The last 3 weeks in February were unfishable from a kayak and then I had cataract surgery and had to stay off the water for 4 weeks. Being unable to fish was harder than I anticipated.

I tried to find other things to occupy my time, but even my day dreams revolved around fishing. Digging out weeds became looking down on virgin fishing grounds and pulling up fish after fish. Kind of silly, I know. But it got me thinking of how much fishing enhances my life.

• I’ve always liked looking at fish, in books and in the water, from as far back as I can remember. In Elementary School, when I was sick, home from school, I used to read the Encyclopedia from A to Z about every fish in there. And this was in hard back, before home computers existed. I truly think fishing is in my DNA, being of Japanese ancestry.
• Driving to fishing spots took me to remote areas I would have otherwise not frequented, and I’ve met some awesome people who share the love of fishing and fish.
• Whether it’s wading the flats and tossing lures, or paddling the kayak out to the grounds, being on the water is so soothing and restorative. I believe humans were designed to be outdoors, around nature. That’s why wood and natural stone products are more appealing to us than cement, metal and plastic.
• The tug truly is the drug. While being on the water after being away for a while, feels so amazing, the nibble and pull is what keeps us coming back. Feeling something alive at the end of the line never gets old.
• Bringing in and seeing the fish, whether an oama, papio or monster from the deep, is always exciting. Losing the fish without seeing what it was, leads to the-fish-that-got-away stories and plans on how to get ’em next time.
• Well preserved (bled and iced) fish are greatly appreciated by friends and family who aren’t able to catch fish themselves. With fish not as fresh in the market, and so expensive lately, there’s no better gift than that.

What do you miss when you can’t fish for an extended amount of time?