.

 

[Philip]

I have gone fishing for reasons other than pleasure. Not so much nowadays but sometimes its about achieving something, a target fish for example. The end result can be deemed « pleasurable » I suppose if you achieve your goal but the actual doing is not always pleasurable …far from it in fact, sometimes putting yourself through abject misery on occasions when wet cold hungry or whatever.

I doubt too many on FM will understand this point of view but some might.

 

[steve2]

I have gone fishing for reasons other than pleasure. Not so much nowadays but sometimes its about achieving something, a target fish for example. The end result can be deemed « pleasurable » I suppose if you achieve your goal but the actual doing is not always pleasurable …far from it in fact, sometimes putting yourself through abject misery on occasions when wet cold hungry or whatever.

I doubt too many on FM will understand this point of view but some might.

I have an ex-angler friend who fished just to catch a certain big named carp. It was a compulsion with him, he lived to catch it, and he would only cast out once in case when he reeled in his bait he missed his chance of catching it. His compulsion had reached the point of a near breakdown any pleasure had gone from his fishing.
Yes he finally caught it but it nearly cost him his marriage, kids and mental health.
He forgot that fishing was not the life and death struggle he made it.

 

[mikench]

Tomorrow I'll be fishing with my new Acolyte plus. The anticipation of it regardless of what I catch gives me pleasure. It's not dissimilar from the anticipation of returning to France, going out for a meal, opening a nice bottle of wine , going for a drive, wearing a new pair of shoes, shirt or jacket ,even a rare evening of nookie( if I can manage it. Anticipation is very important and exciting.

I may not catch any and that does take the shine off the fulfilled anticipation but not unduly. If I can catch a big gudgeon, a spirited roach/ skimmer/ hybrid or a decent carp/ Chub /barbel I'm happy. Throw in decent weather, wildlife, butterflies and the prospect of a curry and a cold beer and I'm happy. I must be losing the plot!

 

[daniel121]

Always find it strange when I read this in a post what other reason is there for going fishing other than pleasure?
Does anyone on here go fishing for any other reason?
Do you go because they hate it and it’s a chore?

Me, I go when I can for the pleasure I get from fishing. Catch or not.

Pleasure fishing is different to match fishing or serious fishing for a large fish or partical species. That's not to say I did not match fish for pleasure.

I did what I wanted for pleasure at the time of my life I did it. The fact I now Mearly fish for pleasure is a flection on what I want to do now, also what health and ageing body will allow me to do.

It's also important to keep what I said in context of what I was saying, quoting it out if context on a new thread loses it context. I was talking about record keeping, the benifits of it, why I used to do it and why I now don't feel the need too do it anymore.

Your question why go fishing? Because its the best pastime/sport in the world! It has saved so many people from going down the wrong path, given me personally slights of nature I would never of seen with out it. Its absolutely magic, no matter how you fish

It shouldn't be so, but I've come to dislike the term "pleasure angler". So often it is preceeded "just a", as if pleasure anglers are somehow inferior to those that consider themselves match or specialist anglers. There are those that use the term in such a sneery way that it's become a marginally more polite way of calling someone a noddy.

No, I use the term 'I'm just a pleasure angler now' I'm not belittling myself or anyone who has never took fishing seriously.

It's not a slur on match fishermen/specimen angler or pleasure angler. I have wrote in the past accross several forums including this one about how I believe we should unite as fishermen rarther than separate genras against eachother. I am most certainly the very last person to look down on anyone I absolutely hate the snobbery in fishing, particularly surrounding consumerism and such.

 

[daniel121]

RE match fishing and pleasure - wasn't it the late great Jan Porter who wasn't overly keen on match fishing and very much considered it to be a vocation and a bit of a chore, but did it because he happened to be incredibly good at it and earned a decent wedge from it at a time when specimen angling (his "real" fishing pleasure) wasn't much of a money spinner for all but the very lucky few?

Jan also referred to himself as just a pleasure angler.

Unfortunately sometimes match fishing is boring, I know this is not what match fishermen do nowadays but I am what I am and can only speak of my generation, my days of team fishing and in particularly bleak fishing, lordy.... You need to get into a zone...

 

[108831]

Sometimes all fishing can be boring,but when it's good it's very exhilarating,I match fished,at a decent level and I'm sorry but no matter how good you are you can't get enough 'coin' to break even,unless you win the big festivals around now,normally I picked up pretty regularly,but in my opinion,the crack and the good friends you made through match fishing,also getting it right when on a peg feels good,real good,but it does in ordinary,everyday fishing...

 

[sam vimes]

No, I use the term 'I'm just a pleasure angler now' I'm not belittling myself or anyone who has never took fishing seriously.

It's not a slur on match fishermen/specimen angler or pleasure angler. I have wrote in the past accross several forums including this one about how I believe we should unite as fishermen rarther than separate genras against eachother. I am most certainly the very last person to look down on anyone I absolutely hate the snobbery in fishing, particularly surrounding consumerism and such.

Chill your boots, Daniel. I wasn't accusing you of anything. However, I stand by what I said, there are people out there that use the term "pleasure angler" as a derogatory one. Because of that, I increasingly dislike the term. I'd suggest that more than the odd poster feels exactly the same way.

I doubt too many on FM will understand this point of view but some might.

I understand it entirely. The difference for me was that when I realised that aspects of my fishing was becoming a chore, a test of endurance, or even war of attrition, I stopped doing whatever it was that made me feel that way. For me, life was just too short to feel that way.

 

[John Keane]

I am looking forward to tomorrow enormously. For the first time this year I am leaving the chair and feeder rod at home and having a day on the pole. Bought some Drennan Lazy Sod ready rigs with Tuff Eye floats, no maggots, no bread, just micros and hemp for feed and pellets and corn for bait. I’m hoping for a swim where I can fish at around 10m to a bed of lilies (fortunately there are a few swims like that)

Acquiring tackle, anticipation, planning and preparation and just plain pottering in the tackle shed are all part of what makes fishing so pleasurable. Quite good if you catch a few fish to boot.

 

[Philip]

I have an ex-angler friend who fished just to catch a certain big named carp. It was a compulsion with him, he lived to catch it, and he would only cast out once in case when he reeled in his bait he missed his chance of catching it. His compulsion had reached the point of a near breakdown any pleasure had gone from his fishing.
Yes he finally caught it but it nearly cost him his marriage, kids and mental health.
He forgot that fishing was not the life and death struggle he made it.

That could be applied to so many thing in life…why climb the mountain ? …why run the marathon ? ….why cycle from lands end to John O'groats ? …all could be considered pointless wastes of time. Each person will decide for themselves how much it means to them and how much sacrifice they want to make to get to their goal. I admire the dedication and persistence of the guys who catch big fish consistently. Its not easy and it requires sacrifice...probably more than most others sports simply down to the amount of time involved.

I understand it entirely. The difference for me was that when I realised that aspects of my fishing was becoming a chore, a test of endurance, or even war of attrition, I stopped doing whatever it was that made me feel that way. For me, life was just too short to feel that way.

The important point here being you did it before you realized it. I imagine if someone had tried to tell the younger you in the midst of doing it that life was too short I suspect it would have fallen on deaf ears. Sometimes the only antidote is to do it.

As an aside I wonder about the phrase “lifes too short” …for what ?..what will they do instead ?
Lets face it, there are far worse things people can "waste" their life on than sitting by a lake trying to catch a fish.

 

[sam vimes]

The important point here being you did it before you realized it. I imagine if someone had tried to tell the younger you in the midst of doing it that life was too short and I suspect it would have fallen on deaf ears. Sometimes the only antidote is to do it.

As an aside I wonder about the phrase “lifes too short” …for what ?..what will they do instead ?
There are far worse things people can "waste" their life on than sitting by a lake trying to catch a fish.

The important bit for me was not continuing to do it until I was sick enough of fishing to end up giving up and selling up. I've seen it often enough in other people. There undoubtedly are worse things you can do than "waste" time trying to catch fish. However, if it's no longer enjoyable, then I fail to understand those that persist. Those that persist at the expense of jobs, relationships, and life in general, go way beyond my comprehension, and that's from a wilfully single bloke that's more than a touch prone to a bit of obsession.