Curious about other's habits/routines when fishing. Personally I don't set out often with the intent of doing catch and release. I suppose it's a result of growing up fishing only to consume my catch, so I'm generally not setting out just for the sport of it now in adulthood, although I do truly appreciate the sporting aspect. This can however limit my fishing time up there and turns fishing into more of a need or necessity when I think about it, which to me is kind of exciting in its own right. Don't get me wrong, fishing to me is still a beautiful endeavour in all aspects and I don't feel I'm missing out on any of the wonderful and fulfilling things most of us get out of it. Maybe a less than usual approach, but that's just me. So what are your thoughts? What is your approach?

(Revised post. I think I was getting the wrong idea across)

I fish for one thing...ENJOYMENT...sometimes that enjoyment is derived from keeping them to eat, and others from letting them go. The choice is mine, but when fishing becomes a chore, or a quest for social acceptance in any way, I'll quit.

Ok... let me see if I have this straight... you're not into catch-and-release so you keep everything you catch (presumably up to the legal limit), then you eat the fish you caught but complain that taking the time to do so keeps you from fishing more.

What do you do when you catch a fish that's too short or too long for the slot, or a species you don't want to keep? Do you keep those, too, or do you return them to the water (i.e. catch-and-release)? What happens to you when you let one go?

No, no not complaining in the least and absolutely do release fish that aren't of legal limit. Maybe i just have more of a utilitarian approach to fishing, though i still enjoy the peace it brings as much as the next guy/gal. Simply being honest about my habits and curious what others do.

I get so much more out of fishing than filets. It soothes the soul and puts me in my happy place. Plain and simple.

Fishing isn't a matter of life or death.....it's more important than that. Fishing is more important than eating. I would say even more important than breathing, but I guess I would die then. :)

I don't like to have shore lunches because it takes away from my time fishing. If I want to eat fish, I can go to the grocery store at home. I can't catch fish at home like I do in Quetico, so I want to fish as much as humanly possible.

With all of that said, my fishing partner likes to have shore lunches. So we decide to have four walleye shore lunches each trip. I'd rather be fishing, but it sure is tasty :)

I do a lot of catch-and-release fishing. I guess I just enjoy fishing!

When I do keep fish, it's either walleye or crappie, and just enough for a meal. I don't keep bass, I don't like the texture. I'll keep some northerns for my mom or brother-in-law for pickled fish.

When fishing for a meal, we won't keep every walleye or crappie. We throw back little ones and big ones, and usually have a min/max size, which can vary depending on the lake.

I can honestly say I've ever not kept fish because it would take away from fishing time. Seriously, how long does it take to fillet a few fish?

Any more I think I enjoy finding fish and fine tuning patterns as much as catching. Don't get me wrong, if I find a school of LT I'll fish them for an hour or so but I couldn't just camp on them all day or day after day.

Why Fish? Fishing relaxes me. It is fun.

Catching is too and eating . Why not? Go when the feeling strikes you.
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I'm always hoping for fish to eat when I'm fishing, but can have fun with catch and release as well.

The river here (Otter Tail) is catch and release only for smallmouth on the stretch I fish. There are definitely times that I'd rather be catching walleye, but if I know the bass are biting I'll put on a hula popper. Won't bring home something to eat that way. But it sure is fun.

They say 'if you love someone sometimes you've got to let them go' Seems like it applies to fish too!

I always head out assuming I will not catch any fish, that way I am pleasantly surprised no matter what. I have been blessed that my inner workings enjoy fishing every bit as much as I enjoy catching.

Interesting thread.

Fishing is a sport. Why ride a bike? Why play golf? Why play horseshoes? Why go mountain climbing? I could go on and on but you get the point.

I've never looked at fishing for solely food but more of a leisurely sport. Sometimes I have a shore lunch of Lake Trout or Walleye. I usually have a fillet or two in my freezer at home also. But mostly I catch and release.

Fishing brings me a little bit closer to nature. If I'm outdoors to enjoy nature, then sometimes fishing will bring me a bit more in tune with the natural world. If I can be in tune with the habits of the fish that inhabit the lake that I'm on, then sometimes that will get me into the mindset that I'm striving for. It is difficult for me to describe. But it is a mindset for me. Sometimes something magical happens while I'm fishing. Even if the fish aren't biting, then it is a good excuse to just sit in one spot on a lake and watch the natural world around me.

I use other pass times besides fishing to get me in tune with nature. Sometimes going on a photography hike while in nature will help me get in tune with the natural rythm. I use photography as a tool to change my mind set to focus on other thing larger or smaller than myself.

Maybe this was a bit of a ramble. But this is why I enjoy fishing even while practicing catch and release.

I just got back from a trip. The fishing was hot and others in the party fished all day. I enjoyed fishing but fished less than on other trips. Others cleaned and I cooked. I enjoyed watching others having fun catching fish and had a great trip.
Its all good.

quote DuluthPak: "Interesting thread.


Fishing is a sport. Why ride a bike? Why play golf? Why play horseshoes? Why go mountain climbing? I could go on and on but you get the point.


I've never looked at fishing for solely food but more of a leisurely sport. Sometimes I have a shore lunch of Lake Trout or Walleye. I usually have a fillet or two in my freezer at home also. But mostly I catch and release.


Fishing brings me a little bit closer to nature. If I'm outdoors to enjoy nature, then sometimes fishing will bring me a bit more in tune with the natural world. If I can be in tune with the habits of the fish that inhabit the lake that I'm on, then sometimes that will get me into the mindset that I'm striving for. It is difficult for me to describe. But it is a mindset for me. Sometimes something magical happens while I'm fishing. Even if the fish aren't biting, then it is a good excuse to just sit in one spot on a lake and watch the natural world around me.


I use other pass times besides fishing to get me in tune with nature. Sometimes going on a photography hike while in nature will help me get in tune with the natural rythm. I use photography as a tool to change my mind set to focus on other thing larger or smaller than myself.


Maybe this was a bit of a ramble. But this is why I enjoy fishing even while practicing catch and release.


"

This is probably 99% the reason I keep going up. Achieving the rythym of nature; be it by fishing, paddling, observing etc. Just slowing down. It can take a day or two to shake the city rythym, but once it's gone, I remember what I came for.

I think the title of your thread is a bit misleading. Why Fish? While all of us, or most of us may enjoy a fish fry once in a while the main reason we fish is for the enjoyment of the sport and all that accompanies it. I like to watch other people catch fish that are with me, I like catching and releasing fish myself, I like the idea of fooling fish and using strategy to catch them. But John Volker, aka Robert Travers in Trout Madness has it best. He fishes because fish live in beautiful places, because their logic is simple and when they do not want to bite no fisherman can deceive them. While fishing may not be important, most of what we do in life is also not important, but not nearly so fun. And one day, I may even catch a mermaid. Yes, that is why I fish. JerryG

This testament on fishing may also be in his book Trout Magic. One of the other. Read it, and you will enjoy it.

quote Moonpath: "This testament on fishing may also be in his book Trout Magic. One of the other. Read it, and you will enjoy it. "

Thanks for the recommendation and for the reply! I'll look for it! And you were right about the post title. I changed it

quote CityFisher74: "I always head out assuming I will not catch any fish, that way I am pleasantly surprised no matter what. I have been blessed that my inner workings enjoy fishing every bit as much as I enjoy catching."

Its funny because I totally agree with the second part of your post, I enjoy the fishing as much as the catching. On the first part I always assume im going to catch fish, and if I run into a situation where im just not getting any, I love the challenge of figuring out what they will hit :-)

:)

My wife and I enjoy eating fish, quite often three dinners a week rarely less than two. I hate buying fish in a store other than the occasional salt water species that I have a difficult time catching here in Michigan, so I fish a lot. When I go fishing I pick and choose what to keep and what to release but I don't base the entire success of the trip on how many I catch every time I go. I enjoy both the keeping and releasing, but my wife will tell you that I enjoy the prepping and planning more than the catching and releasing.

to "catch and release" first you have to "catch". For someone like me who goes fishing twice a year at most, I am less likely to release unless I have already met my limit.

I look forward to the tasty filets. I enjoy fishing a lot. But I enjoy traveling just as much as I do other aspects of canoe tripping. So I keep it balanced. I'll fish more when I'm alone. My number one reason is for the tasty meal, but close behind that is the sport of it. I've always loved to fish, I've spent most of my younger years fishing for hours on end. Not as patient now and enjoy so much more than the fishing. But leave my rod at home? No way!

I fish for the thrill of catching a monster walleye, for the opportunity to spend some down time with my husband, to enjoy the outdoors, to take a kid fishing. We keep a couple walleyes for supper on occasion. We don't keep fish to put them in the freezer for later. We are very fortunate to be able to go fishing whenever we like though.
We fish as much as possible while in the BWCA. My husband loves to find the fish, figure them out and then move on to the next spot.
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