Five stages of fishing

Wanative said:
I just want to catch fish.
I want to catch lots of fish.
I want to catch lots of big fish.
I don't care what species I catch.
I don't care what method I use to catch lots of big fish of any species.
I just like to fish.
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Agreed. . Except I prefer not to catch any carp..
 
Irafly said:
That’s actually a big shiner there! Very healthy specimen!

I may or may not have been tempted to file down some hooks. I do have some 9X
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Yes, that shiner is pretty big. They have tiny mouths though. It was posted up about 10 ft in front of a known lie that often had a big Cutthroat in it. The shiner was intercepting and ruining every presentation I tried to make to the lie. So I sized down and targeted it. It was a fun little experiment.
 
It's all in my mood and location. And budget lol.

If it's a new place, I'm just hoping it's productive and I catch any and all fish.

If it's the spokane river, I just hope i catch 1 fish of any size and don't have to fight a bum or get a ticket cause I forgot my discovery pass in another rig.

If it's a place I fish alot and have caught alot of fish, I'm hoping for quality over quantity.

If it's a few special spots, I'm fine staring at the mountains, smelling the air and if I catch a fish, cool. But I don't care if I do near as much.

If it's in my head, normally it'll cost me another 2000 bucks in gear, or 5000 in traveling costs. I often have to fight these urges. Try to limit my imagination in this hobby. Got a bucket list. Maybe I should just give up on that Ole dream of retirement some day and just fish how I want. But I think this is half the allure, the possibilities.
 
Never gave it much thought, but looking back I can remember times when I was focused on a particular step. I'm to the point now, I don't see a need to be constrained by a particular stage. If I had to pick though, I'd say Method is, and has been, my primary consideration for years now. But still enjoy gear fishing. Like a few years ago when I was reminded how back bouncing eggs for salmon is almost too much fun (it's very interactive and tactile like FF).

Beyond that, it depends on the situation. I can be happy catching anything, especially fishing a totally new spot,. Numbers can make the day if I haven't been out in a while, or the goal is catching a lot (like tuna on the fly). The day I don't get excited at catching something big, is the day I should quit fishing. Not sure I'll ever get completely to the final stage though. I can deeply enjoy a day on the water, but can't see where getting skunked won't bug me even a little.
 
I am excited by all adult steelhead.

I am excited by trout from 14-18 inches especially colorful ones. Trout smaller than that do nothing for me unless they are native and the biggest fish in the stream. Trout over may be bigger but are rarely better ganlmefish.

Bass start to become exciting at about 3 lbs and for the most part become more exciting the bigger they get.

Salmon that are bright and of hatchery origin are the most exciting especially tide water Chinook on bobber and roe, especially if I do not have any sea run cutthroat bycatch.( I don't want to harm them) in short salmon are mostly for eating not playing with.

Other fish, except carp, are fun to see in passing. Pumpkinseed especially, very beautiful.

I don't need to catch something every time, but I do feel like I have a chance at catching something I'm happy. If I feel like there's no chance, I'd rather be doing something else.
 
Wadin' Boot said:
do these steps work for seduction of a love interest? In which case I would suggest "biggest and trophy" step may need some copyediting as they may not be synonymous for everyone.
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In that case, at 54 years of marriage (65 years if windchill is taken into consideration) I'm definitely at the terminal stage of steps....in more ways than one.
 
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