Ice or Open Water…
When you go fishing (any species) what is your main purpose?
I’m not concerned about what actually happens, but more of your intent. I think people that just go out to feel any species of tug might still have a goal to catch a big fish, whatever kind that happens to be.
Most of the time, I go fishing with the idea of…
Catch the big ones?
Catch eaters?
Catch something? (Feel a tug)
I can’t vote for just one because I fish for all of those reasons. Sometimes I fish for meat, but in the end I always love feeling the thump at the other end of the line and nothing beats reeling in a big’un.
One thing I can rule out is the whole “I fish for solitude” b.s. If I wanted solitude, I’d go sit in my garage. If I’m going to spend the time to drive to the lake, buy bait, pack lunch, launch the boat/set up the fish house, and everything else that goes along with it, I want to catch fish and lots of them. “Solitude” is for guys who can’t catch fish.
Dont you have BETTER THINGS TO DO. 
..rrr
I go for all those reasons, Its a toss up what the main reason is so all of the above. One thing I know is they definately taste better then the ones from the market.
Weather it’s Muskie, walleyes, gills or bass 99% of the time I’m fishing I’m looking for 1 bite from the biggest fish in the lake/river. The other 1% of my time is spent catching fish for the pan.
I think Larry Dahlberg said every fisherman goes through 4 stages in they’re life 1: catching a fish. 2: catching a lot of fish 3: catching big fish 4: catching fish how you want to catch them. I think I’ll be stuck at #3 for a long time.
Not to nitpick, but there are three choices to choose from. Now, I’m not a math major, but shouldn’t the three choices add up to 100%? They are adding up to about 37%. Or is there a fourth choice for the really cool guys who know the secret handshake?
I like the 4 steps 
GK,
As the number of votes goes up, you’ll see your “%”‘s go up ……………..and may even exceed 100.
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One thing I can rule out is the whole “I fish for solitude” b.s. ….. “Solitude” is for guys who can’t catch fish.
Those of us that catch a lot of fish are able to enjoy the experience of things that so many others will never see in their lifetime. I’m very competitive and I always need to learn something. Fishing has more variables and there are so many aspects of things to study.
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I like the 4 steps
well at least its not the 12 step program!!!!!!!!! 
personally, i love spearing, and its really cool just to watch what goes on underneath the ice! i’ve had some good belly laughs over the years!!
I guess I’m one of the dolts who does it to get away. Personally for me catching fish is the last reason I go. I can buy fish anywhere. In fact I think I kept 1 fish all of last summer to eat.
If I had to vote I would have voted to catch big fish. I just enjoy putting along trolling and relaxing. If I wanted the whole competition, me against the fish thing I would fish tournaments I guess.
I will never condemn anybody for their reasoning. It’s their time & money, they can go for whatever reason they like.
Many Men go fishing their entire lives without knowing it is not the fish they are after. Henry David Thoreau
BK, why isn’t there an “All of the above option?”
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Ice or Open Water…
When you go fishing (any species) what is your main purpose?
I’m not concerned about what actually happens, but more of your intent. I think people that just go out to feel any species of tug might still have a goal to catch a big fish, whatever kind that happens to be.
Most of the time, I go fishing with the idea of…
Using the words “MOST OF THE TIME” and “MAIN PURPOSE” should eliminate all but a few. Those can post here.
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Many Men go fishing their entire lives without knowing it is not the fish they are after. Henry David Thoreau
..Now thats pure BULLSH%$.. 
..rrr
I could choose all 3 too, but catching to eat is a more rare occurrence, although I am starting to do it more and more.
I’d choose other. My main underlying reasoning is to compete. Not against other people, because I could care less, but to compete and challenge myself to learn and be better for the next trip or catch a personal best.
Ultimately it comes down to relaxing and being in nature. And part of that relaxation, oddly enough, is the exhausting mental part of trying to figure the fish out for that day – trying to make a plan come together. It’s one of the few activities where deep thinking and concentration doesn’t equal stress.
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Many Men go fishing their entire lives without knowing it is not the fish they are after. Henry David Thoreau
Thoreau was a dirty hippie. Aldo Leopold would have beat his 6 ways from Sunday.
Yes, it is the fish I’m after. I’m certainly not in search of tangled lines, hooks in fingers, broken motors, or any of the other frustrations that go along with fishing.
If I wanted solitude, I wouldn’t fish lakes with jet skis buzzing by and a whole clown troop of other assorted idiots on the water and at the launch.
When I fish a lake that’s quiet, the solitude is wonderful but it’s just a bonus. Don’t think for a second that I don’t appreciate it and enjoy it for everything it’s worth, but it’s not the reason I’m there.
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Many Men go fishing their entire lives without knowing it is not the fish they are after. Henry David Thoreau
one of my favorites…thx
jp
I agree, a guy sees a lot of cool stuff in a spear hole. It is cool to see how different fish react to things
The fish, the tug, the meal? All of these and not any of them. It has something to do with the heart. It’s being in-sync with a plan; spiritual, emotional, boreal and historic. The connection with nature, friends, family, ecosystems and the origins of life. Life aquatic.
Most of the times when I go fishing, I have a target species in mind and how I am going to catch them. I am usually after numbers. Anything 2 fish/hour or over is usually a good day. A large fish or other species is a bonus. Having a game plan come together is very satisfying.
Sometimes, I am strictly after large fish. Numbers do not mean so much, but are a bonus if a large fish is caught. Catching a large fish or 2 can save an otherwise slow day.
Although it is nice to have something you can really be proud of, I like the zone you are in while fishing. The concentration of feeling of whats going on at the end of your line takes you away from everything except nature itself which you become keenly aware of. Then the rush of the bite and fighting the fish. Those few seconds or minutes when everything else in the universe seems trivial and the adrenaline rush takes over are what brings you back. This is my #1 reason.
i go to find and mark all of BK’s spots…
Dutchboy…come for a visit and we will catch Bass all day…maybe a PB for ya! 
Bass Fishing…numbers AND size
Musky… any time you see one follow is a good day
Walleye/Sauger… some to eat…bigguns for CPR and a thrill
Crappie and Gills… yummy
Pike…size and thrills…there are way too many 20-26″ Pike around here…
Trout/Salmon…Big Ones for a thrill, smaller for the grill
What do you do when all your fishing partners are gone?
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What do you do when all your fishing partners are gone?
Become a union official.
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What do you do when all your fishing partners are gone?
Become a union official.
24-7
Spending time onthe water or ice with anyone but you!
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Dutchboy…come for a visit and we will catch Bass all day…maybe a PB for ya!
Bass Fishing…numbers AND size
Musky… any time you see one follow is a good day
Walleye/Sauger… some to eat…bigguns for CPR and a thrill
Crappie and Gills… yummy
Pike…size and thrills…there are way too many 20-26″ Pike around here…
Trout/Salmon…Big Ones for a thrill, smaller for the grill
Hey Tom, thanks for the offer. I can catch Bass here, it’s not that I can’t catch fish, it’s just not the reason I go. Fact is on my trip to Alaska last year I spent more time unhooking and releasing other peoples Salmon then I did my own. 
It was really fun watching folks who seldom had the chance to fish fight those Salmon. Then of course there was the remote surroundings.
In my opinion, few things beat catching fish in solitude. When I say “solitude” I mean no other boats, not necessarily being alone in my boat, though both can be great.
Definitely big fish for me. If I can get them to eat the way I want them to, that’s even more fun. I keep fish maybe a few times each year, if that. I’d rather catch them multiple times!!
I like most everything about fishing except the Idiots at the landings
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