Are you a social angler or prefer to be on your own? and why?

[barbelblanker]

Personally I am mostly a lone soul. If I am holiday then I am quite happy to go with whoever is around and I have a semi annual fish with one of my oldest mates (though he always reminds me I am in fact 4 days older than him, some wear life better : ) ).

As for what kind then I have yet to even try a commercial. Mostly because I don't need a million and one rules. The clubs I have been in ovr the years have enough reasonable ones without telling me I can't use a 3BB float but can use a 4BB (OK a bit of an exageration).

If I were to sum up some perfect sessions.

From the shore it would be catching bass off a sandy beach on a moonless night. Or spinning off the rocks for pollack, bass or even mackerel with the right gear.

Boat is pretty much a good day on the cod with a boat full of people.

River it would have to be catching barbel or chub on the leger or roach , dace and chub on the float while trotting a stick float.

Lake is that heart stopping moment when a carp comes up to a surface bait or a tench starts indicating it is zeroing in on your bait. Not a massive fan of bolt rigs but also not ancient and cranky enough to not realise that they do indeed work.

Personally I like to fish to a target species rather than just turn up. Though sometimes that can be half the fun.

It's a rare day when it all goes to plan but when it does or even approachs it there are few things in life as rewarding and the blanks and frustration melt.

Weather wise I must admit I do prefer the weather to be perfect for the species rather than me as I can always wear the right coat but if the fish aren't feeding or the water is unfishable then there's no point.

Even then I have been known to lake fish when it is obvious they are just not going to feed purely because I wanted to check out a new waggler approach or refine something.

If I knew I wasn't going to catch would I go anyway ? Probably not with the gear, might for the walk.

But then again.......

[Bluesbro]

I would say that 95% of my fishing is with somebody as I enjoy the social side of fishing. Having grown up now it`s the only real time I get to "hang" with my mates without setting the missus off or getting p*ssed up lol. My main fishing buddy is my mate Noel who is now practicaly my brother from a different mother. I used to go with my dad a lot too but his work commitments ( & age lol) have put a stop to that

I also like taking newbies out!!! I have been known to buy bait and then ring everyone I know to come and join me and grab a rod, something about showing someone the thrill of getting a bite, I have converted a few people and they have gone on to get their own gear and took it up for them selves.

It`s still peaceful even with others (apart from kids lol), they often just sit there and comment on how it`s not as boring as they first thought and how relaxing it is to be by the sea. Also they love to see the stars out as its not something they would normaly have the time to notice.

Also I fish some pretty scary places, or places near clubs and pubs late at night so having two people has always been a must for me because a lot of people take their own safety for granted and end up in the drink or getting assulted by some drunken idiot, call it paranoid but I just feel more secure. Safety in numbers I guess

Tight Lines

Joe

[the pyromaniac]

I rarely fish commercials, because I don't have the resources to pay $15-20 per day, and because I don't have many near me. Most American waters are public. As for being a social animal or flying solo, I prefer my own company to that of people most of the time. On occasion, I do, however, enjoy the company of Tóño the Mexican, Bearded Alex, Bentley, or the noRmus (local oddballs who are fun to be around usually, and are capable anglers).

[nightriderm]

Being disabled it is difficult for me to walk any distance so I am limited to where I fish.
However,I do fish a private lake where I keep a caravan,so fish there as often as i can.
As for being alone,I have offered free fishing more than once but no one has taken me up on it!!

[tencher]

9 times out of ten on my own, i like the peace and quiet of a natural lake or river and the wide expanse of a beach, i relax more, i fish 2 or 3 times with a mate on a commy but find i cant relax as much as normal as the competitive streak comes out in me and it becomes like work then.

[Bungz]

I am on the norm very unsociable when fishing. Ideally I don't want to be able to see anyone else from my peg.

If that means I will never get a 40 out of a overstocked 30 quid a night commercial then I am not too fussed.

For me it is about being there then the size of whatever I am after comes into play.

[BoldBear]

Give me a mildish day next to a remote stream containing Barbel, Chub and big Roach and no other human within a mile then I am in pure heaven.
Or a quiet secluded private estate lake with Tench, Rudd, Crucians and king or wild Carp where I can fish in almost total isolation then I am equally in pure heaven.

If I do go fishing with my son or a friend then I much prefer it if they only betray their presence very occasionally with the sound of a distant clutch or distant swirl as they hook and land a fish; or we are having a quick tea break away from the water.

There’s nothing worse than fishing with someone who is constantly walking up and down and talking to you when you are trying to keep low and trying to coax the fish to come closer and feed.

[Ripple]

I Game fish almost always on my own. No issues with that. Sometimes I may have one friend accompanying me.

Ripple.

[the pyromaniac]

I'm going out in a few minutes with Bearded Alex, but I love to go it alone too. It just depends on my mood and who is available to go with me. I really like the company of Bearded Alex, Bentley, noRmus, Tóño the Mexican, Rage, and Coal Miner Wayne, but I also thoroughly enjoy getting out there on my own.