Maximizing your time out on the water

[cprince]

I work 8 hour shifts which begin at 6am but at the height of the monster walleye season in autumn, I often put my body through hell just to have a shot at landing a trophy. I also drive a few hundred kilometres just to fish at night for big eyes and by the time I get back home it's usually close to 2am. By the time I'm asleep it's closer to 3am and then I wake up at 5am.

Like you said, it's all about motivation.

That is exactly what I am talking about. I know far too many that will get home from work at 3 or 3:30pm from either Tunney's Pasture or Place du Portage... or whatever job site that lets them go home with the sniffles... and sit there with a case of beer and biatch and moan about needing vacation time to go fishing. These are the same people that will beg for prime fishing holes on fishing sites saying how they have no time to waste searching for honey holes and feel completely reasonable asking those who work just as many hours or more than them... with just as many commitments or more than them.. for the fruits of their labors... then get all indignant when they get flamed.

If you have kid's as I do (4/6 year olds). I figured out real quick take one at a time in the boat and the patience level goes way up theirs and yours.
My son the 6 yr old will even run the trolling motor for dad when I can see he is at the end of his patience of dad saying " just one more pass buddy!"
I also have beaucoup snacks and candy which they do not typically get.
I always do my very best to set them up to catch fish too. My son caught a nice 2lb walleye this week. So he was good for a 3 hour run tonight still excited from his last big catch.
Cheers,
Dale

This is a man who gets it. This is exactly what people who actually love fishing do. This is what I did. This is what a number of people I fish with have done. When I get a kid giving me the business about me not taking them fishing, I take them... and I do not spare them in any way. They carry what needs to be carried. They get up at 4am... and get home at 10pm. They pee or crap in the woods.

I have three daughters into their teens. I know what ones actually like fishing.

Don't even ask about wives and/or GFs on the water. They all know the score. This is not to say that there isn't a little give and take. I will submit to standing outside a store in a mall with a purse while the GF or wife goes trying on dresses... or whatever they buy in those stores. I will still take a daughter to her barrel racing competitions with all those pretentious horse people who I despise. I will still brush my daughter's hair... or even let them paint my toe nails..

There has to be give and take.

Anyone and every one who knows me, cares about me and or loves me know that fishing is one of my passions. They all make concessions based on the fact that I will fish instead of going to in-law's weddings or brother's civil union.. or even auntie's funeral. Some, who don't know me and a few that do... might think me to be an a-hole for it... but you only live once.

So... how do you maximize your time on the water?

Make it a passion... and you will never ask that question again.

Craig

[BradGuenette]

So... how do you maximize your time on the water?

Make it a passion... and you will never ask that question again.

Craig

This is exactly it! When it comes down to Passion, it becomes a completely different story from talking about either technique or skill. So I suppose it’s more important that we dedicate time to the sport as much as we can, and people will see it all on their own. So, the more I devote myself to whatever I am willing to convey people through what I love most, which is fishing. The more they get to know my value towards the sport, and there would be that “Soul-to-Soul” interaction coming along between us. Kind of hard to explain though.....

[jjwalleye]

I live pretty close to some decent fishing on the larry but even still between two kids and chores and workin 45 hours a week squeezin my fishing time in there can be a little draining but I still keep doin it!! I try and take the kids out when I can but like the last fellow said it can require a bit of patience, I try and fish during the peak times to maximize my time on the water ie.. walleye fishing at night, early morning instead of spending all saturday in the boat Ill go out night fishing for three or four nites a week just as the sun goes down for an hour or so.

cheers

[Jimmy_1]

These are some great responses.

However

1) asking how to maximize time out and asking for honey-holes are two very different things.

2) the insinuation that people working at place du portage etc can just leave at 3 is a bit much.
Maybe some can I know and work with a ton who can't.


I also work 50-60 hours a week and am usually tied to a blackberry outside of that. Sucks but goes with the job and the job I love.

I too fish when and where I can. Be it downtown, at lunch hour, before class, after work etc.

The question is how do you "ie others" maximize their limited time.
It's more a fishing time management question.

Now I understand we have some great members here who will sacrifice much to wet a line and their lives and circumstances are conducive to that. However, others it isn't. Due to life and reapinsibilities.

Craig, I totally get where you are coming from and respect that. Asking for spots and being to lazy/unwilling to explore is a totally different story completely.

[cprince]

Great reply Jimmy!!

We all know people who fit what I am talking about when it comes to the sniffles... and leaving at 3pm.... Just the way it is. They are at PDP and Chaudier and Tuney's and Shirley's Bay and... on and on and on... I also know a bunch of people who put in massive hours and pick up the slack and work EXTREMELY HARD... who get paid the same as the ones who milk the Federal cow...

The honey hole thing is a bit of a digression.. not at all what you were asking. Sorry!!! I know that you would not do that!!!

Craig

[Jimmy_1]

There are a ton who milk it and I agree with you 100%

Never really been one looking for honey-holes. I fish with a consistent bunch and I have to say we had a great ice season.
With a few incidental sturgeon coming through the hole.

I really like the urban fishing thing these days. Living in the city the last while has really changed it up for me.
I don't think where I am now there are too many "honey holes".

But the people you meet sure are friendly. One guy I was fishing with along the canal pretty much offered me and my son to use anything in his tackle bag. Thought that was pretty cool.