Creating an addiction

[Joeker51]

Late last fall I attempted to show my nephew how to pier fish for salmon. He's a yooper from Iron Mountain whose never fished for them. He saw a few caught in Lex but never tagged into one. Fact is he caught his first walleye casting Marysville this last spring but that's another story. Anyhow he called Friday night and asked how the pier fishing was in PS or Lex. Told him to wait after the PS tournament and I'd let him know. Going to school in Lansing he could run either way. Called him Sunday night and recommended that he fish the piers on the west side. Got a voice mail this morning from him. Apparently he chose Pentwater. Finally tagged a fish but it spooled him. :fish: Never heard him so excited. :yikes: He's already planning on hitting a pier next week,mid week. Now he's gonna try and tag up with a buddy of his who has a boat. If the timimg isn't right he's definitely back on a pier. I smell and addicttion coming on. :D Wish I was there to have seen his face and watch the fight. :) Just thought I would share this with you.

[stinger63]

Just thing I have had an addiction to fishing since I was about 5 -6 years of age.Mainly trout but Im happy to catch basicaly any kind of species to satisfy the niche.Now the last 2 years I have been salmon fishing and Im definately hooked on em.I have dreams about catching them and fighting fish on my rod reels now. :yikes: :lol:

[MoJoRisin']

All it took for me was being unemployed, deciding to go steelhead fishing only once and having fish break me off and run into my waders. Hooked forever. Steelhead eventually turned into a boat (now 2) and too much salmon gear. Better make sure he gets a college education so he can support his new habit.

[Salmonous Maximus]

All it took for me was a trip up to Harbor Beach about 5 years ago, hooked my first salmon (casting) and it went crazy! I knew they faught hard, but this was a little harder than I had anticipated.........drag set too tight......S N A P!!! Fish gone, lure gone......but I on the other hand, was now hooked for life. :evil:

[Joeker51]

MoJo, edgeumacation almost done. Needs to do his internship to be an attorney.............if the salmon don't get in his way ! :lol: Yeah, he's defianately hooked. :D How's that go............"once biten.... " Trying to get him to sign up as a registered member here to further the addiction. I know he monitors the site by the last e-mail I got about this thread.

Maximus, best day I ever had was in HB about 4 or 5 yrs ago. Hammered them the first half hour before daybreak. Started by 5:15 and was done by 5:45 am and played catch and release. Lot of groans from the guys around me. Got kinda upset by hearing me yell FISH ON so many times. Great day.

[garyrodbender]

Great thread,my addiction has gone from brooke trout in small creeks,to bass in small lakes,now i`m a full blown addict,salmon on the big pond...Is there an anglers anonomous out there? I need to share, LOL.

[stinger63]

This forum is about the only place anyone can get a hold of me because Im only home to share my expereinces about fishing and to sleep before going out and fishing somewhere again :lol: I think I have a very serious addiction,what do you think :help: I once had a bumper sticker on my car it read"I love my wife and fishing but not in that order :lol: :evil:

[Fishndude]

When I was little - around 5, my Father bought a small cabin on a small lake. When I found out what fish were, and that you could catch them, I asked for a rod and reel and wanted to catch fish. Being that I was so young, my Father told me I had to catch a fish without a hook, before he would give me a hook to use. It took a few days of relentess effort, but I eventually caught a bluegill on an open snap swivel with a piece of worm (he had taught be how to tie a knot and figured I couldn't get hurt to badly on a swivel). He also figured I wouldn't be able to catch a fish, but I beat him at that game. As soon as I had hooks, it was all over. I used to fish all day long without stopping. It was like I hated fish and wanted to rid the World of them. Still working at that.
Then I found out about Steelhead fishing. It's like heroin - you just can't stop. I honestly don't know how my wife puts up with it.
Tug, tug, YANK.

Tell your nephew to stop now, while he still has a chance.

[Joeker51]

Can't do that fishndude . Imagine being a yooper with all those resources around you. Walleye-brook trout - salmon- deer. And never fished or hunted for them. Something wrong with that picture. :yikes: After years of bowhunting up there he finally took the hint a couple years ago and picked up a bow. He's on the right track and you can't always have your nose in a book. Besides I gotta keep the momentum going . :D Resistance is futile and there is an enjoyable area on the dark side. :evil: You might even say there's a peaceful addiction . ;) :fish: :fish:

[Joeker51]

Cell phone rang awhile ago.
Pat: Uncle Joe I just lost another %#%# fish! :yikes: On a green glow cleo!
Thought you had class tonight.
Pat: I did but a couple friends and I decided to go out after class.
Where are you ?
Pat: Ludington. Walking back out to the pier. I just went and bought some
more cleo's
Pat your addicted.
Pat: Uncle Joe no I'm not!
What time is it ?
Pat: 10:00
Day or night?
Pat: Night.
PJ, your addicted!
Pat: I'll call you in the morning. I'm gonna be out here all night !
Pat, your addicted !
Pat: No I'm not.........call you tomorrow. Click.

Pat I know you read this thread. There's no cure for you now. Best I can say is don't come home empty handed. :D One other note. Now your addicting your friends too and you better have some deep pockets because tackle isn't cheap now days. You need some serious help now. Call me and we'll figure out the best therapy on a pier near by. :D :fish:

[Fishndude]

Do yourself a real favor and stop with Salmon. You can only target them from shore for a short period in Fall, so there is some hope for you, yet.
DO NOT try to catch any Steelhead - this Fall or ever. If you do, you might as well quit college and just spend your money on rods, reels, the best waders, more vests than anyone really needs, expensive line, specialty hooks, floats (bobbers) of every type and size, etc.

Uncle Joe: This might be a good time for a family intervention. I recommend strong shackles and quality locks - you can always use them to lock your boats up later.

[Joeker51]

This might be a good time for family intervention .

Man, he's got it bad. Slept on the Ludington pier last night and not a fish to show for it. As I write this he's headed for Pentwater pier without a net. The boy needs therapy !

I think he should join this site as a first step. He can get alot more advice then I can give him. :bash: Then he should go to a group session. You know like a Meet-n-Greet. It would help his outlook alittle more! :grouphug: What else can we provide for his recovery ? :help:

[GVSUKUSH]

I had it bad in college too, remember, you only need to pass! :evil:

My dad's last words before I went to college, "Steve, your days of hunting and fishing are over for 4 years."

Not only did I fish and hunt more those years than ever before, I stayed for a 5th year! :lol:

[Playin' Hooky]

Uh-oh. This reads like all of those stories about people who lose themselves in the chains of addiction...haggard (parted lines), disoriented (wandering sleepless on a L MI pier), demented (not having a NET??? The boy's lost his mind!)

He definitely needs to get into a program:

1. Rods
2. Reels
3. Line
4. Lures
5. Knots
6. Fighting words and tactics ("Fish ON!", "Coming down!", The pier limbo)
7. Dealing with frustration (When 1-6 fail)
8. Netting tactics (When 1-5 actually work long enough to get a fish close)
9. Dealing with frustration II (When 8 doesn't work)
10. Excuses (for why 1-9 didn't work)
11. Excuses II (for why you have to miss class/work/your wedding)
12. Smiling broadly (for when it finally comes together)

There's nothing like the smell of fresh salmonid mucous! The sweet smell of success!

Family intervention = a parka, Coleman lantern, glow Bombers and fingerless gloves!

[garyrodbender]

That 12 step program and the over 7000 (sponsers) members here, hes got a fighting chance. Just remember dont fish and drive and take it one cast at a time...LOL :help:

[Joeker51]

WHoa ! He finally came up for some air and a dose of reality. After 20+hrs on the Ludington pier and a few more to boot in Pentwater he figured he better get back to business. :dizzy: Not a fish to show for it. :fish: Just the stories. :fish2:

Playin'Hooky. The 12 step program you provided has some promise. Talked to him tonight and all I got was true addiciton talk. " I only need to catch one Uncle Joe, honest. Then I'll be all right." Man, I've heard those words before. It echo's insanity. Thought about locking him in a room with an upstanding member like shoeman but thought better of it. Steelheading would ruin him for sure ! Maybe one of you west siders could find it in your heart to take him under your wing and guide him back. ;)


garyrodbebder. Your spending too much time chasing them and not enough here in therapy. There are now over 8,600 lost souls here. Where you been son! :D

[GVSUKUSH]

Maybe one of you west siders could find it in your heart to take him under your wing and guide him back. ;)



I'll send you my college transcript and you might have second thoughts about that........ :lol:

[MoJoRisin']

Don't tell him this, but the salmon addiction is a prereq for steelheading. First you must aquire fresh salmon spawn and master the art of tying spawn bags. Then you must fish as much as possible for steelhead throughout the fall and aquire steelhead spawn. Once you aquire steelhead spawn, you can fish for steelies until April on the surf and river. Then you can get in on the brown run with the additional steehead spawn that you have caught all season. Once the browns are done, then salmon season starts! Perpetual cycle!! Also, by all means do not tell him that you can ice fish for steelhead! Then he can fish for salmonoids 365 days a year!! :SHOCKED: :SHOCKED: :yikes:

[Fishndude]

If he ever catches Steelhead, he will truly be hooked. If he finds out that there are Steelhead in a river somewhere in MI every single day of the year, his life is over. Hopefully he won't find out about the real value of Salmon eggs, and will simply tire of catching those ponderous fish after awhile.