When does it become a problem?

[Patrick Krueger, Jr.]

Our new member Sinjim Kim made mention of the fishing obsession. I once couldn't pay rent because I spent all my paycheck on tackle. Luckily a friend bought some lures from me that I didn't use and loaned me the rest.

Should I see a psychiatrist? Do I want to lose the obsession?

I go to A.A. and when I make mention of the fact that fishing is my new addiction everyone thinks it's ok, that it's a healthy one.

Sometimes I wonder.

Any thoughts?

[JB]

3rd year i was married some guys called for a trip to dale hollow lake bout 2 days before thanksgiving, i went and still havent heard the last of it 27 years later LOL

[Lilmoosecountry]

Were all normal here!!! Itz Society thatz not normal. Can you imagine people going through life with out actully fishing. Thatz the real sickness. Fishermen are special people. Even in the bible fishermen had played a bigger role doing GOD's work. Than others did. Your thinking is all wrong!!! Take the BAITMONKEY on a date. So you can grow closer!!!

[Raul]

When you spend your money in tackle and you can´t pay your duties and obligations then you do have a problem, the problem of the problem is admitting you have the problem ( lotz of problems in that sentence ).

I know purchasing tackle can become an obsession, there´s so much out there waiting for you to purchase, everything looks cool, you want to have everything, but waht you don´t do in order to get it is to calculate the hidden cost behind it ( like not paying the rent in time ).

In a world of imediate self gratification where everything is just a click away patience is the hardest thing to cultivate. Not taking a little time to sit down, relax and chill out, to think in depth before you move and if moving into is a shure way to get into trubble.

C´mon, you don´t really need that bag of worms like right here right now do you ?

I´ve got more tackle than you can imagine, literally thousands of dollars in baits, but for starters I didn´t purchase them all at once ( been purchasing tackle for many years ) and secondly, 90% of them have never touched the water. If I knew then what I know now when I began the spree I would have a lot less baits, I can still go and catch fish with a few selected lures and that is what usually happens, at the end of the day I look with what I caught the fish and find out that I didn´t need 600+ cranks, 100 + spinnerbaits and 50 pounds of soft plastics and jigs.

[MIbasser]

I have a problem.... Opps, my bad.

[Buzz Wing]

As a serious answer, yes, sometimes I believe I should quit or at least slow down, but I don't want to admit to myself that I actually will.

-Buzz

[Rebbasser]

I'm with Moose-we may be obsessed, but at least we are doing something rather than sitting on our butts watching a reality show about who can lay the biggest turd.

[Buzz Wing]

Originally Posted by Rebbasser

...at least we are doing something rather than sitting on our butts watching a reality show about who can lay the biggest turd.

But that would come in a close second!

-Buzz

[Fish2win]

The real insanity is what we dont do with 80% of what we purchase. Thats catch fish. When you really analize it seaonally you have a 1/2 dozen baits that you catch fish with. The rest are decoration.
Fish2win

[BigBassin144]

If I look at a couple of my choices:

1. Spend all my money on fishing stuff, and never be able to afford anything. Atleast I could live out of my truck and boat. and eat the fish I catch.
2. Become a drug addict and spend all my money on drugs, and never be able to do anything without drugs, and not be able to pay rent or buy a house, and live on the street in a box which is probably not big enough to hold any fishing rods, and not have a car, or anything.

I'd have to go with number one here. If you think you have a problem, just do what i do: Think about a different, much worse, problem you could have that makes the original problem, not so bad.

BB

P.S. Yes, this is my twisted way of thinking.

[BigBassin144]

I forgot to mention a few more perks about both choices:

1. Grow old fishing, and fish till I die.
2. Die form a drug overdose.



Number one is till looking pretty good, eh?

BB

[bassinbob]

My problem is everytime a new frog bait comes out I gotta have it. But I figure since I don't drink or smoke that's about $50 to $100 dollars a week I can spend on fishing. Trouble is sometimes I spend the whole months worth in one trip. I always tell myself-one more lure-one more rod. It never ends. I love it. I'm 55 and have no wife or kids at home. When I kick the bucket my daughter can sell all the fishing stuff.

[Bender]

I quit smoking a little over a year ago and that makes a good chunk of my boat payment. I also quit drinking 5 weeks ago, so logically I can spend a lot of money on fishing this year. I just need to get a job and then my plan will really come together.
Doesn't that make sense?

[Rebbasser]

Yep, Bender, it does.

[Patrick Krueger, Jr.]

Has anyone ever called in sick because you knew they were biting? Or just quit working altogether (without having a sponsor to fish pro or semi-pro)?

It's not just about the money spent on tackle, but the time spent fishing, thinking about fishing, and posting messages on this and other sites about fishing.

I love it. I don't get in any trouble from the little woman. But I think it's a form of obsessive/compulsive disorder.

Anyway, it's 37 degrees and raining, I've got to go wet a few lines.

[Lilmoosecountry]

Originally Posted by Patrick Krueger, Jr.

Has anyone ever called in sick because you knew they were biting? Or just quit working altogether (without having a sponsor to fish pro or semi-pro)?

I went on the road with very little money & i did it for 3yrs. I eventully had a little somthing with Rapala. But that was just some free crankbaits. I believe all i got to be exact. Was about 2 dozen Shad Raps. I never got money from them. A real fishermen becomes what he does. It should take over ones life. The best fishermen thinks like a fish. You need the gear to do that. Yeahh i'm caught up in the swimbait craze. But for me the sassy shad has bean a confidence bait since 1991. What has changed now are the so many new presentations at my disposale. Only strengthing my believe in swimbaits. Bigger lures bigger fish.

[jasonfish320]

Wow! This thread really hit home...just last night my fiance caught me going through all my new tackle I bought this winter and organizing everything for the upcoming season...she was serious as can be when she asked "why aren't you as obsessed with me as you are with fishing?"..how do you answer that?! OUCH!!

[Fish2win]

"why aren't you as obsessed with me as you are with fishing?"..how do you answer that?! OUCH!!
__________________
Thats a very hard line question. The answer has to be completely honest. I have seen fishing destroy several peoples marrages over the years. It is very hard for a non-fishing partner to understand. 25 years ao when my wife and i had been dating for about a year a similar question came up. I fished every availible day that I had away from work. One Sunday I came home and she was there cooking dinner for the two of us. I went into the kitchen and after greeting her she asked me the question. " I now you love fishingh,but do you have to fish everyday that you have off work/" I thought for a minuet then tyook her in the den. Sat her in a nice chair and made this reply" I hacve been fishing for 25 years" i was in my 30's at the time. " I have known you a little less than a year" I think you are leading up to a statement that will end in an ultimatum, If that is the case you are not going to like my answer" Having said that I walked out of the room and took a shower. That subject has never been breaced again and we will; be married 20 year in July. Fishing has never been a problem because she was shown how important it is to me in the beginning . Think about the answer then be honest with both yourself and her. If she stays on the correct terms your relationship will be great.
The answer is inside you. Just seek it out. Fish2win

[Preacher]

Shucks,...I must really have it made. All I hear is have fun,...see ya when ya get back!!

[MississippiBoy]

It's been said before, but I'll say it again.

Wake up at 4 a.m., roll over and tap your wife on the shoulder. When she wakes up a little, say "We have sex or I go fishing. Pick one."

Her response? "Don't forget the sunscreen."

[Lilmoosecountry]

Originally Posted by jasonfish320

Wow! This thread really hit home...just last night my fiance caught me going through all my new tackle I bought this winter and organizing everything for the upcoming season...she was serious as can be when she asked "why aren't you as obsessed with me as you are with fishing?"..how do you answer that?! OUCH!!

3babies in 10 yrs of marriage. Sex just is'nt my thing. I love fishing it's all i've known all my life. I feal like the Father from (Married with Children) Al Bundy. When i'm homethe only time anybody wants anything from me. Is when they want my money.

[BigBassin144]

Originally Posted by MississippiBoy

It's been said before, but I'll say it again.

Wake up at 4 a.m., roll over and tap your wife on the shoulder. When she wakes up a little, say "We have sex or I go fishing. Pick one."

Her response? "Don't forget the sunscreen."

Now that right there's funny!

I love it. Since I'm not married and only 16, here's what i've changed it to:

Wake up at 4:00am. go to my parents room. wake my dad up. tap my mom on the shoulder "make us breakfast or we're going fishing." and her response will be "leave me some coffee"



BB

[bamabassman]

mississippiboy, my wife says sex first...then get outa here!!! i don't have a problem with fishing being such a big part of my life. i still hold down a job so i can buy more stuff!!! but no.... my wife knows how much i love her and how much i love fishing. she wishes she had more patience. but if she don't get a bite in 15 mins. she is ready to go home, lol. but if she gets a bite..... hold on!!!

[MIbasser]

"Has anyone ever called in sick because you knew they were biting?"

No, not for fishing... but have for downhill skiing. I was watching a storm in Utah (I live in MI) and bought a plane ticket on Thursday to fly out and ski Friday and Saturday to only return Sunday. The best skiing of my life (2' of fresh powder all weekend)!! Don't think that I would ever do that for fishing. Just me though.

[barkelypup]

Well guys, If we all threw are problems in the street along with everyone elses when it was said and done we would pick our own back up. Now that I have a wife of 7 years and 2 curtain climbers ages 2 years and 2 months you have to weigh what is important. Before marrage I fished around 250 to 300 days a year. I don't get no where near that much now so you can see which is more important. My lovely wife never complains when I go but I choose not to go as much. I am blessed to have my fishing poles and boat but I am overly blessed with much much more than I deserve with my family.

bP