Competitive Fishing

[Deleted User]

Jen, I have been enjoying your always good column, as usual. Today's brought up an interesting human nature subject; being competitive when fishing. You certainly don't need to feel sheepish for feeling the way you did watching Bill catch all the fish with exactly the same stuff. It happens like that many times. And it's as normal to feel competitive when fishing as lying about it is. Everybody is that way - except the Reel Truth http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif ! Seriously, we are all like that to varying degrees. Why? Fishing isn't brain surgery or even the NBA. What's the big deal. I used to be very competitive, especially when I was guiding. Won a lot of boat races and won a few unofficial "fish cleaning derbys" at the ramps. Lost a lot too. Those attitudes lead some to rudeness. It has taken going thru a lot of life's more important "contests" and the knowledge that I know how to catch fish and don't have to prove it to anyone, or myself, to finally get over the intense competiveness. It has been a lot more relaxing and pleasurable to fish with the new 'tude, even if it costs me a few fish on occassion! Remember that luck is always a factor too. I still get a bit rankled when some doughballs, trolling next to our boat, in a cartopper and with yellow rods hammers the fish and we don't (no e-mail from doughballs please http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif ). But now I truely realize IT'S NO BIG DEAL! Relax, enjoy, and your days will come. - Another thing that rankles some very good fishermen is that guides often outfish them. Even though they have similar knowledge and skills. I have been in both sets of shoes, so I can tell you why this often happens. The guides are out there almost every day and can dial in to the different intracacies that are occuring that week. They have more days and rods out to find out where and what the fish are biting on best; baits, scents, lures, sizes, colors, and chems (Kings). They usually have more eggs to diversify cures for on river adaptability, thus more effectiveness. And they have the plugs that WORK! Being out there with multiple rods every day they know which plugs are killers and which ones to retire. That's a huge advantage. Same with Kwikfish and other lures. That doesn't necessarily make them better fishermen. It just means they have an intrinsic advantage. Don't let that bother you people. And some of you, hire a guide once in a while. They work hard and are worth it. - Steve - Edit: In after thought, forget all of the above crap. Let's get out there and get it on! (jk)


[This message has been edited by RT (edited 07-14-2000).]

[happybrew]

Hey, I'm probably worse than Jenny in one respect: I get jealous if I'm not catching TWICE as many fish as my partner (unless it's my kids, then I want them to catch more). But I never try to let it show. That's probably why I prefer to fish by myself. So it's easier to control my competitive urges.

happybrew

[Hotshot]

I FISH TO SHOW OFF, I KNOW THAT SOUNDS STUCK UP BUT I FIND IT PUSHES ME! I FIND MY SELF GETTING LAZY IF NOBODYS AROUND http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

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www.olympicpeninsulafishing.com (http://www.olympicpeninsulafishing.com) Fish Willy Boats

[smilesforu]

I enjoy competitive fishing to get that sutble dig in on my buds. Maybe its the headshakes when they say "I can't believe he did it again" http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Competition really adds to the concentration level for fishing. But fishing in complete solitude is another feeling in itself. Just enjoy going http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

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Marty
Steelheader.net (http://www.steelheader.net/)

[Jennie@ifish]

I used to just love fishing alone or with my kids around the guys.
In my younger days I would approach the hole, (Oh boy, this is going to make me sound bad...), acting like a helpless woman. asking what works...
For instance, I'd go to the South Jetty, ask them if they are fishing the bottom or top. The guy would say fishing the bottom.."Doing any good?" I'd say..."nope".
Ok, I'll fish the top, so I'd put on a bobber with the bait down, get my fish...
"Oh! Iv got a salmon!" I'd scream....."What do I do?" Part of me really was scared! I didn't know how to net fish off the jetty. They would net it for me. ONCE. The next fish I got on 15 minutes later, and my limit, was TOTALLY ignored by everyone around. OK, I'l net it myself.. (Which eventually led me to buying a 15 foot long net, which I named my jetty netty!) Then I would put a bunch of wadded up line with some of the fish guts on it and procede to collect dungenous crab off the bottom. An hour later I'd leave with salmon and crab while they were polishing off their beer and shaking their heads.
I loved that! I'd gather up my kids on the beach below on the other side, get in my subura, fondly titled "FISHAMRIG" in big black letters and go home to do what women are supposed to do. Cook.
Anyway, I loved those days, and sometimes I think they are over.
Certainly, most men do know now that I love to fish, and I have a certain degree of knowledge about it. I have to live up to that now, and I miss my ignorance!
Fairly often I am in a place where I get to fish with guides who really know what is up on the rivers and bays and I don't get my rig baited anymore. I am expected to catch fish.
But I haven't been doing so well this year!
Guess I'll have to travel farther away to try my poor woman tactics! Will that bring back my luck?
Being a woman is nice sometimes. I still find my luck best when I fish alone. Sometimes I really hit it and knock em when I am with someone, but not as often.
I think maybe I will have some coffee and decide to delete this most honest disgusting post!

Jen

[Deleted User]

Maybe humans just evolved competitive. Up until modern times men had to compete for animals and fish to feed their family and their pride. But to ALL CAP that you are a stuck up showoff? That dude must be lacking somewhere else. Times have changed and hopefully so will attitudes. I find yours one to strive for Rt.

[Nanook]

You have not met Son on an Okie!

[wak'm&stak'm]

I once threw my pole and my dad paddled my ass. I also got to stay home for the next few trips. It is frustrating when everyone seems to catch fish around me, but can honestly say I am happy for them. When I see someone with a especially nice fish......it is the fish that I admire not the guy who killed.
This fishing jealiousy stuff is what fuels troubles on the water and a unhappy trip.
I am very happy I have the fishing partners I do, we work hard at catching fish and get our share, but I would be happy to just sit back and watch the excitment of kids catching their first fish. Even if I never caught another fish.
It would be an awsome world if people could truley be happy for others when they sucseed and pick them up when they fail.

[Deleted User]

Wak'm N Stak'm, you woke 'em and stoked 'em. Thanks for being right on! - RT

[Steelheader69]

I'm to the point in my life that I can say I don't compete anymore. I love to fish, and just enjoy time on the water. In fact, I've spent many a trip trying to get friends/family into fish rather then fishing myself (I guess you'd call me a free guide). I'm not that old, but I've caught more fish and put alot more fishing days in then alot of people my age. I'm just happy to be fishing then to worry about that.....BUT there are times I have a hole I wanna fish and will get there early to fish it. But everyone has a honeyhole they wanna fish first.

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You haven't lived til you've rowed a cataraft. Friends don't let friends run Outcasts.

[NorthRiverS]

I love to catch fish. To hook them and fight them is a thrill. Frequently I fish with family or friends who don't get to fish as often as I do. However, no matter who hooks the fish, my guest or my family member reels in the fish. I will always be the last one to land a fish. And I wouldn't have it any other way. I enjoy others catching fish as much as the ones I catch. This way we all share in the joy of fishing. Don't get me wrong, I love to compete, but I compete with the fish, not other fishermen. Trying to figure out what they are biting, colors, scents, trolling speed, whatever. That's the true challenge.