Life getting in the way of fishing... sigh

Josh

Josh

Dead in the water
Staff member
Admin
What's the deal with work, kids, parents, pets, chores, maintenance, and the rest of life getting in the way of fishing?

I have been getting shafted by life over the past few weeks. The weather is glorious, the gear is ready, fish are starting to be active... Josh is busy dealing with some stupid life thing. What's that? It's going to be 80 degrees early next week? Don't worry, I'll be stuck in a big city at a work conference. I'll wave at you all from my 5:00am flight.

BIGSIGH™
 
Just about same, though I very rarely get out before mid May most years. There's some fishing to be had before then, but not good enough prospects to pull me away from everything else I have going on. My method each year has become to spend as much time getting as much done as I can through the winter and spring, then ease back and enjoy more fishing as things really pick up in the fisheries I enjoy.
 
I agree. Get as much professional work, house/yard chores, non fishing & hunting tasks done as possible in late winter and spring. Then fish hard summer into late fall.
 
Josh....People just have to say, "NO!" It is amazing what you can do with planning. You will never find time to fit in exercise. You have to plan and schedule it. There is a rule in financial planning and that is to pay yourself first. On the same vein plan your fishing vacations first.
 
I’ve been slowly trying to perfect my stealth setup for work trips. Currently running a 11’ 6wt 5-pc switch rod that fits in a duffel. If I have enough time in my trip to even fish/cast for a half hour I’m stopping. Biggest fish of 2026 was on one of these trips, probably doubles my number of ‘days’ on the water. But I hear you, life is constantly bombarding me with ever more reasons to not fish.
 
SovDog said:
I’ve been slowly trying to perfect my stealth setup for work trips. Currently running a 11’ 6wt 5-pc switch rod that fits in a duffel. If I have enough time in my trip to even fish/cast for a half hour I’m stopping. Biggest fish of 2026 was on one of these trips, probably doubles my number of ‘days’ on the water. But I hear you, life is constantly bombarding me with ever more reasons to not fish.
Click to expand...
I have had more than a few excellent sessions because I packed along a rod and a handful of flies for a work trip. Sadly, the trip next week has a tightly packed schedule and is also in a location with virtually zero accessible water options.

But you're not wrong in general.
 
I feel your pain, Josh. Somehow, this week miraculously opened up & and I had to take advantage...also took today off and another day or two during the week to get a little bit of water time. But up until this, it has been all systems go for quite a while.
 
I hear you, Josh. Is it seems like I have a major work deadline every week that I need to work nights and weekends to meet. Thankfully, we live in a rental on a lake, so I can take several 20 minute mental health/casting practice sessions on the dock during the day. But my last full day fishing trip was last fall, and my next one will be the Swap and Meet (I'll fish on the way to/from lake Mayfield).

All work and no play makes Zak a dull boy.
 
Josh, I used to sometimes resent that life - work and family - got in the way of fishing. I know I missed some outstanding days. But in hind sight, I'm mostly glad that I had both the work and family gigs going for me now that I look at it in the rear view mirror. Perhaps you will some day as well.
 
Salmo_g said:
Josh, I used to sometimes resent that life - work and family - got in the way of fishing. I know I missed some outstanding days. But in hind sight, I'm mostly glad that I had both the work and family gigs going for me now that I look at it in the rear view mirror. Perhaps you will some day as well.
Click to expand...
Wisdom
 
I used to put in 10-12 hour work days weeks on end that screwed with my diving/fishing time…i had to resort to night diving/fishing, coming back to my shop to hose shower and power nap to work in a few hours. Of course I was a young man then, there is no way I could do it today…
 
hopefully its a balance. i banked enough working, that now retired, i can do most things i would like to do - and have the health to do. the big C took a swing at me out of the blue, and luckily i got past it. u never know - work your ass off, and health crap comes out of nowhere... i am not smart enough to recommend the right path. though the overwork treadmill does take a toll on health and family.
 
Salmo_g said:
Josh, I used to sometimes resent that life - work and family - got in the way of fishing. I know I missed some outstanding days. But in hind sight, I'm mostly glad that I had both the work and family gigs going for me now that I look at it in the rear view mirror. Perhaps you will some day as well.
Click to expand...
This is terrible advice. A true steelhead angler barely remembers their wedding day but can tell you how many spots are on their first 20lb fish
 
Dustin Chromers said:
This is terrible advice. A true steelhead angler barely remembers their wedding day but can tell you how many spots are on their first 20lb fish
Click to expand...
I had a dream the night before my wedding. I was fishing on the Toutle River on my wedding day, and I was casting at two summer runs I could see holding near a large boulder. I kept casting, certain that if I got it just right, one of the fish would hit, and I was beginning to sweat that I might be late to the wedding. I remember the dream more clearly than I remember the wedding.
 
Salmo_g said:
I had a dream the night before my wedding. I was fishing on the Toutle River on my wedding day, and I was casting at two summer runs I could see holding near a large boulder. I kept casting, certain that if I got it just right, one of the fish would hit, and I was beginning to sweat that I might be late to the wedding. I remember the dream more clearly than I remember the wedding.
Click to expand...
I went cutthroat fishing the morning before my wedding. Luckily the bite is tide dependant so I was on time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top