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Posts: 366
| Just want to know what the biggest challenge is to other muskie nuts.
Ryan
I know the mind controls all of the above, but what is the hardest barrier to work through.
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Posts: 994
Location: Minnesota: where it's tough to be a sportsfan! | Years ago I fished with a guy for several years. He had two rods & reel setups. He had a topwater globe bait, two bucktails, one still had hair on it, and he had a reef hawg. He caught more fish than I did every year. But he only would speak when we were changing spots the rest of the time his focus was only on the fish and what his bait was doing. I never got that good Muskie Fishing. |
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| For me it’s finding the time to get away, so I guess that falls under financial |
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Posts: 143
Location: Lake of The Woods | Its both physical and mental and depending on your $ could be financial. |
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Posts: 8828
| Well... It can get expensive if you let it. Physically demanding? Well, 10 hours 6 days in a row throwing double 10's is no picnic, but look around your club sometime. Not exactly world class athletes are we? I suppose the mental part can get to you, but only if you think too much. It's certainly more demanding in all areas than any other freshwater fishing.
For me personally, I'd have to say it's financially demanding more than anything, but that's just because I have to travel to get to the fish. With gas over $3/gallon? Yeah. |
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Posts: 208
| All of the above for some but i would say the physical part can be the hardest part. There's a big difference between throwing 12 oz baits compared to 1/2 oz baits and the fact that you must put more hours in per fish can force you to put some long days in on the water! If your as mule headed as i am if your not moving fish you keep on pounding it. I'm already running on the treadmill and doing back strenthing exercises because my lower back is always the first place that feels it after a long day. Most of you probably no the feeling but it takes a while in the spring to get into boat shape. |
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Posts: 177
Location: Cohasset, MN | Last year I probably would have answered "physically". Having 3 kids in college (now) has shifted that burden somewhat. |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | mental exhaustion gets me. Its just so hard to stay driven and focused sometimes to break that slump. |
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Posts: 774
Location: South East Wisconsin | I would say all three play a factor in what we do.
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Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Wow!
The Mental factor plays more into chasing a fish, with a brain the size of a pea......... I can't see that.
Don't know how people can think that trying to catch a fish can be more mentally exhausting or demanding than pounding the water for 10-14 hrs a day throwing BIG, Heavy Lures.
Those that voted for mental also must not have as much fun fishing for muskies, since your being tormented mentally. I used to over think things while out on the water, but that didn't help put anymore fish in the boat.
Muskie fishing shouldn't be mentally stressful...... that's what marriage and jobs are for.
Personally not having enough money is my problem when it comes to fishing.
Jerome |
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Posts: 717
Location: Grand Rapids, MI | Money is normally my problem. As far as being mentally demanding, it can be if you are after hunting big fish, vs just getting a fish. Physically demanding? The only time I've ever had a problem is when I have stayed up so long after a long day at work that I am literally falling over asleep. This year, I had a problem with tennis elbow, but besides that, I've never had a problem physically as my job is concrete construction. Throwing Pounders for 10 hours is playtime.
Edited by JimtenHaaf 1/8/2011 12:06 PM
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | Overall, probably financially. If I had $ I would travel and fish a lot more. |
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Posts: 458
| I just need more time. |
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Posts: 540
| baits get exspensive and equipment also but for me it seems to be the gas money pulling the boat all over, around here there is so many lakes to choose from and some of the best a hour away almost! |
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Posts: 469
Location: MN | I found that I'm in a good shape for 10-12 hours of average day (can do more, if needed). I also OK mentally, even I if don't see any fish for a multiple times. Money and especially more time on the water : 2 main factors for me.
Edited by psv 1/8/2011 1:57 PM
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Posts: 633
| For me it is just finding time to get out an go fishing. Kids have softball, wife works every other Saturday. The other weekends she wants to do stuff as a family. We get in some fishing as a family, and I occasionally get to go with my son. Time & money. My son will go with me, but he will get tired faster than I do. If the kids aren't having fun, I am not having fun. I love our week up north. I get to go out at dawn, and fish without any other plans. I take the kids out later in the day, but sunrise, and sunset I get ski time.
Why do I get laid off when ice is on the water instead of June or July?
Lance
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| All three definitley apply, but for me the most challenging is the mental part, which just exacerbates the other ones. It's hard to justify the expense, or beat yourself up, if your attitude isn't positive. I ran into this last year. For me, I'll find a way to deal with the others if I have a positive outlook about the trip. |
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Posts: 159
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The last couple years been working out a lot eating right so the physical has never been a problem--thankfully.
For me its mental. Tend to get frustrated/angry when I go a couple days/week working hard and fishing smart with nothing to show for it. Throw in a couple of boats cutting you off/others camping on your favorite spot--Not to mention talking with Joe and Steve who just got 3 50 inchers the last 4 nights out---I start to get phyched out and make into a hard days work not fun.
My wife and I have a little on going joke---after about 4 or 5 days on our vacation if I havn't caught anything-- when I start getting ready to fish after dinner she will say to me better hurry up or you will be late for work. Or I will say during dinner I wish I did not have to go to work again tonight/or maybe I'll call in sick tonight so I don't have to go to work.
For sure its mental for me---This summer I want to keep it fun and feast or famine don't want to become obsessive about it.
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Location: Money, PA | Demanding of TIME. |
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Location: Palm Coast, FL | esoxaddict - 1/7/2011 7:29 PM
Well... It can get expensive if you let it. Physically demanding? Well, 10 hours 6 days in a row throwing double 10's is no picnic, but look around your club sometime. Not exactly world class athletes are we?
Hard to see carpal tunnel, tennis elbow and back problems. |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | well top h2o im 18 and in pretty good shape been an athlete my whole life. during summer not only do we also beat the water to a froth, we do it sometimes 8 9 or 10 days in a row all day. (summer vacation). i suppose im just not as mentally tough as a true musky warrior like you haha. if the physical side bothers you, maybe work out a couple days a week. |
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Location: oswego, il | Of the three picked I chose financially demanding. The biggest hinderance would be time to fish where I wanted to. Being primarily a weekend fisherman, I don't have the time to go for a week wherever I want being a divorced dad. The physical and mental part have never been an issue for me, Heck I have gone 13 hours on the water without taking a leak!  |
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | I think that mental aspects of muskie fishing is most the most challenging.
Keeping both the focus to stay ready for the strike that comes at the worst possible time, and to be able to react instantaniously and appropriately is the biggest challenge to muskie fishing.
I wish that I had a dollar for every person fishing with me that either stops their retrieve and points and shouts for the others in the boat to look at the fish or worse yet, pulls the bait out of the water and points at the fish!
Stereotypically, according to ladies, guys are unable to multi-task, so telling stories, looking at the scenery, or day dreaming while fishing would seem to be a recipe for disaster for many of us!
The ability to stay focused, even after extended timeframes of relative inactivity is very tough for many people. |
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Posts: 2068
Location: Appleton,WI | Im going to say the money part.But if half of us stoped smoking,or cut down on going to the bar or out to eat we would be able to fish more. |
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Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | JakeStCroixSkis - 1/9/2011 10:20 AM
well top h2o im 18 and in pretty good shape been an athlete my whole life. during summer not only do we also beat the water to a froth, we do it sometimes 8 9 or 10 days in a row all day. (summer vacation). i suppose im just not as mentally tough as a true musky warrior like you haha. if the physical side bothers you, maybe work out a couple days a week.
Croix,,
You should be able to fish for 14-16 hrs. every day..... At 18 you should be a STUD ! I'm 54 but can still hold my own..... All I'm saying is that the mental side of Muskie hunting is NO LONGER a problem with me.
I enjoy muskie fishing,without it driving me nuts, or causing me mental anguish.
The biggest problem is not having enough time or money to do it.
Perhaps we should share a boat sometime.
Oh, I've been working Heavy Construction for the last 34yrs. and I'm sure you couldn't hold my jock day in and day out.......... as your generation seems to be quite lazy these days.... however there are exceptions.
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | top h2o, although my generation may be considered lazy, my friends and i dont care to sit around and play video games or do whatever it is you asumme "my" generation does. youve fished muskies a lot more than me, i still have a lot to learn and sometimes it is mentally staggering. i also think i could do your job for the right pay check, im 6'1 230 and im not afraid to sweat lol. |
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Location: Shawano, WI | Physical exhaustion can easily be overtaken by the driven and passion of the sport. Pain is only temporary...right? Financing musky fishing will only get out of hand if you let it...and trust me, it's easy to do. Restrain yourself to the essentials and you're fine. Mentally...well, you all know. Stick with it and eventually it'll pay off. You just have to remember to stack the odds towards a catch. Know you structure, baitfish, and weather conditions. Good Luck! |
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Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | JakeStCroixSkis - 1/9/2011 9:04 PM
top h2o, although my generation may be considered lazy, my friends and i dont care to sit around and play video games or do whatever it is you asumme "my" generation does. youve fished muskies a lot more than me, i still have a lot to learn and sometimes it is mentally staggering. i also think i could do your job for the right pay check, im 6'1 230 and im not afraid to sweat lol.
Like I said Jake, there are exceptions. |
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Location: Wishin I Was Fishin' | I agree with ShutUpNFish.
Time is my problem. |
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| ToddM - 1/9/2011 10:04 AM
Heck I have gone 13 hours on the water without taking a leak! :-O
But...why????  |
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Posts: 366
| The financial aspect is what currently keeps me from being able to fish as much as I'd like to. If I didn’t have to worry about affording being able to fish all the time, then I think that the mental aspect would come next. But, I guess when I don’t get to fish often then body isn’t in muskie bait chucking shape, so it takes a bit to get through the barrier of pain and adjustment to those unusual physical demands. Once the body is adjusted to throwing baits all the time, then it is all about the mental demands of putting fish in the net. Long term, I can’t think but feel like the physical demand prevails and those parts of the body that adjust to being able to throw baits all the time eventually wear out and stop doing what they are supposed to without constant pain. Some people are blessed with better genetics, and some are obviously worse off, but I would think that almost all muskie fishermen are somewhere in this progression. Obviously, most people’s positions will change throughout a muskie fishing lifetime.
Ryan
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Posts: 485
Location: On my favorite lake! | I would say mentally demanding because you can get away with only a few baits and one rod. There are a good number of sports and activities that are a lot more physically demanding. However, you forget or mess up a figure 8 and that fish might be gone for good. Keeping mentally sharp and thinking, I think is #1 thing in musky fishing. |
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Posts: 551
Location: Columbus, Georgia | This is a great thread, though I think there are some factors that lend themselves toward one of the choices over another. There was a recent post/thread about the average age of Muskie fisherman frequenting this board. I am 56 and while I have been fishing since I was around 4 years old; I crossed over to Muskies six seasons ago and fish exclusively (now) for these toothy critters.
I spent a bundle the first few years and bought the best equipment and literally hundreds of proven baits. Now on my third boat, I can say that the financial aspect of our sport has gone down (for me) by about 75% per season based upon being set up with everything I need. Last season I purchased only about a dozen new baits. My wife could hardly believe it!
The mental aspect is something I try to keep in mind whenever I am on the water and can fish without results without the disappoint levels I experienced when I was a newbie. Hey ... it's Muskie fishing! Enough said about that.
However; while I began to experience some arthritis and lower back problems as I approached 40 ... since I have begun fishing for Muskies I have had surgery on three fingers (trigger-finger release on two fingers and a thumb), along with two shoulder surgeries. So for me, I can say unquestionably the physical aspects of the sport are my greatest challenge. Elbow tendonitis also visits for me for at least part of each season. Figure-8's of double 10 blades and throwing LARGE swim baits both prove to be a formidable hurdle.
I can't imagine another pastime that I might enjoy more than hunting Muskies.
Edited by cjrich 1/11/2011 4:32 PM
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Is muskie fishing, more...?