Any impatient, crotchety guys here who like to fish?

[cantdrv55]

BIL said let’s go fishing in the spring. I said sure, let me buy some gear first. Wifey says no way because it’ll be a waste of money. Apparently I’m very impatient and can get pretty grouchy, two traits that don’t mix well with fishing. Is it true that you have to be ok with doing nothing while waiting for fish to bite? I thought I’d listen to podcasts on the shore as long as there’s cell service. What do you think?

[masraum]

I don't understand the whole fishing thing. Sitting around waiting, or casting, reeling, casting, reeling, etc....

I'm perfectly capable of sitting around and doing nothing, but I'd rather be doing it somewhere else or at least, not pretending to do something while I'm doing nothing.

I can be patient, but yeah, it doesn't sound like you're the right type for fishing any more than I am.

[Alan A]

Do you drink?
It’s mostly an excuse to go out with friends and drink beer.

[LWJ]

I am as impatient as they come. Fly fishing for trout is one of the biggest joys in my life. And has been since the 1980's. Now my Son is a rabid fly fisher too. It is fantastic. I don't really care about catching so much as just getting outside and enjoying it.

But. I almost never lake fish. Don't bait fish. Don't steelhead or salmon fish. All are far too boring, low reward for me. Probably a bunch of other stuff I avoid as well.

I specifically came to fly fishing as it is active. My most favorite situation is a tiny little stream fishing dry flys in a remote, gorgeous setting. I cast very often. Sometimes as much as every few seconds to keep from dragging the fly. The fish are typically tiny. Sometimes the size of my middle finger. And? I am never bored or impatient.

Also. As much as I love to drink? I don't drink and fish hardly ever.

And here is an offer to any Pelican that comes to Western Oregon. Look me up. I am happy to take you out and show you some pretty spots and probably catch a few fish. (But I don't keep them. Strictly hook and torture for me.)

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Alan A

Do you drink?
It’s mostly an excuse to go out with friends and drink beer.

Right, I've observed that to be the case many, many times.

I suspect cantdrive55's BiL would be too drinky and chatty for him to be able to listen to podcasts. But maybe I'm wrong.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by LWJ

I am as impatient as they come. Fly fishing for trout is one of the biggest joys in my life. And has been since the 1980's. Now my Son is a rabid fly fisher too. It is fantastic. I don't really care about catching so much as just getting outside and enjoying it.

But. I almost never lake fish. Don't bait fish. Don't steelhead or salmon fish. All are far too boring, low reward for me. Probably a bunch of other stuff I avoid as well.

I specifically came to fly fishing as it is active. My most favorite situation is a tiny little stream fishing dry flys in a remote, gorgeous setting. I cast very often. Sometimes as much as every few seconds to keep from dragging the fly. The fish are typically tiny. Sometimes the size of my middle finger. And? I am never bored or impatient.

Also. As much as I love to drink? I don't drink and fish hardly ever.

And here is an offer to any Pelican that comes to Western Oregon. Look me up. I am happy to take you out and show you some pretty spots and probably catch a few fish. (But I don't keep them. Strictly hook and torture for me.)

Right, I've never done it, but I've seen it on TV and movies and heard other guys talk about it enough for fly fishing to have popped into my head as something that's not so boring. I'm still not sure if I'd enjoy it, but what I've seen, I think it could be more enjoyable than most other fishing. The locations seem prettier, and it seems more like a quiet, solitary, zen-like thing (that's active).

[3rd_gear_Ted]

In the Sierra's you point your rod at a pretty place after you cast and say to yourself, the big guy sure knows how to landscape.
Catching some fish is just the topping.

[LWJ]

^^^BINGO! It is all about connecting. I don't attend a formal church. But I do like the church of Mother Nature.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

Wifey says no way because it’ll be a waste of money.

Good fishing gear is cheap these days. So she is wrong. Wrong wrong wrong.

[Evans, Marv]

I thoroughly enjoy fishing. I've mostly fished while in the Sierras and mostly to get fresh fish to eat. It was a great perk to go along with the nature experience in the mountains. I'd love to fish around where I live, but there are just no freshwater places to actually catch any. I've fished from cliffs at the ocean and done some surf fishing, but it's not the same as enjoying the experience of fishing in the mountains.

[stevej37]

I've ice fished many times as a youth with my G'pa.
That is where patience is mandatory.

The good part is that the fish taste twice as good after sitting out on the ice for a few hours.

[craigster59]

I've done all kinds of fishing but fly fishing for trout is my weakness.

From learning knots to entomology to extreme patience (ever tied a $3 fly on to your line only to hook a low hanging branch on your first cast?).

Entry fee is higher than bait casting but sometimes the expense is what makes you stick with it. And I'm a catch and release guy, sometimes I'll hold on to one or two for a meal. It really can be a Zen thing and all your worries can wash away in an instant.

[Seahawk]

There are two kinds of people in this world, those who love to fish and the rest of us

I had the great advantage of having an outdoors Dad growing up in California...he was an excellent, skilled, kayaker, skier, hunter, dirt bike rider, etc. and, unfortunately, he also loved to fish: fly, beach, trawler, ponds, lakes...he'd throw a line in Whole Foods if the fish were hitting.

What an idiot

My son got the fisherman gene and Jack helped repair the tear in the family fish fissure with my Dad...they talked about fish like my buddies and I talked about strippers at Pacer's in San Diego my first tour.

[flatbutt]

I tried it once but I just couldn't sit there and just sit there.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

Is it true that you have to be ok with doing nothing while waiting for fish to bite?

Depends on how good the fishing is! What will you be fishing for and how well does your B.I.L know the water you'll be fishing?

I've been up on the Manistee river with a good friend, caught no fish for an entire day, had a cigar and a couple beers, and had some good laughs with a good friend. I've enjoyed those trips as much as I enjoyed the ones where we caught fish.

[Bill Douglas]

And you get to enjoy the vista. I caught a fairly large salmon shortly after this pic, then a trout on the fly rod.

[KFC911]

Give a man a fish ... he will eat for a day.

Teach a man to fish ... he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day!

It ain't about the beer and it ain't about the fish either ....

I like to fish .... bass mostly ... in a small pond these daze .... Casey's Ocean

When with buddies, and I'm not the boat captain ... I drink.

Most of my life I've fished alone.... but I don't drink alone ...

I've never cared if I caught fish or not .... with buddies it was fun ... alone it was solitude.

I throw 'em back in ...

[Tishabet]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

I said sure, let me buy some gear first. Wifey says no way because it’ll be a waste of money.

Most fishing does not cost all that much if you are just trying to get a basic setup going. Freshwater cast/retrieve setup or basic bait (worm on a hook) setup including a Honda Civic level "no frills but not junk" rod, reel, line, terminal tackle will set you back maybe $200. It is a slippery slope from there... add a boat, more/better gear, destinations further afield, etc and you can end up spending "I own a track car" levels of cash. In the last 5 years I have spent "new Ferrari" money in the pursuit of fishing

As far as whether fishing for fun will be a good fit for you, I will tell you what I tell folks who are pondering going a bit further afield to see if the fishing might be better there than in their regular spot: "you won't know if you don't go."

This could be you!

[KFC911]

^^^^ He's patient and easy going .... and a fisherman...

Known to tell the truth !

You must not compute how much that first fish cost you to catch tho' .... until you buy a boat

[Missed Approach]

Hi cantdrv55- I do have a suggestion... Noodling. Speaking from personal experience, there is no boredom whatsoever. Travel to a Noodling-friendly State would be required. (Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.) While I do fish with a rod & reel, Noodling is a truly exciting event, and I suspect it would be a real bonding experience with your BIL. I convinced my neighbor to go with me to Lawton, OK several years ago, where we wrestled 8 fish total, and we now have an unbroken bond of comradeship.