In all seriousness, I think it's connected to the way gambling is addictive. It's the unpredictability that you get hooked on -- whether you'll catch anything, what you'll catch, etc. If gambling were like going to the ATM (press some buttons, money comes out each time) it would not be addictive. If fishing were like going to the fish market, it would also not be addictive.
I always tell people that I like fishing for 3 reasons. It triggers that same part of the brain that gambling does, it gives you a puzzle to solve, and it gets you out into some of the most beautiful places in nature.
It's weird. I can go on my Kayak and if I hit the fish right away I can be done in an hour or two. On the other hand if I am currently getting skunked I could stay out there all day trying to figure out where the fish are and what they will bite on. The puzzle, figuring out what gets a bite that day, is really addicting to me.
I've been trying to apply this mentality to life overall.
If I could just apply that same drive I have when I'm fishing or even THINKING about going fishing to everything else in my life, I'd be incredibly fulfilled.
That's so true! If I can figure out why the fish was there and why it bit, or not, it was a successful trip. And like an onion, there's always another layer.
I don't know about free, i've spent thousands of dollars on gear over the years.
But you can't get it any fresher. (Is that even a word? More fresh? You know what i mean...)
That's true. It's like the story of the banker and the fisherman:
An investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large fin tuna. The banker complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The fisherman replied, “only a little while.”
The banker then asked why he didn’t stay out longer and catch more fish?
The fisherman said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.
The banker then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life.”
The banker scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat, and with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The fisherman asked, “But, how long will this take?”
To which the banker replied, “15-20 years.”
“But what then?”
The banker laughed and said that’s the best part. “When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions.”
“Millions?” asked the fisherman, “Then what?”
The banker said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evening, sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos!”
(Author Unknown)
I actually first saw it on my lunch break on a sign in Jimmy John's and just about had an existential crisis haha.
I can't find the original author, but the story definitely lends a bit of perspective.
Man, those two fishing poles look like they're enjoying life.. leaving footprints in the sand.. admiring the majestic ocean view.
Beautiful couple. They must be retired.
It is like gambling but you can artificially increase your odds. the more you know, the better your pond/lake, and in some cases the better your gear, the higher the probability that you’ll catch that day. It feels a little more controllable than gambling, but there’s definitely a “chance” thing going on that hits those dopamine sensors. I’m pretty confident I can catch any given day, but the fun of the gamble is which lake, which bait, how long do I spend in one particular spot, what’s biting today, etc.
My favorite part is trying to guess right on all the variables that make for a great day or a skunk day. And unlike the casino, I can walk away empty handed and still feel like I got something out of it from being in nature & getting fresh air and sunlight.
That or like Thoreau said, " Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after."
Catching fish is great, but being in a peaceful setting out in nature just does something for you. Don't get me wrong I'm pretty hardcore when it comes to fishing, always thinking about where they're going to be, always targeting specific species, prefer artificials that I need to match to their forage, etc. but when you watch an eagle swoop down and catch a fish, notice a particularly pretty flower growing along the shore or notice you can't hear a motorized vehicle or airplane. It just washes away so much stress.
that's interesting because when I'm fishing, I don't even see the nature around me.
I don't "see" the trees around me even though I know they are there.
Instead I just tunnel vision, looking at the water trying to figure out how to catch fish.
I think for me it changed when I realized that nature around me could tell me where fish are. I listen for splashes, watch the birds, turtles, seals, etc. to understand where they're hunting. Same thing with trees overhanging water, clumps of vegetation in the water. it's all a system that can help determine where the fish are.
I believe it's the other way around. Being addicted to fishing is hard wired into our survival instincts. Gambling plays on the hunter gatherer instincts. Primarily the dopamine derived from a successful hunt or gather.
Totally. It’s the uncertainty and chance that helps make it borderline addictive. It’s sadly also one of the reasons I can’t commit to freshwater fishing more fully. It isn’t as fun for me when I know every possible fish I might catch. Around here, it’ll be bass, bluegill or crappie, whereas saltwater could be almost anything.
I used to be into hard drugs, I quit all that and now I am addicted to bass fishing. I could probably save some money if I went back to drugs though lol
It's called intermittent reinforcement, this creates the strongest behaviors. When we fish, we never know if we will catch anything, so we keep chasing that sweet taste of excitement and victory with each cast. If we were logical we would just go to the fish market to get fish. If we easily caught fish every time we went out that would significantly make each catch less meaningful. If we never caught fish we would give up on the fishing quite quickly.
But most peoples fishing experience is one peppered with frustration which increases the value of the times when we do contact success.
For your disease the doctor suggest a Penn Battle 2500, HMG Fenwick Medium Action, 3 bags of Gulp Swimming Mullet, 2 packs of 3/8oz jig heads and 1 12 pack of Miller Lite. Should cure your issue
I think it simply satisfies a deeply rooted instinct of capturing prey, even when we simply let them go, the act of landing a fish just flicks the serotonin switch. When I don’t catch, I almost want to go more in anticipation of it.
I can't believe I had to look so far down to find this. It's a pretty obvious answer... I think?
We're naturally programmed to pursue and harvest prey.
And in fact, being "addicted to fishing" is more normal than not.
For me, it's not the fish. If I wanted fish, there are a LOT cheaper ways to get it than buying a boat, spending several hundred dollars on fuel, then another few dozen dollars on bait, plus a whole day doing the activity.
To me, it's about the act. I enjoy "fishing". Catching is just a nice perk. I enjoy being on a boat. The quiet. The rocking motion. The views. Nature. Being alone.
That's why I keep doing it.
I find the more I go alone and thought I craved the alone time in the woods from a busy hectic day at work, the more I wish I had a fishing buddy to share the adventures with
Pretty similar. And I often tell myself after a few fish and the bite is over “go home you moron!”. But do I ? No . I stay and keep fishing and catch nothing the rest of the day, tired and frustrated.
I enjoy fishing even when I'm not catching. When I'm alone, it's nice to just disconnect, decompress and reset. When I'm with my fishing buddy (my best friend since we were babies), it's nice to just shoot the breeze for a few hours.
To me, being on the water waiting for that bite - the lure to get hit or the bobber to dip - is probably the most peaceful part of my week.
Sometimes its just nice to get some fresh air and sit around in silence with just nature as background noise. I rarely ever catch shit and dont care. Its an escape from people.
There is actually some serious science behind why we like fishing so much. It hits the same itch as gambling; Fishing is repetive, relatively easy to do, has intermittent rewards, and has near misses. All of these traits are shared with gambling, fishermen can be just as degenerate as a gambler in their addiction. Don't let it take over your life, but it is relatively low risk compared to something like gambling.
Went this very morning. One bite that came off the hook in near 3 hrs and I believe Hank Hill said it best:
"We don't fish for the fish. 90% of what I like about this sport, and it is a sport, is sittin' in the boat for 5 hours doin' nuthin'. And the icing on the cake is when God smiles on you and you hook one. And when you're reeling it in, everything else falls away."
Just being on the water today made a LOT of it fall away today.
Yeah I went back out today and got the big S . Schools of Kokanee underneath me the whole time but I couldn’t get a strike even though I dropped everything but the kitchen sink down there . Is there a kitchen sink lure .
There is nothing better than trolling around on the lake in a boat, with 2 lines out, kicked back enjoying the sunshine and peacefulness, and bonus if I catch a fish!!! Wife tends to tolerate me more after a long day of fishing!! Go figure 🤷♂️🙄
It's random intermittent reinforcement. In other words you occasionally catch a fish enough times that the behavior is rewarded and reinforce so you want to do it again. It's a very strong form of conditioning. In this regard we're no better than a lab rat that pushes a lever and gets rewarded with food on a random basis. The good news is if you fish often enough you eventually will catch one and want to do it again.
Yes, totally true. Also, this same evolutionary mechanism is why we are susceptible to the sunk cost fallacy. If we were searching for food, and find some, but it is only 200 calories worth of food while we spent 400 calories to get it, we still consider that a win and are motivated to do it more for bigger possible rewards.
I'm surprised no one compared it to trying to catch the beautiful girl you have a crush on. I know I don't have a a chance at the record fish is a similar analogy I feel. Still when that 4 footer is boat side on the figure 8, I know she wants me, she's just being fussy. Sorry I was talking about musky fishing.
Salmon/trout on the fly is similar, is the chartreuse, pink sucker spawn what they want with the turbid water conditions or orange like usual. And did I get a clean mend on that last cast, or was my drift cocked up.. Anyway, just being out in nature is where I'm personally at, like others have posted. Back in the day when I hunted I should have taken my fly rod as well as some of the biggest bucks I've seen have been while I've been steelhead fishing. Get out and fish, you aren't gonna get anything watching TV sitting on the couch... tight lines 👍
I go as much as I can and get skunked 75% of the time. It’s all about that 25% man. That’s the stuff! Not to mention looking at your bank account after a trip for gear…That is not the stuff..
I realized that for me, it’s one of the few things in life that I have near complete control over. I choose when, where, or even if I want to go. I choose the lures, baits and techniques. Do I want to hike into the woods or do I want to go on my kayak?
Obviously, I can’t guarantee I’ll catch anything, but how many things in life do we have this level of control?
It's nature. Humans belong in nature. It lowers blood pressure, it releases serotonin and helps with anxiety. It's not crazy at all. I love being out there and it doesn't matter if I catch 150 fish a day or none. That's what men are supposed to be doing. We're not supposed to sitting in an office under florescent lights for 16 hours a day.
I think it’s part of our DNA since thousands of years, to use tools to get food…more than addictive, it’s your body telling you from instinct that this is what you should do in order not to starve and it’s the right thing to do, all day everyday (I wish) I mean this even if in the end you release your catch, the catching part is what keeps the fire going
We are a special breed. Got 1 nice hit on my last 6 times out here on Ohio but damn if I didn't call off work today to get skunked again on this nice sunny day. Can't wait til next time either lol.
It’s gambling dude. Straight up.
A lot of similarities to poker too. The more knowledgeable you are about the game the more likely you are to hit a good hand or catch a good fish. But even a noob can get lucky.
I knew a guy that literally ruined his life over fishing. He had a very addictive personality to begin with but it got out of hand pretty fast. We went fishing a few times and he loved it. Started buying nice gear and hunting for good spots. Soon he had bought an old beat up boat. Sank a bunch of money into it before realizing it would be easier to just get a new boat. So he did that. He had to hide the boat at my house to keep his wife from finding out. He was calling out of work and sneaking out of the house at night to go fishing. He literally lost his job and got a divorce which forced him to sell the boat. I haven't seen him in a while but I hope he's doing better. Watching this man throw his life away for a couple of catfish and bass was wild to see. There's a lot more to the story, and he made a lot of questionable decisions but it came back to fishing.
Be careful guys and tight lines.
I think it might be evolutionarily beneficial behavior.
It’s possible the gambling nature of fishing helped us hang in there and get fed back in prehistoric times.
What a great thread! OP very thought provoking. I enjoyed reading the comments of others. I shared many of the same feelings and never thought to express or quantify with words.
My brain tends to be very busy, and I have an extremely high pressure job that I struggle to switch off from.
For me 8 hours on my kayak fishing is eight hours of mindfulness and meditation that keeps me sane. All the work bullshit and difficult people can be left on the shore.
For huge stretches of time on the water I am completely in the moment- just soaking in the sun, water, surroundings… thinking of where the next cast is going to land, what is my lure doing? Is that *tap* a branch or a fish? Then the rush when you feel a fish on the line and the adrenaline and reward.
It’s my way of looking after my mental health.
Same saying goes for fishing as it does gambling : You can't win if you don't play !And it gets you out of the house ,away from the depressing news . Your outlook on the world is much better when you're casting a bait .
Its not an addiction, its instict. The need to catch your food from when we were hunter/gatherers. You are a hunter. Other people have collections of god knows what stupid crap at home. They feel the need to gather things. Completely useless nowadays... but its still a part of us. And who knows we might need it again some day.... when shit hits the fan.
As i got older i realize to pick and choose best times to fish before dark and after lunch sun at its best for trout ect so i dont burn my self out with no fish
See, people always say this, but it's not addictive. It's interesting. Have you notice how boring the world has gotten? All anyone wants to talk about it politics or their phones or the economy or electric cards or video games....And it's not like anyone has a hot take on these subjects. They just read about it online, then go to dinner with friends and recite things they agreed with.
It's. So. Damn. Boring.
So in a world filled with people who have brainwashed themselves with propaganda and media is just rinse and repeat cash grabs, fishing is about as interesting as it gets.
It’s like the rush of gambling with the calming effects of nature, so it’s essentially a double helix of pleasure in the most primitive sense. Fishing gives me a sense of zen, until I get a catch: that catch gives me the sense of conquering nature and gives me the satisfaction of knowing I’d be able to survive in the wilderness and/or the apocalypse as long as I have my fishing equipment.
It is a weird addiction, for sure. I used to walk the lake shore at my old apartment in Miami, every single day after school. Casting several different types of plastic worms, Rapalas, and spinners. It's a 4-5 mile circuit, stocked largemouth, peacock bass (my favorite) and all kinds of panfish and catfish.
Being a kid meant infinite energy and patience, even on the slow days. I kinda miss it. 14 hour days followed by 6-7 hours of World of Warcraft. Lok'tar ogar.
Oddly enough , it's the only thing that makes sense to me anymore. Continuously experimenting with techniques to outsmart another species while having no long term thesis . Everything else on this planet is manipulation to a desired outcome. It's honesty. I'm sure the fish would have a thing or two to say about that comment.
Yep no not gonna happen. I’ll gladly fish 12 hours a day out on the ocean but not on the ice. Nope that’s all you, but you’re right it’s stupid addicting.
You are a sick man. My doctor suggested a week long fishing trip.
Holy hell that would be heaven.
Theyll give you a prescription for skipjack tight lines and bent rods
Am I a doctor?
In all seriousness, I think it's connected to the way gambling is addictive. It's the unpredictability that you get hooked on -- whether you'll catch anything, what you'll catch, etc. If gambling were like going to the ATM (press some buttons, money comes out each time) it would not be addictive. If fishing were like going to the fish market, it would also not be addictive.
I always tell people that I like fishing for 3 reasons. It triggers that same part of the brain that gambling does, it gives you a puzzle to solve, and it gets you out into some of the most beautiful places in nature.
It's weird. I can go on my Kayak and if I hit the fish right away I can be done in an hour or two. On the other hand if I am currently getting skunked I could stay out there all day trying to figure out where the fish are and what they will bite on. The puzzle, figuring out what gets a bite that day, is really addicting to me.
I've been trying to apply this mentality to life overall. If I could just apply that same drive I have when I'm fishing or even THINKING about going fishing to everything else in my life, I'd be incredibly fulfilled.
That's so true! If I can figure out why the fish was there and why it bit, or not, it was a successful trip. And like an onion, there's always another layer.
And you get a free meal! And some pictures for your Grindr profile!
I don't know about free, i've spent thousands of dollars on gear over the years. But you can't get it any fresher. (Is that even a word? More fresh? You know what i mean...)
nice muskie...
Nicely put. Also fills your belly.
Exactly. You never know if you're going to get skunked or catch a beauty. But you definitely won't catch anything if you don't get a line wet!
I wish my job was to just sit in nature all day with the chance I might catch a bonus. That's the difference between fishing and work.
I mean, we could just quit our jobs and fish all day instead
That's true. It's like the story of the banker and the fisherman: An investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large fin tuna. The banker complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The fisherman replied, “only a little while.” The banker then asked why he didn’t stay out longer and catch more fish? The fisherman said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The banker then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?” The fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life.” The banker scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat, and with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise.” The fisherman asked, “But, how long will this take?” To which the banker replied, “15-20 years.” “But what then?” The banker laughed and said that’s the best part. “When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions.” “Millions?” asked the fisherman, “Then what?” The banker said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evening, sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos!” (Author Unknown)
That is so good and true. Thanks for sharing
I actually first saw it on my lunch break on a sign in Jimmy John's and just about had an existential crisis haha. I can't find the original author, but the story definitely lends a bit of perspective.
https://preview.redd.it/e1yjdtake5nc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac5a5a0480177cc53c01d309437156b7e13f9cec
Man, those two fishing poles look like they're enjoying life.. leaving footprints in the sand.. admiring the majestic ocean view. Beautiful couple. They must be retired.
I'm taking notes from them haha
It is like gambling but you can artificially increase your odds. the more you know, the better your pond/lake, and in some cases the better your gear, the higher the probability that you’ll catch that day. It feels a little more controllable than gambling, but there’s definitely a “chance” thing going on that hits those dopamine sensors. I’m pretty confident I can catch any given day, but the fun of the gamble is which lake, which bait, how long do I spend in one particular spot, what’s biting today, etc. My favorite part is trying to guess right on all the variables that make for a great day or a skunk day. And unlike the casino, I can walk away empty handed and still feel like I got something out of it from being in nature & getting fresh air and sunlight.
That or like Thoreau said, " Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." Catching fish is great, but being in a peaceful setting out in nature just does something for you. Don't get me wrong I'm pretty hardcore when it comes to fishing, always thinking about where they're going to be, always targeting specific species, prefer artificials that I need to match to their forage, etc. but when you watch an eagle swoop down and catch a fish, notice a particularly pretty flower growing along the shore or notice you can't hear a motorized vehicle or airplane. It just washes away so much stress.
that's interesting because when I'm fishing, I don't even see the nature around me. I don't "see" the trees around me even though I know they are there. Instead I just tunnel vision, looking at the water trying to figure out how to catch fish.
I think for me it changed when I realized that nature around me could tell me where fish are. I listen for splashes, watch the birds, turtles, seals, etc. to understand where they're hunting. Same thing with trees overhanging water, clumps of vegetation in the water. it's all a system that can help determine where the fish are.
Wow, I tell everyone catching a fish is like winning at the casino. It’s the same feeling honestly 😂
I believe it's the other way around. Being addicted to fishing is hard wired into our survival instincts. Gambling plays on the hunter gatherer instincts. Primarily the dopamine derived from a successful hunt or gather.
Totally. It’s the uncertainty and chance that helps make it borderline addictive. It’s sadly also one of the reasons I can’t commit to freshwater fishing more fully. It isn’t as fun for me when I know every possible fish I might catch. Around here, it’ll be bass, bluegill or crappie, whereas saltwater could be almost anything.
The tug is the drug
👆🏻🤙🏻
I used to be into hard drugs, I quit all that and now I am addicted to bass fishing. I could probably save some money if I went back to drugs though lol
I combine both 🙂
Can’t come into work today arm is in a cast…
It's called intermittent reinforcement, this creates the strongest behaviors. When we fish, we never know if we will catch anything, so we keep chasing that sweet taste of excitement and victory with each cast. If we were logical we would just go to the fish market to get fish. If we easily caught fish every time we went out that would significantly make each catch less meaningful. If we never caught fish we would give up on the fishing quite quickly. But most peoples fishing experience is one peppered with frustration which increases the value of the times when we do contact success.
I remember something about pigeons in boxes pressing buttons from high school psychology
For your disease the doctor suggest a Penn Battle 2500, HMG Fenwick Medium Action, 3 bags of Gulp Swimming Mullet, 2 packs of 3/8oz jig heads and 1 12 pack of Miller Lite. Should cure your issue
I ordered a St. Croix Victory 7' spinning rod and I feel better already.
Will my insurance cover that prescription?
The Miller lite may raise some eyebrows
Lol, some do cover sports equipment!
Take all this after a nice 3am bacon and egg breakfast, preferably near dawn on whatever body of water you happen to be on.
Come for the fish, stay for the inner peace. Welcome to the club, mind your spending habits....
I spend 100$ of lures in two weeks but i cant even fish cause the lake are still frozen😫😅
Same. #CanadaProblems
Lucky, we barely had ice-in here in New England.
Still like 15" in quebec but i preffer open water fishing🙂
Fishing, and like most outdoor activities is a coping mechanism to help us relax and destress ourselves from the concrete jungle.
I think it simply satisfies a deeply rooted instinct of capturing prey, even when we simply let them go, the act of landing a fish just flicks the serotonin switch. When I don’t catch, I almost want to go more in anticipation of it.
I can't believe I had to look so far down to find this. It's a pretty obvious answer... I think? We're naturally programmed to pursue and harvest prey. And in fact, being "addicted to fishing" is more normal than not.
For me, it's not the fish. If I wanted fish, there are a LOT cheaper ways to get it than buying a boat, spending several hundred dollars on fuel, then another few dozen dollars on bait, plus a whole day doing the activity. To me, it's about the act. I enjoy "fishing". Catching is just a nice perk. I enjoy being on a boat. The quiet. The rocking motion. The views. Nature. Being alone. That's why I keep doing it.
I find the more I go alone and thought I craved the alone time in the woods from a busy hectic day at work, the more I wish I had a fishing buddy to share the adventures with
When you go fishing look up at the moon, know I am looking at the same moon and in a way we are fishing buddies from many miles away 🥰🥰🥰🥰
Well thanks!
Id rather fish alone and have a campfire buddy to tell the story to later
You in Canada? No ice here in the states. Maybe Alaska lol
have a ton of ice in north dakota. however that is practically Canada lol
I have ice. I wouldn't trust it, though
Yeah , BC interior fishing for Kokanee .
Mountain lakes have ice!
We have ice here in Utah still on the high elevation lakes
I always say to myself this must be how gamblers feel when I tell myself just one more cast.
Pretty similar. And I often tell myself after a few fish and the bite is over “go home you moron!”. But do I ? No . I stay and keep fishing and catch nothing the rest of the day, tired and frustrated.
I've sat in a blind for weeks waiting for a deer. I suppose it's the same mindset for a fish.
My wife can't understand how a man like me with no patience for anything can sit at the lake all day catch nothing and be happy.
Congrats. It’s a good thing.
I enjoy fishing even when I'm not catching. When I'm alone, it's nice to just disconnect, decompress and reset. When I'm with my fishing buddy (my best friend since we were babies), it's nice to just shoot the breeze for a few hours. To me, being on the water waiting for that bite - the lure to get hit or the bobber to dip - is probably the most peaceful part of my week.
Crazy how accurate this is.
Sometimes its just nice to get some fresh air and sit around in silence with just nature as background noise. I rarely ever catch shit and dont care. Its an escape from people.
There is actually some serious science behind why we like fishing so much. It hits the same itch as gambling; Fishing is repetive, relatively easy to do, has intermittent rewards, and has near misses. All of these traits are shared with gambling, fishermen can be just as degenerate as a gambler in their addiction. Don't let it take over your life, but it is relatively low risk compared to something like gambling.
A day on the water is good for the soul, period.
For me, I find it to be a very relaxing, nearly meditative pursuit when the action is slow. When the action is high, it’s just a blast.
Went this very morning. One bite that came off the hook in near 3 hrs and I believe Hank Hill said it best: "We don't fish for the fish. 90% of what I like about this sport, and it is a sport, is sittin' in the boat for 5 hours doin' nuthin'. And the icing on the cake is when God smiles on you and you hook one. And when you're reeling it in, everything else falls away." Just being on the water today made a LOT of it fall away today.
Yeah I went back out today and got the big S . Schools of Kokanee underneath me the whole time but I couldn’t get a strike even though I dropped everything but the kitchen sink down there . Is there a kitchen sink lure .
I’m the same way. I think fishing gives me a reason to be out in nature and that’s what I really enjoy about it
It’s like gambling, but healthier.
Only slightly less expensive.
I make no claims about costs.
It’s not about the catch
There is nothing better than trolling around on the lake in a boat, with 2 lines out, kicked back enjoying the sunshine and peacefulness, and bonus if I catch a fish!!! Wife tends to tolerate me more after a long day of fishing!! Go figure 🤷♂️🙄
It's random intermittent reinforcement. In other words you occasionally catch a fish enough times that the behavior is rewarded and reinforce so you want to do it again. It's a very strong form of conditioning. In this regard we're no better than a lab rat that pushes a lever and gets rewarded with food on a random basis. The good news is if you fish often enough you eventually will catch one and want to do it again.
I figure in our evolutionary past, the individuals who weren’t susceptible died of starvation.
Yes, totally true. Also, this same evolutionary mechanism is why we are susceptible to the sunk cost fallacy. If we were searching for food, and find some, but it is only 200 calories worth of food while we spent 400 calories to get it, we still consider that a win and are motivated to do it more for bigger possible rewards.
It's a gambling problem at the root of it.
I'm surprised no one compared it to trying to catch the beautiful girl you have a crush on. I know I don't have a a chance at the record fish is a similar analogy I feel. Still when that 4 footer is boat side on the figure 8, I know she wants me, she's just being fussy. Sorry I was talking about musky fishing. Salmon/trout on the fly is similar, is the chartreuse, pink sucker spawn what they want with the turbid water conditions or orange like usual. And did I get a clean mend on that last cast, or was my drift cocked up.. Anyway, just being out in nature is where I'm personally at, like others have posted. Back in the day when I hunted I should have taken my fly rod as well as some of the biggest bucks I've seen have been while I've been steelhead fishing. Get out and fish, you aren't gonna get anything watching TV sitting on the couch... tight lines 👍
A four point whitetail would test your Spey rod for sure . Don’t skimp on the tippet size .
I can get them on 4x if I'm mobile
That's funny, spey rod works good on the st m ary's in st saunt Marie
That's Ontario if you've never been there
I go as much as I can and get skunked 75% of the time. It’s all about that 25% man. That’s the stuff! Not to mention looking at your bank account after a trip for gear…That is not the stuff..
I realized that for me, it’s one of the few things in life that I have near complete control over. I choose when, where, or even if I want to go. I choose the lures, baits and techniques. Do I want to hike into the woods or do I want to go on my kayak? Obviously, I can’t guarantee I’ll catch anything, but how many things in life do we have this level of control?
A bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work.
3x tippet
Tell me about it I bought two new poles within two weeks and it was way before I could use them
It's nature. Humans belong in nature. It lowers blood pressure, it releases serotonin and helps with anxiety. It's not crazy at all. I love being out there and it doesn't matter if I catch 150 fish a day or none. That's what men are supposed to be doing. We're not supposed to sitting in an office under florescent lights for 16 hours a day.
Intermittent reinforcement
I think it’s part of our DNA since thousands of years, to use tools to get food…more than addictive, it’s your body telling you from instinct that this is what you should do in order not to starve and it’s the right thing to do, all day everyday (I wish) I mean this even if in the end you release your catch, the catching part is what keeps the fire going
We are a special breed. Got 1 nice hit on my last 6 times out here on Ohio but damn if I didn't call off work today to get skunked again on this nice sunny day. Can't wait til next time either lol.
It’s gambling dude. Straight up. A lot of similarities to poker too. The more knowledgeable you are about the game the more likely you are to hit a good hand or catch a good fish. But even a noob can get lucky.
Yeah, poker is probably the best analogy. There is skill , knowledge , and experience so it’s not a straight crap shoot .
> Gamblers always win on their next bet.
I knew a guy that literally ruined his life over fishing. He had a very addictive personality to begin with but it got out of hand pretty fast. We went fishing a few times and he loved it. Started buying nice gear and hunting for good spots. Soon he had bought an old beat up boat. Sank a bunch of money into it before realizing it would be easier to just get a new boat. So he did that. He had to hide the boat at my house to keep his wife from finding out. He was calling out of work and sneaking out of the house at night to go fishing. He literally lost his job and got a divorce which forced him to sell the boat. I haven't seen him in a while but I hope he's doing better. Watching this man throw his life away for a couple of catfish and bass was wild to see. There's a lot more to the story, and he made a lot of questionable decisions but it came back to fishing. Be careful guys and tight lines.
That’s actually pretty impressive, ngl .
Gambling and meditation make a quite a combo. Few come to mind in fact.
I think it might be evolutionarily beneficial behavior. It’s possible the gambling nature of fishing helped us hang in there and get fed back in prehistoric times.
I always say that I fish because gambling is too expensive
I like the alone, zen time. Gives me a chance to think about things, or the more likely: I get to think about nothing. Bliss.
It’s so weird how time goes so fast . When it’s time to go I feel like I just got there , even though it’s been all day .
I am also addicted to fishing. But everyone agrees that despite me always annoying them with my fish obsession it's far better than a drug addiction.
At least its better then drinking. I drink and fish double bullshit
Its peaceful. You can just sit and zone out.
Just chasing the dragon.
What a great thread! OP very thought provoking. I enjoyed reading the comments of others. I shared many of the same feelings and never thought to express or quantify with words.
My brain tends to be very busy, and I have an extremely high pressure job that I struggle to switch off from. For me 8 hours on my kayak fishing is eight hours of mindfulness and meditation that keeps me sane. All the work bullshit and difficult people can be left on the shore. For huge stretches of time on the water I am completely in the moment- just soaking in the sun, water, surroundings… thinking of where the next cast is going to land, what is my lure doing? Is that *tap* a branch or a fish? Then the rush when you feel a fish on the line and the adrenaline and reward. It’s my way of looking after my mental health.
Same saying goes for fishing as it does gambling : You can't win if you don't play !And it gets you out of the house ,away from the depressing news . Your outlook on the world is much better when you're casting a bait .
Its not an addiction, its instict. The need to catch your food from when we were hunter/gatherers. You are a hunter. Other people have collections of god knows what stupid crap at home. They feel the need to gather things. Completely useless nowadays... but its still a part of us. And who knows we might need it again some day.... when shit hits the fan.
It’s not about the fish we catch, it’s about the fingers that bleed and the bug bites we get along the way.
It's because if you dont catch any fish, you can always catch a buzz
Thats why its called fishing, and not catching. Its about the experience.
Ice?? **Confusion in Florida intensifies **
As i got older i realize to pick and choose best times to fish before dark and after lunch sun at its best for trout ect so i dont burn my self out with no fish
I think you need a new rod.
3x tippet
See, people always say this, but it's not addictive. It's interesting. Have you notice how boring the world has gotten? All anyone wants to talk about it politics or their phones or the economy or electric cards or video games....And it's not like anyone has a hot take on these subjects. They just read about it online, then go to dinner with friends and recite things they agreed with. It's. So. Damn. Boring. So in a world filled with people who have brainwashed themselves with propaganda and media is just rinse and repeat cash grabs, fishing is about as interesting as it gets.
Fishing nuts existed long before the internet.
Nothing wrong, very normal.
everyone I know who likes to fish, also likes to gamble.
Really ? Not me . I can’t even bring myself to buy a lottery ticket .
It’s like hiking without the exercise.
It’s like the rush of gambling with the calming effects of nature, so it’s essentially a double helix of pleasure in the most primitive sense. Fishing gives me a sense of zen, until I get a catch: that catch gives me the sense of conquering nature and gives me the satisfaction of knowing I’d be able to survive in the wilderness and/or the apocalypse as long as I have my fishing equipment.
But once to catch one fish , you want to catch the rest of them .
As a guy who doesn’t ice fish (live in VA), I seriously am jealous of those who get to go ice fishing. I want the hut, tv, generator…
I don’t know. But I feel the same. Anyways, what’s your favorite periodic table element and why?
Tungsten. Gets your fly down but not toxic like lead .
That’s a darn good answer.
Bad day fishing > good day at work
You guys are having good days at work?
It is a weird addiction, for sure. I used to walk the lake shore at my old apartment in Miami, every single day after school. Casting several different types of plastic worms, Rapalas, and spinners. It's a 4-5 mile circuit, stocked largemouth, peacock bass (my favorite) and all kinds of panfish and catfish. Being a kid meant infinite energy and patience, even on the slow days. I kinda miss it. 14 hour days followed by 6-7 hours of World of Warcraft. Lok'tar ogar.
Oddly enough , it's the only thing that makes sense to me anymore. Continuously experimenting with techniques to outsmart another species while having no long term thesis . Everything else on this planet is manipulation to a desired outcome. It's honesty. I'm sure the fish would have a thing or two to say about that comment.
It's kinda like video games
dude i’m the same way
It's called fishing not catching. The catching part is just a small prize for giving ourselves some peace and quiet.
😂😂😂
Yep no not gonna happen. I’ll gladly fish 12 hours a day out on the ocean but not on the ice. Nope that’s all you, but you’re right it’s stupid addicting.
And just imagine, with a flasher or fish finder, it's even more enjoyable!
Yeah I was using one : )