I was wondering what everyone prefers: ie, how you enjoy the “quiet sport” do you prefer to fish with others, or engage a river alone?
Personally, i enjoy talking while i fish, about patterns, insects, water, the weather…etc.
thought it might make an interesting thread,
RL
RL,
I fish alone 90% of the time because all my fishing buddies have work and family commitments that keep them far too busy. I do love spending the day on the water by myself. I like that nothing is pushing me to move at any pace other than what feels right. I also see a lot more wildlife alone. However, that said, I love it when my buddies come out and I get to chew the fat and enjoy a beer at the end of the day. I also like to fish with new people because they always have stuff to teach, or insights to share.
Adam
vox clamantis in deserto
I do fish alone quite a bit. I have two or three fishing “buddies” who are very, very enjoyable to fish with, two of whom are fly fishers. The third is a spin guy who understands distance and positioning that works well for both of us. A fourth fishing buddy is a work in progress and I don’t think I’ll live long enough to not be frustrated with him while fishing. He’s a converted walleye guy with tunnel vision, and a havester as well. Every fourth word from him is “limit.” However, he is an interesting man with some odd thoughts about science and social aspects, so despite the frustration we have fun conversations. I will drive if I can. Otherwise it’s the Righteous Brothers all the way to the lake and back, and we’re 45 minutes one way from the closest one. The first ride to the lake brings back keen memories, but from then on I long for Stevie Ray. JGW
I fish alone 99% of the time even when with my friends.
I fish more than most of my buddies, several times a week as I have really good trout fishing minutes away including some I can walk to. So I?m really alone most of the time. I especially like it at tough streams that I know well so I can leapfrog to the holes that I know will produce without worrying about someone being there.
When the gang gets together we go our separate ways and communicate by walkie- talkie; busting each others ball$ and letting the other guy know what’s working. Those walkie-talkies were one of the best purchases I ever made!
At the end of the day we meet back at the vehicles; have a beer or three and commence the de-briefing before we head back to camp for vittles and nonsense.
I almost always fish with my regular partner, my wife. Sometimes we are within sight of each other, sometimes not. If she hooks up, you’ll know it no matter where you are on the river. That “Fish On!” of hers travels a long way.
I’ve got a couple buddies that I enjoy fishing with, both active duty military, who also understand the need for distance. They’ve been known to low hole each other at times though.
REE
I’m the lone fisher almost all the time. There are some advantages, and mostly, I like it that way.
I spent the first 10-15 years basically fishing alone. Loved every minute of it! No pools or favorite runs to share. No one saying what time to leave or go. No competition… it was great.
Now I rarely fish alone. It must be the surroundings but it seems everyone I fish with is a true gem. The company is much appreciated and brings a certain spice to outings that just isn’t there when fishing alone.
Boy Scout rule #1 - “Always have buddy”!
Although I do fish alone from time to time,
A good fishing budy is hard to beat.
I enjoy the “quiet company” type.
Besides, have to have a little competition.
MW
I fish alone, or, with one of my yungins… 
Spelling and Grammar not subject to judgement… 
Used to always fish (mainly lakes) with a mate or two, recently have found that catch rate goes up as no. of companions goes down ???
My hubby is my fishing buddy. I do get to occasionally fish with someone else but most times it’s just me and him. If we are tubing we’ll bring along little hand-held radios so we don’t have to yell to eachother while on the water. Best of both worlds I guess, fishing “with someone” but still keeping that solitude available for when you want it.
I usually fish alone on my local outings as I’m less than 1/4 mile from a trout stream so it’s easy for me to walk down the hill whenever the mood strikes.
I take several large trips each year and for these I take company if anyone’s available, but it doesn’t bother me to go alone if no one’s available. When on these trips, we will generally separate and fish alone anyway unless the person hasn’t flyfished much and needs help in which case I’ll work as a guide for them and not fish, but rather , put them into fish until they are catching on their own, then I’ll drift away.
It is nice to have the company at night or at lunch to talk to and discuss what worked and what didn’t, but on the stream or lake, the eyes glaze over, the rythym begins and I assume the “fishing machine” trance so don’t really need company.
Mike
I fish alone most often, occasionally with buddies. When I do fish with friends, it’s not much different than fishing alone unless I’m playing guide. As far as conversation goes, I don’t like to fish and talk. I will do one or the other, but I can’t give either my full attention if I do both at once.
Hello, i’m pretty new around here but thought i’d chime-in on this one. I tend to try and plan my fishing with a buddy and it usually happens. When it does not, the fishing is very different…but good. Thinking about it now, i’d say that when i’m on my own, the fishing is great. When i’m with a buddy, the day is great.
I have one fishing buddy I can always count on to be ready to fish,his gear is always packed,doesn’t care if it’s 40 or 90 degrees
rarely complains,always asks a couple of questions I don’t have the answer to,notices things that I miss,is more patient working that big one at the bottom of the hole that I give up on after 20 minutes or so and on occasion out fishes me and rubs it in.
The real perk though is that he is only seven years old so I hope to have him as a fishing buddy for a low time to come.
If sense is common why don’t more people have it?
Your all pretty lucky to be in such good company on the water…Since moving from central PA to Central NY just shy of a year ago. I’ve lost all my fish’in friends…and would like very much to find one here and soon,Not klnowing this area very well at all makes things extreamely difficult…was doing alot of exploreing this weekend,With the wife to be and her three childeren…was fun no doubt…but nerve wracking as well trying to find accessable water for kids is something far more difficult here than I’d ever imagined…Syracuse is a big town…alot of ppl use a rather small area…makes things a bit interesting…
“Wish ya great fishing”
I enjoy both fishing alone and together with a couple of fishing buddies. Actually, it is the best of both worlds in our opinion. We travel together to rivers that are 2-3 hours away. We take turns doing the driving and talk about everything from fishing and flytying to books, movies and our kids. The subject of work is not taboo, but just does not come up that much. Once on the stream we rig up and split up for 2-2.5 hours. We met back at a designated spot and compare results, eat lunch or a snack, etc. But as to the actual fishing, we typically are not in sight of one another, but never that far away either.
Just my $.02,
TNC
Life is but a stream…
I used to fish alone. That’s why I wrote: [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/canada/:15cd3]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/canada/[/url:15cd3]
That all changed a few years ago, … now I ALWAYS fish with the family. (LF has the sequel and will probably put it next week’s article).
Christopher Chin
Jonquiere Quebec
[url=http://www3.sympatico.ca/chris_chin/:15cd3]http://www3.sympatico.ca/chris_chin/[/url:15cd3]
I almost always fish alone. I take my wife sometimes with me, she goes for walks, and Im alone again…(You decide if thats a good thing ) I wouldn’t mind a fishing pal as long as he wasnt some obnoxious fool, thus…I fish alone.
I usually take my kids. However, I have a new flyfishing buddy in the form of my fiancee. I am trying to convince him to take us to Chile for a flyfishing honeymoon.
Teri
It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.~~William Ernest Henley