Failure vs. Passion.

At what point does failure overcome and subdue passion?

This summer has been really really tough as far as my fishing success. I am consistently able to find the fish. But getting them to bite is another story. It’s starting to weigh on me mentally.

Yeah, I know we all go out there cause we love being out there. But there comes a point where I can go for a walk in the woods or take the “pond toon” out and not burn $50 in gas, $10-$20 for bait, and 8-10 hours of my day.

Failure only matters if you are fishing to eat. Otherwise it’s just a expensive hobby.

It’s getting very expensive.

I am happy and grateful I get to fish as much as I do which is more than most. However my “dry streak” is irritatingly long.

Been there, done that. Go drown a worm under a bobber and catch some sunfish. Success breeds confidence which breeds success. (So they say)

Did that today. No shortage of fish. Thousands of them. All a little short on both ends. In fact everyday I’ve been out we can put the little guys in the boat. But the 15″+ walleye seem to be repelled by me, my boat, my bait, etc.

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Passion knows not the definition of failure. It does know persistence and does not wither facing a challenge.

Be grateful you can get out. Down here the rivers so high we can’t even put the boat in the water. If I want to go fishing I have to travel up to 70 miles one way. The only time my boat has been in the water since March was on vacation up to voyageurs park which was also high. But the river won’t be high forever. Good luck hope you get over your slump soon.

mplspug wrote:

Passion knows not the definition of failure. It does know persistence and does not wither facing a challenge.

Good one Pug.

Got to turn that attitude of failure into one of learning. Every skunk you get don’t be PO, take something from it and adjust. I’ve walked away from the river the last few years many times without anything caught but every time couldn’t wait to get out and try again. Maybe fishing just ain’t your passion, which is OK to.

I don’t connect the concept of “failure” to fishing or hunting because I don’t view “success” in terms of catching fish of bagging game. Brian H is right, “failure” only would apply if I were fishing to survive.

There is always a bigger fish, always a day with more fish, always a bigger buck, always a more challenging one. Success and failure have no meaning because there are no mile markers on the road yet to be taken.

Let me answer your question with another: Are you enjoying the fishing?

Grouse

I am, but isn’t fishing without catch just boating? Which I enjoy as well.

Of course if I am just boating I’d have the pontoon, not the boat. And there would be beer in the cooler not water. And brats on the grill. And people with me.

I usually fish with the goal of catching fish.

What I would do just to get on the water. Full time job part time bussines and ailing mother in law.
Sounds like your looking for big eyes where the shorts are. Change depth and less flying around the lake wide open LOL.
Don’t have over think it.

Oh I’m on the big walleye. Camera confirms it.

I think you can’t find the black cat, passion requires a different view….

or me it is kind of like hunting. I view it as such. It is a matter of me against them. And right now they are up, significantly. I like the challenge. I like trying to figure out how to beat them on their turf. Kind like duck hunting. So I guess that means I am basing success on catch rate. Cause tricking them into biting means catching them.

I don’t mind getting beat, thats part of the game. But I am feeling like a Vikings fan (or player) right now.

I do admit I feel bad and guilty when I have others in my boat. I want to put them on a good bite. However I get the impression it is much more important to me than it is to them.

Failure? No. Frustration? Yes. These days I don’t measure my outings by fish caught so much but more by what I learn from any given outing. On slow days, I learn what’s not working which forces me out of my rut and makes me try new things. Sometimes it makes no difference at all but every once in a while it’s made a world of difference.

You already know where the fish are and that what you are doing so far isn’t working. Maybe it’s time to change things up. You may be surprised. Sometimes it’s the little details that make all the difference. Good luck