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NGAngler,
Thank you so much for sharing that story. It is really touching and inspiring. I am sorry that happened to you, but I am thrilled that fishing has given so much back to you.
I thought about adding "All of the above," but thought that would also would weaken the poll. I wanted people to choose the absolute primary reason.
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QUOTE (The NG angler @ Jan 02, 2022 - 05:34 pm)
I chose "to get time to myself"........that being said all could apply but mainly I fish for my mental health and well being.
A story,
Fishing has always been a part of my life, my dad put a rod in my hand when I was 3 years old. He fished, my grandfather fished and so did his dad, we come from a long line of fishermen in the family. As I grew older I got out less and less but still loved it whenever I got some time and usually got out once or twice a year with my dad to Parry Sound to fish our favourite spot there. But I grew older, joined the military, spent 10 years overseas, had some kids, got divorced, life went on.
End of May 2021 I suffered a significant brain injury and nearly died, lost my speech for 3 months, couldn't remember anything, short term memory was shot to s*** (still kind of is) mood swings, significant depression after the accident and a whole host of other brain related issues. Doctors told me I was lucky to be alive, got put on bed rest with little to no activity advised for the first couple of months. Well me being me I don't sit still at all so one day after weeks on end of sitting in bed with my dog I grabbed a folding chair and my fishing rod and walked down to the lake. Set myself up on the bank and cast my line in with my little chair and Canadian Tire rod.
Within a few minutes I landed a bass, reeled him in and I looked at that fish, he looked at me and that moment I swear my life changed. I put him back in the water and after that I cant say if I hooked that fish or if he hooked me. I went back to the Lake day after day with my chair and rod, I felt the weight of the world lifted off my shoulders, the water seemed to have a healing presence, every fish I landed, every bird that visited me, the waves, the sun on my face, it was and still is something special.
After that I started to read and watch everything fishing related, I was obsessed with needing to know everything I could about this amazing sport. I started an Instagram account for my fishing and even a YouTube channel (albeit not very good haha). Members of the worldwide fishing community have always provided kind words, advice, tips and tricks and hours of endless entertainment.
Now here I am, 2022, about to start my first ever season Ice fishing and pretty much made a full recovery which even the doctors are amazed by my progress (still have some issues but much better than the summer).
Anyways sorry about the life story but for me fishing is more than catching fish. Its healing, time reconnecting with nature and time spent by the water, which in my opinion has been life changing for me (and saving).
Tight lines everyone, I feel blessed to be part of this amazing community of people.
Cheers
Damn thank you for sharing those personal thoughts......I dont think that anyone can explain the need to fish as well as you just did. I bet that there are people that fish don't even realise the health benefits of fishing and what it really does for them.....Thank you and I hope your recovery is full. Fishing brought your inner self back to you.
RITBO.....You will have to create your own stash as this stash is for me to dispose and at the rate my Kayak is going you will be riding a rubber ducky in the Gulf if you are counting on my donation.....lol
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QUOTE (The NG angler @ Jan 02, 2022 - 05:34 pm)
I chose "to get time to myself"........that being said all could apply but mainly I fish for my mental health and well being.
A story,
Fishing has always been a part of my life, my dad put a rod in my hand when I was 3 years old. He fished, my grandfather fished and so did his dad, we come from a long line of fishermen in the family. As I grew older I got out less and less but still loved it whenever I got some time and usually got out once or twice a year with my dad to Parry Sound to fish our favourite spot there. But I grew older, joined the military, spent 10 years overseas, had some kids, got divorced, life went on.
End of May 2021 I suffered a significant brain injury and nearly died, lost my speech for 3 months, couldn't remember anything, short term memory was shot to s*** (still kind of is) mood swings, significant depression after the accident and a whole host of other brain related issues. Doctors told me I was lucky to be alive, got put on bed rest with little to no activity advised for the first couple of months. Well me being me I don't sit still at all so one day after weeks on end of sitting in bed with my dog I grabbed a folding chair and my fishing rod and walked down to the lake. Set myself up on the bank and cast my line in with my little chair and Canadian Tire rod.
Within a few minutes I landed a bass, reeled him in and I looked at that fish, he looked at me and that moment I swear my life changed. I put him back in the water and after that I cant say if I hooked that fish or if he hooked me. I went back to the Lake day after day with my chair and rod, I felt the weight of the world lifted off my shoulders, the water seemed to have a healing presence, every fish I landed, every bird that visited me, the waves, the sun on my face, it was and still is something special.
After that I started to read and watch everything fishing related, I was obsessed with needing to know everything I could about this amazing sport. I started an Instagram account for my fishing and even a YouTube channel (albeit not very good haha). Members of the worldwide fishing community have always provided kind words, advice, tips and tricks and hours of endless entertainment.
Now here I am, 2022, about to start my first ever season Ice fishing and pretty much made a full recovery which even the doctors are amazed by my progress (still have some issues but much better than the summer).
Anyways sorry about the life story but for me fishing is more than catching fish. Its healing, time reconnecting with nature and time spent by the water, which in my opinion has been life changing for me (and saving).
Tight lines everyone, I feel blessed to be part of this amazing community of people.
Cheers
You sir should send this story to a writer in the fishing world who can print it in an Angler magazine....Ontario Outdoors or In-Fisherman
It will inspire a whole generation of people.
Us fishermen/outdoorsman get attacked in the media so much about the negativity of our passion...garbage on the lake, loud noises near the beaches etc. This story is an inspiration even to non anglers.
For me hunting and fishing are on par and i do both of them for the same reasons. I selected to be alone but in reality the correct answer is that the woods and water are my religion.
Paraphrase of a quote by Anatoli Bourkreev:
The woods and the water are not stadiums where I satisfy my ambition to achieve, they are the cathedrals where I practice my religion...I go to them as humans go to worship. In their depths I view my past, dream of the future and, with an unusual acuity, am allowed to experience the present moment...my vision cleared, my strength renewed. Through them I celebrate creation. On each journey I am reborn.
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Being on the water at the front of the boat with my butt leaning against the butt seat and my foot on the trolling motor pedal is my sanctuary, with a rod and reel in my hand tossing out a hunk of wood or plastic or metal trying to dupe a fish into eating something that's totally foreign to the environment where it lives. It keeps my mind from exploding thinking about all the crazy stuff going on around me and the rest of the planet. I get to escape for several hours and be a vegetable. I don't think I could live without my veg time!!!
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