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Exo
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I fish for dinner on solo trips.
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housty9
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I carry way less fishing stuff when i solo, this may trip i will fish but not as much as i normally do, plan on traveling more but if i have layover days because of wind i will do some fishing from shore.
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boonie
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I have gone through the same experience. Last year for the first time, I did not take any fishing gear. I saved several pounds of weight, saved on the cost of the license, and did not miss it. It just did not seem to be worth the trouble and I occupied myself with other things. I guess it had become more of a distraction than a contributor to my trip. Fishing was never the #1 reason I went anyway. I'm not saying I'll never do it again - maybe if I'm with another fisherman like my brother. Someday we may do a trip that's just about the fishing, in which case I'd go at a different time of year, basecamp, and take more fishing gear.
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gkimball
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I have pretty much stopped fishing for many of the reasons mentioned above. With the additional time and energy I have become much more aware of all the other life forms around me - plants, birds, mammals, amphibians, insects. My knowledge of fish still helps by allowing me to know where and when top look for fish activity. I really like just sitting quietly in the canoe looking down into the water. Amazing what you see when you slow down and look. I now keep a 'life list' of what I see and hear as part of the trip journal - even if I don't know what it is. Notations on the list take me back to specific places and moments. I feel like I am aware of much more now than when fishing was a focus of a trip.
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MHS67
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As god as my witness, I will never be on a lake or river canoeing without my fishing gear! It is the main reason I like canoeing. Well, there are other reasons but fishing is right up there!
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hobbydog
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I go on fishing trips and the canoe is an enjoyable way to get there. Then there are times I go canoe trips and fishing can be an enjoyable part of the trip. Last year I did a May solo fishing trip and fished 6-10 hours a day. Then I spent 8 days in WCPP in Sept and fished maybe 2 hours and caught 2 fish. The intention was there but the primary goal was to travel and see as much of it as I could. I will probably always take the gear as it is my backup source of food if needed.
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PineKnot
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I can't imagine myself on a solo trip and not fishing. Always have 2 rods, 3 reels, depth finder, tackle. I usually travel hard and then camp at a nice fishing area for a couple days. Then travel and repeat. On travel days, I fish less, but still troll in areas I know trophy fish lurk. I'll spend 2-3 hours early in the day and 2-3 hours after dinner on layover days. Trip times are mid-June to mid-August.
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Jaywalker
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Fishing has never been my main reason for paddling the BW, but I always bring at least some gear - generally much less than I use to. I love coming across a spot that I can't pass without casting a few lines. I've also increased my interest by planning more diverse and challenging meals based on fish instead of just battering and frying them.
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PortageKeeper
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I never fish when solo, but will fish when with others. First off, when with others, I still only fish for a meal, and don't get anything out of catch and release. Of course I will release anything that's not appropriate for a meal, but once I've got my meal, the fishing is over. For me, that is a successful fishing trip. When solo, I don't care to lug around all that is needed for fishing, and cooking fish.
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butthead
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Fishing is something I enjoy, as long as it is enjoyable. Nothing to prove or satisfy. Favorites are fly fishing for bass and northern's, seconded with baitcasting primarily for northern's. If I take fishing gear, it is minimal. It's your trip, make it fun!
butthead
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bwcasolo
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lately my desire to fish on my solo trips has lessened to a so what attitude. every trip i take, i get a license, drag a few baits, catch fish, but the interest just is not there.
i have been a serious fisherman my entire life.
still trying to decide for the may trip.
what about you all.
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mr.barley
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I find I catch more fish when I'm fishing solo. I may not fish as much as when I'm on a trip with others, but for some reason I catch more fish when I'm alone. Not distracted by company maybe?
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wetcanoedog
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last few years in the BW not so much fishing as in the 80's-90's.
i took big jointed lures and a good pike rod but now it's just a medium bass break down rod and a plastic box with a handful of red and white spoons and some odds and ends.
in the Q i took and still take what i need for Lake Trout but not going for the fishing as much as the being there i don't fish much.
i always take the gear because i went one year without it and felt like i was missing out on it and sometimes it was a good time filler.
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boonie
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quote BearBrown: "quote boonie: "I didn't take fishing gear last year for the first time, but like others it's hard to imagine not taking a camera. However, I think it was Mort, who quit doing that because he felt it became a distraction. It planted a seed that I continue to ponder."
I don't think I could not bring my camera and gear. I take hundreds if not thousands of photos on my trips. I love going back and reliving moments from my trips through my photographs. I could really cut down on weight if I didnt bring a digital slr and lenses, but for me its a priority because its something I enjoy doing. "
I'm the same way - I take hundreds on a trip. It really helps me remember and relive too, plus I can bore people to death with 100's of pictures of water, trees, and the front of my canoe ;). I'm even thinking about taking more to make up the weight I lost leaving my fishing gear at home :).
But it's something to ponder; I'm sure there's a good point there about simply being present in the moment. I'll probably experiment on day hikes, but still...it's big part of my trip. I suppose that's the way it is for a lot of fishermen. It's the reason they go canoeing in the BW, and so just unimaginable not to fish.
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Woods Walker
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I have always taken fishing gear.... but seem to only fish a few times when solo. I will catch fish for a meal or two. I just enjoy traveling most days & then relaxing in my hammock.
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MHS67
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quote MHS67: "As god as my witness, I will never be on a lake or river canoeing without my fishing gear! It is the main reason I like canoeing. Well, there are other reasons but fishing is right up there!"
One of the other reasons is photography, I will always have my camera equipment.
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boonie
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I didn't take fishing gear last year for the first time, but like others it's hard to imagine not taking a camera. However, I think it was Mort, who quit doing that because he felt it became a distraction. It planted a seed that I continue to ponder.
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housty9
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quote mgraber: "I find it physically painful to be near water that might hold fish and not be fishing. It doesn't really matter if it is the ocean, the BW/Quetico,a local lake or stream or a drainage ditch. If there even MIGHT be fish there I have to see what kind and what size,etc. Has fascinated me for almost 50 years now and thankfully has not let up." I was like that at one time, not as bad now I still fish but I do way more exploring and seeing more area's I've never been.
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napinch
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Will be interested in hearing others chime in on this. Fishing has always been the center of my wilderness canoe trips, but I am planning a solo in Sept and wondering how much I will fish.
I have already considered reducing equipment down to one pole and a small box of lures. But, the real question is, will it be worth paying for a license and lugging the stuff around if I only spend an hour or two in a week.
In the end, I am sure I will bring it, at least for this solo trip.
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OldGreyGoose
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Mgraber, I'm so glad I don't feel your pain. =) --Goose
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Primitiveman
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quote mgraber: "I find it physically painful to be near water that might hold fish and not be fishing. It doesn't really matter if it is the ocean, the BW/Quetico,a local lake or stream or a drainage ditch. If there even MIGHT be fish there I have to see what kind and what size,etc. Has fascinated me for almost 50 years now and thankfully has not let up."
I feel just the opposite. The fishing is so good in BW/Q that all other water seems like a waste of time to fish. I know that is not true but I am always pretty disappointed by the fishing everywhere else. it seems to me that anywhere you can get motorized fishing boat and a bunch of electronics and live bait on top of all that, there is nothing but a lot of stunted fish to catch.
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Alan Gage
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I could probably take it or leave it but I think my dog would disown me if I didn't bring along some gear. She about turns inside out when I pick up a rod. I keep it small and light, one or two rods and a handful of jigheads and plastic. If they don't want to bite what I've got then no big deal.
I find it enjoyable to stop and fish for a little while if I don't feel like paddling anymore and also enjoy catching a few fish from shore after setting up camp and cooking supper as the sun is setting. Night fishing out on the water can be fun too with a good moon, that's one of my favorite memories from a WCPP trip a couple years ago. Not so much the fishing as just paddling around under a nearly full moon and listening to the otters munching on crawdads. Sure you could do the same thing without fishing but sometimes you need a reason to motivate you to get out and it also gives you something to do while sitting out there in the dark.
I'll fish most days but usually only 5-10 minutes at a time at a likely looking spot for a total of maybe 30 minutes per day. Less if it's walleye, more if it's smallies. :)
Alan
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yellowcanoe
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I'm not a fisherperson but the camera is a must.
Now I know some people feel the same way about fishing. I went over to the one piece of open water (about a hundred feet by two hundred feet). Its season opener today. There were six guys fishing.. two on snowshoes..and one guy postholing through two feet of snow in his quest for open water with a huge tackle box and a rod and reel.
It's your personal trip..enjoy doing what you like.
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BearBrown
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I fish on my solo trips. However, I dont fish as much as I do on group trips. Fishing is always a priority on group trips. But when I am solo, the urge to fish is lessened to a degree. I often find myself content to just enjoy paddling my boat and lose myself in the rhythm and beauty of the wilderness.
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Primitiveman
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I can not imagine being in canoe country with out some fishing equipment. Fishing is not the priority it used to be but paddling through really good looking water with no pole would be torture. I brought a camera for the first time last year on my first solo but for got to charge it up so that was really a bust.
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Sierra1
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When I go on solos my fishing gear goes with. I enjoy the fishing more because I can go where I want and when I want. Plus I fish the way I want. Whether it's with a bobber, jigging or trolling it's a lot of fun. I probably am guilty of bringing to much tackle but I'll learn sooner or later to pare it down.
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OldGreyGoose
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When I was younger and could paddle and portage farther and faster, I could take it or leave it, and did both at various times. Older and slower now, it just makes sense to fish more, so I do. (Have always taken the camera -- have to have pictures.) --Goose
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bumabu
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I have found that i enjoy fishing when with someone else, fishing alone seems kind of pointless. What i am saying is that for me it is a social activity, not a personal hobby or passion. My brother is just the opposite.
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BearBrown
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quote boonie: "I didn't take fishing gear last year for the first time, but like others it's hard to imagine not taking a camera. However, I think it was Mort, who quit doing that because he felt it became a distraction. It planted a seed that I continue to ponder."
I don't think I could not bring my camera and gear. I take hundreds if not thousands of photos on my trips. I love going back and reliving moments from my trips through my photographs. I could really cut down on weight if I didnt bring a digital slr and lenses, but for me its a priority because its something I enjoy doing.
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mgraber
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I find it physically painful to be near water that might hold fish and not be fishing. It doesn't really matter if it is the ocean, the BW/Quetico,a local lake or stream or a drainage ditch. If there even MIGHT be fish there I have to see what kind and what size,etc. Has fascinated me for almost 50 years now and thankfully has not let up.
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bhouse46
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Interesting. I am actually going the other way. I have enjoyed fishing, but never really got into it. Over the past year I decided to start fishing to fill some of the time and will fish on the longer trips largely to contribute to the food supply. On short trips the cost and weight/bulk of gear has never seemed worthy and probably won't in the future. The walleye at Ely Steak House is pretty darn good and cheaper than a license.
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OBX2Kayak
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I fish until I lost my first half-dozen lures. Then, I enjoy the rest of the trip.
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mooseplums
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I always bring my fishing gear on solos...but I too find myself using it less and less....my last solo I fished about an hour
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Bannock
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I'd say I have brought fishing gear (very limited amount) on perhaps 75% of my solo trips. Of that number, at least half the time I didn't use it at all, and of the times I have used it at least half the trips I fished for less than an hour.
Still, I figure I'm on top of all that fishy water, and I do enjoy fresh fish, so I usually have taken it. Of course that was when I was a Minnesota resident. Now I live in Wisconsin, and so have to buy an out of state license. Still, the last time I went I purchased a 7-day, out-of-state license ... I fished for less than an hour. :)
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kanoes
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last 2 solos i didnt take fishing gear. last group solo i brought it along and kinda enjoyed fishing again. ill always fish on group solos now, not so sure about a solo solo.
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egknuti
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Fishing is one of my reasons for a solo trip.I can't imagine crossing a body of water without getting a line wet.
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DanCooke
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Must have a camera, Fishing gear optional.
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napinch
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As you can see from the responses, it is all about choice and preference. And the best part of going solo is that YOU get to choose whether you want to mess with it or use the time and extra weight for something else.
I plan to double portage, so I don't think that extra weight of a small tackle box and rod is going to make a difference. (May rethink this after a few long steep portages)
Some brought up the costs of a license...$38 for the "possibility" of making a few casts may sound like a lot, but if you are traveling a 1000 miles to get there, its trivial.
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nctry
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I find myself wanting to fish a little more lately. But still not a big reason to go. I'd still bring the gear, just not as much. I'll likely do more that I'm dogless.
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HansSolo
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quote DanCooke: "Must have a camera, Fishing gear optional."
Yep, same here! Too many other things to do and see.
Hans Solo
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KarlBAndersen1
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If I am anywhere near a body of water, and there is a boat/canoe of any kind in the overall scenario, and I am not fishing, getting ready to fish, or finishing fishing, I will be dead.
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missmolly
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quote mgraber: "I find it physically painful to be near water that might hold fish and not be fishing. It doesn't really matter if it is the ocean, the BW/Quetico,a local lake or stream or a drainage ditch. If there even MIGHT be fish there I have to see what kind and what size,etc. Has fascinated me for almost 50 years now and thankfully has not let up."
I'm the same way. If I see a rain puddle, I want to fish it!
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JoeWilderness
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quote OldGreyGoose: "Mgraber, I'm so glad I don't feel your pain. =) --Goose"
+1.
Yeppers, we are all made different.
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