fishing partner question

I guess the question is both for Tournament guys and fun fishing.
How do you or did you choose your fishing partner or did they choose you? Do you go with the same guy(s) every trip or do you change up? What percentage of time do you fish alone? As a rule how many times a month do you fish open water? What kind of results( both positive and negative) have you had getting guys off the “open seat” forums many sites have.

In general i’m wondering how guys end up fishing with a partner or just alone.

Thanks.

I fish with friends, some more than others but in general I enjoy the company. I also fish alone and have no problem in doing so….I’d rather go alone than not go.

To start, I’m not a tournament angler. I also fish Pool 4 90% of the time.

My fishing has really evolved over time. I used to really fish “hard” and would throw anything possible at fish and gauged my enjoyment on numbers and size. I originally mainly fished with only a couple friends who were like myself. Today, my wife is my fishing partner for ~25% of my outings, my younger brother ~25%, random friends who I invite ~25%, and myself about ~25%. The only time I really focus on fishing hard is when I’m alone.

When I have any combination of guests along, it’s 100% about them. My brother is the only exception as he’s a fairly experienced angler and can fend for himself. I’m not sure I landed a walleye trolling in May or June unless we had doubles on. I truly get more enjoyment watching my wife or other guests land fish than doing so myself. The friends I invite come with a wide range of abilities. Most have some of their own gear and are somewhat competent in a boat. I have a few distant relatives who jump in on occasion that couldn’t tell a drum from a pike.

The only real rules for my guests are that they are on-time and aren’t sitting on their phones. Phones are always shut in the same water tight comparemet when we idle out to the channel. One of my closest life long friends runs his own business and rarely puts his down. He’s not married, has no kids, and now I tell him I’ll provide a few beers if he leaves the phone in his truck.

As I get older and my family grows my outings will become even less about the “catching” and more about the company. Some of my best memories on the water come from very average “fishing” days.

I missed a couple of the original post questions.

From May-Early July I’m on the water 2 nights a week and at least 6 hours or so on the weekend. My best stretch during this time ever was a few years ago where I managed 4 weeknights in a row followed by sun up to sun down Saturday and Sunday without taking a minute off work. After July 4th I back off to once or twice a week with the high water temps and obnoxious boat traffic. Coaching football also really becomes a focus late July through November.

As I have aged and moved I have found myself fishing by myself and with family almost exclusively though I do take friends with kids out as I enjoy catching fish with kids. The exception is ice fishing. It’s a much more openly social form of fishing including ice fishing tourneys: Cooking out, enjoyed a few beers watching tip ups and downs. Dogs running around. My daughter’s have boyfriends now so they are included in the family circle I guess

I met my fishing buddy out on the river. Neither of us had anyone with so I drove up and just started chatting. Found out we have a lot in common and are about the same age. First time I had found someone with similar styles that I do. I’d say 70% of the time I fish alone. I do like taking people with though. I don’t have kids nor am I married so I usually am on the river 4 nights a week whenever there is not ice on the river.

I’m with Bucky that nothing drives me more nuts than when I take someone out and they are on the phone all time. I’ve fished with folks on the share a seat style. Never had a bad experience from it but you never really know what you are going to get in terms of how hard they like to fish.

If you’re looking for a fishing partner Dutchboy, I’m here for you.

Many years ago I had quite a few fishing buddies, we’d take long weekend trips together or go on day outings.

Those buddies I left behind when I moved from Wisconsin, but sounds like few left have kept fishing save for one or two.

And back then when I had a cabin in N WI, it was easy to flip a 14′ boat over and hang an outboard on the back with battery and Minnkota electric, push it in the water and tie it to the dock. I could spend a long weekend fishing solo early morning or at night casting for muskies. No problem and I liked that too, but always felt it was better to have company…if only to take my “big fish picture”

Fast forward to now, and the “fishing friends” have mostly dispersed, fishing family members are now occupied with raising young children and the dynamics have changed.

I’m older now, the boat is bigger, the lake I fish is bigger and solo outings have become less inviting.

And I can talk to myself all day long and then after awhile, I run out of things to say.

If you’re thinking about a new fishing/tournament partner, I’ll volunteer to help with expenses and offer my “expertise” as well as a bucket of BS…gratuitously.

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

If you’re looking for a fishing partner Dutchboy, I’m here for you.

Many years ago I had quite a few fishing buddies, we’d take long weekend trips together or go on day outings.

Those buddies I left behind when I moved from Wisconsin, but sounds like few left have kept fishing save for one or two.

And back then when I had a cabin in N WI, it was easy to flip a 14′ boat over and hang an outboard on the back with battery and Minnkota electric, push it in the water and tie it to the dock. I could spend a long weekend fishing solo early morning or at night casting for muskies. No problem and I liked that too, but always felt it was better to have company…if only to take my “big fish picture”

Fast forward to now, and the “fishing friends” have mostly dispersed, fishing family members are now occupied with raising young children and the dynamics have changed.

I’m older now, the boat is bigger, the lake I fish is bigger and solo outings have become less inviting.

And I can talk to myself all day long and then after awhile, I run out of things to say.

If you’re thinking about a new fishing/tournament partner, I’ll volunteer to help with expenses and offer my “expertise” as well as a bucket of BS…gratuitously.

Thanks Andy i’ll definitely keep you in mind. Pretty sure i’ll be fishing Mille Lacs quite a bit next year. I’ve always fishing alone most of the time although I have a couple guys who also enjoy chasing Pike at times. I’m not a Walleye guy really and enjoy trolling more then casting these days although I do enjoy Smallmouth casting.

The thread was a curiosity thing, I’ve often wondered how guys ended up spending a lot of time in a boat together. I am hoping to hear some interesting stories.

A lot of things go through my mind this time of year including changing boats, electronics, what and where to fish. This is just another thing that crossed my mind.

I fish alone less and less now. It’s too hard to say no.

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LOL sure miss those days biggill

I used to fish with buddies all the time for fun and tournaments but the last 10 years or so I fish 95% 0f the time with my wife, I let her retire early so we could travel and fish together and we really enjoy it. she gets a little spooked in the big waves but is getting better.we spent the summer and fall at LOTW and it was great

I fish 8-10 times a month. I’d say 50/50 between fishing alone or with a friend. I have a couple close friends I’ve known basically my whole life that I usually fish with.
I’ve fished with a couple guys that I met here and they’ve been positive experiences. It’s fun meeting someone new with similar interests. It’s great way to learn new things and become a better angler as everyone does things slightly different.

Bigill I love those pictures, I’m looking forward to my 1 year old daughter to be able to come with me like that.

No I won’t take you fishing dutchy.

biggill wrote:

I fish alone less and less now. It’s too hard to say no.

I really enjoy your posts/pics Matt. You do get out there. Old pics of when my girls were that age are paper prints stored now in the basement.

When they grow up, they’ll be right with you!

Keep what you’re doing, you’ll have fishing partner(s) forever…

(when they’re not too busy raising they’re own kids)

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I fish mainly with my sons and or son in law. Now and again a friend or more gets thrown in the mix. It’s just happens to be who’s around and wants to go. It’s more of a random than selective process. Now that I’m retired I fish alone more which is fine with me. I don’t really have any retired friends that care to fish or that many retired friends for that matter as I was able to retire a bit early.

Ice fishing alone can be particularly relaxing especially at night in the wheel house. Looking forward to spending lots of weeknights up on Red in the wheel house this year and then head back to the small local lakes closer to home on weekends when Red gets invaded like D Day.

We bought a lake place this spring and got a pontoon right at the end of the season and will be adding a fishing boat by next spring. So my summer fishing opportunities are going to be far greater next year. I have a 19 month old grand son who I will be looking to spend a lot of time in the boat and ice shack with in the next few years.

targaman wrote:

No I won’t take you fishing dutchy.

Busy lives in family and work makes most trips solo, hard to plan with someone when trips are short and last minute. Sure the kids and fam come with plenty but not gonna pretend fishing isn’t my pressure relief valve, bc of that I really enjoy my alone time right now.

Later in life when things calm down I look forward to meeting up with new guys and friends for more shared fishing trips.

Great question Dutch.
I fish for fun. Period.
Now that I have a cabin I mostly fish by myself because I’m the only one there other than my wife. She ONLY likes to troll – troll to the bar and it’s not to the sand bar if you know what I mean.
Everyone that I know is invited to the “cabin” and we will fish however anyone wants to fish. Heck this past summer we had guests up from Arkansas that were Bass fishermen. Yup, I bassed fish and actually kept and ate some bass. ick!

I was recently informed that I will be a Grandad in this coming March. So in 16 years or so you walleye tourney guys better look out because you’ll be toast when we’re through with you.

I am a beginner basically, never tournament fished and likely never will but I love to fish, do have a boat & all the gear. I can catch a meal most days.

My favorite person to fish with is my wife, when she can go. I also like taking other relatives that like to catch fish worth eating.

I don’t fish alone as much as I should. Although on second thought, maybe I shouldn’t. The last time I did take the boat out alone, I ended up falling from the bow, back over the passenger seat and smacking my head on the back bench (by the live well)……and getting knocked out momentarily. $hit definitely got all tweet-tweet. I was trying to get my anchor loose from something on the bottom and after repositioning the boat in every direction, it finally gave on try #4 and sent me over & knocked me the – out. My first & only limit of perch in my life that day too. So it was worth it.

This poor woman has no chance of getting my life insurance.

I fish alone or with someone. No matter to me.

Never tourney fished. Did a few contests but no more.

I personally never fish alone. I find it not entertaining at all. I like someone there to share the experience, better yet watching someone else do the catching while I snap the pics. Maybe that’s another reason I became a fishing guide. In the past I fished with friends at different locations from Canada, Dakotas to Wis and seemed to always have problems with people sharing the expenses and the work involved. Now when I’m not guiding just fun fishing it’s family first then a few select friends ..seems to work out best that way.

I fish about half the time with someone (Father, friend, co-worker, etc) and half the time I fish alone. My wife used to fish with me somewhat regularly but I have an 11 month old now and she is anchored at home with him. My regular fishing partner sleeps in the boat a lot. She springs to life when she sees a duck fly by or hears another dog barking.

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buckybadger wrote:

As I get older and my family grows my outings will become even less about the “catching” and more about the company. Some of my best memories on the water come from very average “fishing” days.

10 years ago people laughed at me when I typed “catching is overrated”.

Now I see people are just laughing at me.

I truly believe for personal fishing if a person has to catch fish to have a good time, they don’t truly understand fishing.

Slightly off topic but my .02 cents.

i started at a new job in 2005. i met a guy who was a cub fan and we also both realized that loved fishing. so we started going fishing around work and it blossomed.

50% – alone
30% – him
10% – someone else
10% – my kids. I have 3 girls who will fish if I make them lol.

If I could sing, I would do a Parody of George Thorogood’s song “I Fish Alone”

90+% of the time I am alone. Guess I’m a little tooo intense for “fun fishing”. Or going out for a half day or so means 12+ hours.

I fish alone most of the time….it’s my relief valve for the most part. I agree with BK that catching isn’t always as important but exploring and being out is what I treasure.

I have one buddy I fish with when we can but we both have small kids so that can be tough to coordinate.

When I’m out with the family the rods usually stay in the locker or we’re screwing around trying to get our 4 year old something to reel in.

bigpike wrote:

My daughter’s have boyfriends now so they are included in the family circle I guess

Great idea to keep the boyfriends in the circle and take them out ice fishing. You never know when it may be time to take one out Take them fishing – They wont expect a thing. Until you are forcing them Thru several 10″ holes cut side by side Don’t know what happened. He just fell thru the hole and didn’t come up !!!

I do enjoy some alone time myself in the boat, just for relaxation. Most of the time whether a tourney or fun, I chose to fish with people I know & like and have always wanted to fish with and get to know them better.
I cant think of one time out, that I haven’t learned something from everyone that day.

I started out Tourney bass fishing as a non boater so I fished with whatever partner I drew. It was a great way to learn and meet new fishermen. I later got a boat and continued to tourney fish as a boater. I enjoyed being paired up with other often new fishermen and helping them learn the great sport of fishing. I gave up all the tourney fishing about 5 years ago now. These days I fish a fair amount just for fun. I have a good buddy who I fish with fairly often. probably 2-3 days a week. I still enjoy getting out and fishing alone sometimes. I’d say these days I’m about a 80-20 ratio of fishing with someone to fishing solo.

I always try to fish with someone. But when I can’t find anyone to go with I go alone. I wish I could get my son more into fishing. But I don’t want to push him so he doesn’t like it. He is only 7 so I am sure he will come around.

I fish with my kids and friends. I have a few friends where it is the only excuse to break away from all the life stuff and see each other anymore. For me it is more about talking and spending time together than fishing – even if the wife is just reading a book in the ice house.

Don’t much care to fish alone except after a few days at the cabin with the extended family.