Go buy a jon boat! You'll realize what actually matters to you!

Really I think many get caught up in keeping up with the rest and trying too hard to run like the pro's..since it's actually quite "possible" to use what they do. Unlike many other sports out there, it's plain not practical or possible to own a car like Jimmie Johnson's, or play baseball at Fenway. But you can fish the same lakes, go really fast, get the same sonars/graphs, and use the same stuff the pro's actually use on the same water. I own seven rods, I think thats a bit excessive for my caliber of fishing...however it really does entertain me to see people buying a rod for every application. drop-shot rod, fluke rod, senko rod, square bill rod, chartreuse spinnerbait rod, white spinnerbait rod, jig rod, carolina rig rod, texas rig rod, etc, etc, etc...it's ridiculous. It's funny how the less you have, the more it just "works"....because it has to. I threw a spinnerbait and a spook on a carolina rig rod this morning...it caught fish too...

Can I afford the side imaging, fast bass boat, etc, etc? Sure, I would have to give up something somewhere, but I sure could. It's not really what I'm after. I'd be pretty content with a 35mph or so Tracker that I can scoot around the lake in. Stuff just needs to be put into perspective!

Problem isn't there is just too many things to buy, it's people have a problem with being "content"...

Marketing is brilliant in the fishing industry. If you're not equiped like an elite and don't look like an elite pro you wont catch fish!

Alot of people are owned by this hobby buying boats out of their financial league and such, that sucks the fun out.

I have progressed from bank fishing with the grandfather through an aluminum bass boat to state of the art technology Ranger, top of the line bass boat (Bought brand new). And I know you all will justify to yourselves that other brands are better but in reality we all know Ranger is the best boat on the market. Or at least I know so and thats what I bought. But three years later, with a 2008 Ranger with side imaging, I still almost exclusively fish out of an aluminum jon boat with no electronis on a privately stocked and managed 8 acre lake in East Texas where I catch 5 lb plus bass on every trip. The good ole days are great but I think a lot of it is knowing where to go to catch a sure thing.

My son is 11 and just now getting into it with me. We don't get to go out near as much as either of us would like, but when we do, and I pick up on his excitement in just "fishing with Dad" that is when I am reminded what is important. Go out, have fun, catch some or not, doesn't matter. Great times!

I blame all the fishing and hunting shows. I know I do need 10,000 worms.... but if the guys in the fishing shows are catching DD's on a certain color I go out and buy that Brand, Color & Style. (Even though I probably already have it in one of my tackle boxes) It is just easier to buy a new pack than look through the old unused ones.

...much too close to the truth..

I think its the way it is because its the only sport where you have the chance to be the best on that given day, and that my friends is exciting. Other sports are impossible to be good at, or even attempt to be good at. I get a rush when im all prepared and geared for a day on the water just like KVD. For that day or that tournament, I can try my best to fish just like the best anglers in the world.

I love this sport and I would say im addicted to it.

I felt that way a few years ago, thats when I picked up the Fly Rod for bass, I have loved it, its a simple and so rewarding way to catch em, really brings out the fight in 'em too. Occasionally I'll still throw a crankbait or a worm, but if the fish can be caught shallow (and they can many many times) than I am after 'em with a long pole & a popper.

Last year I started throwing big swimbaits. Now if you want to talk about expensive habits - there's one I like the pursuit of a giant bass using "non - standard" presentations and there's nothing in bass fishing that compares to the strikes you get on big baits. But last night I went to a local pond just before sundown with a couple of bags of 4.5" lft swimbaits. A mother and her two young sons walked by where I was fishing just as I caught a little bitty bass. The boys apparently had never been fishing before and were fascinated by the fish. They got to hold it and I let them release it. As I made another cast out, the youngest one asked me "is fishing fun?" At that very instant another fish struck, I swung, fish goes airborne and I answered an emphatic "yes - fishing is fun".

If it stops being fun for you then you're taking it too seriously.

Ok, now you have peaked my interest and since no one asked I will...What do you do Ken that gives you the ability to meet such interesting folks?