Drinking Alcohol while Fishing VS. NOT

[NxtGenBassMaster85]

I drink every time I fish unless its a serious tournament, which i usually catch fish when im drunk anyway but oh well.   

[ZARASSPOOKY]

I Love a cold beer but not on the water.

[islandbass]

Not me. I don't want anything taking away from my experience that could be detrimental to the experience or hinder motor reflexes. In addition, since most of us fish when it's hot, with alcohol being naturally diuretic (sp??), I say no... But I might drink coffee.     

What's the difference in answers two and three?

[GotstaFish]

No time for a beer when I have a rod in my hand. Now if there is a beach or dockside bar afterwards thats a different story 

[tmiller2]

all depends....if its a tourney then no way.....but if its a day out with friends then sure ill have 1 or 2 i just have to make sure that no 1 is really paying attention i dont want to get a DUI on the water or just get arrested for underage drinking for that matter.....

[Tom G]

   I got to laugh at this one. some thirty years ago I was a stupid young buck in my twenty's and single. I believe you couldn't get to drunk to fish.
   One Saturday night I went fishing in an john boat with a couple of buddies. The air temp was in the lower forties and we were freezing our butts off. My buddy reached in to his tackle box and produced a bottle of Jack. We joyfully passed it around. It seem like a good I idea at the time and we  got warm fast. The three of us killed the bottle in about an hour. The fishing was slow so we decided to call it a night.
      After loading up the boat we piled into my 58 Chevy truck and headed home down a dirt road full of bumps. When the heater  warmed up the cab I became a little queasy. However my friends got down right sick. Suddenly one spewed and then the other. The smell made me join in. What a mess!
    I had to take my mom to church Sunday morning. I spent the night trying to clean up the truck but it still smelt awful. Mom didn't say a word but I'm sure she prayed real hard for my salvation. That was the last drink I ever took on a boat.

[Bassinkorea]

I never drink whilst fishing....bank or boat. 99 times out of 100 I will be driving home and I don't drink and drive, the Korean police are very strict on this.

Also, it is just completely unsafe drinking in a boat on the water especially in the heat of the summer  I read too many stories right here on UB last summer of so many incidents on the water where alcohol was involved.

[GOT EM]

i agree with u bk alcohol and vehicles do not mix.......how ever if im camping on the shore theres nothing better than a beer or 12....lol

[Ron Fogelson]

Never when I'm in the boat or on the bank and have to drive home!  Now if we are camping at the lake then after dinner we'll start a fire and enjoy a few while sitting around visiting.

Never understood how folks will fish a tournament all day and then come back to the weigh-in and start downing beers,,, they still have to drive home   

[clubber]

Don't drink anymore, although I used to drink enough for 2 or 3 people. But when I did drink, I never did it while fishing. Always figured I would devote all my attention to what the task was. Drinking or fishing.   

[ring fry]

I can't play golf without drinking a few beers, even when I was trying to do it for a living.  Fishing is way too serious!  My friends and co-workers can't believe I don't drink when I fish.  Around here it's just not right.

SE Kansas grass grower

[bassindago]

i'll barely drink a whole bottle of water. i will not even allow alcohol in my boat. i'm not against drinking on land but have seen too many alcohol related accidents in boat and in vehicles. the are not pretty.

[Mike Noble]

There has never been any alcohol in my boat and I plan on keeping it that way.  Diet coke and water are all I drink while fishing.

One of the other dealers at work asked me just this past weekend, "when are we going fishing and drink some beer".  I told him that I don't drink and fish...he looked at me funny.  Oh well...way too dangerous.

[OutdoorFrontiers]

I like to have a cocktail or two, but not on the water.  There's just too many ways for things to go bad in a hurry anyway, so I won't even consider adding alcohol to the mix.

Besides, when I'm fishing, I'm FISHING!  I've gotten used to drinking cold coffee and warm soft drinks while fishing.

Steve

[Creel Limit Zero]

When I'm on a charter trolling for stripers or tuna, I like a cold beer, or two, or three...      When I'm out fishing on my own, the cold beer waits until the boats out of the water...   

[Rincon2388]

Never in the boat while bass fishing. My dad always tells me to be carefull when I go on long fishing trips(I'm 40). He doesn't believe that I don't drink in the boat.

Cold beer is a must AFTER a long day of fishing. 

Several years ago a friend and I fished a small private lake with no wake rule. We mostly crappie fished and drank a few beers. Actually most of the beer got hot and/or spilled in the boat. There is just no time for drinking when bass fishing and with the high HP boats today it is totally unsafe and uncool.

[bigjim5589]

Any alcohol I drink is consumed at home, and I don't drink much at all. 3 beers is my limit.  If I drank on the boat or the bank, I would still have to drive home.

I drive a truck for a living, and won't do anything to jeopardise my CDL license or my livelihood. Not worth it!   

[burglure]

Rare to never drink while Bass fishing, but if I am panfishin', etc. I may have a beer or two, but not to excess.

[CaptChaos86]

I dont ever drink when im out on the lake. Like someone else said it kinda takes away from the experience for me. I like to stay focused when im out and driving a boat while intoxicated is never a good thing.

[left_turn56]

I usually keep 1 beer in the cooler, but rarely drink it. I get dehydrated really easy and beer just makes the problem worse. But I have to admit...I love sitting in nice quiet cove and nursing a cold one.

Keep in mind the consequences of a DUI though. Aside from the danger (my mom was killed in a DUI wreck), there is the cost, shame, loss of driving privileges, and possible jail time. Most CDL drivers will lose their jobs. Us CCW will lose our carry privileges too!!

Hate to sound like a mother hen, but be responsible!

[bassamatic]

i am an instant a**hole just add alcohol so i only drink at home when i know i will not be leavein until mornin.

[ShawnDee4]

When I was your age we usuassly tied one on while fishing but I've gotten so serious about it I just don't like to drink while fishing. It's hard to concentrate on fishing while pounding a beer and lighting a cigarette, spilling your beer, having to go get more beer, getting stopped by lake patrol, having to take a breathalyzer, etc. Drinking is much better suited when your're back at the house. IMO

[Bubbalunk]

It all depends on where I am fishing.  If I am fishing Lake Norman I never drink.  Cause the game wardens are awful and I am not familular with the lake.  If I fish Lake Hartwell I will often have a few beers cause I am very fam. with the lake.  But if I am on my ex's uncles private 400 acre lake I will tend to have a good time with the boys, because we are the only boat on it, and we stay in the lake house so, we are a threat to no one but ourselves and the john boat that we are in.  But agree that there is a time for fun, and there is a time to serious and res.

[bass1cpr]

   I voted other because I can't say I've never done it. But drinking is for the bank. Some clubs allow beer in the boat.
   I still like to have a beer now and then but not during a Tournament, I'm not on the water to drink I'm there to fish, after it's over I'll pop one to be social and swap stories about the day.
   
   I'm glad to see so many that agree that beer doesn't belong in the boat.

   The first club I belonged to was sponsored by a Tavern we held our meeting's there and some off the water get togethers which helped the Tavern. But beer in the boat wasn't allowed during Tournament hours. Lots of small clubs are the same way thier host's are taverns it's just a natural place to have a get together and hold meeting's, and have a few beers with friend's.

   This same issue was recently brought up at the club I'm in now  and put to a vote. I guess the wright to drink when ever you want was more important than safety. It's ok to have beer in the boat and it's ok to drink if you want. Have fun on the water however you enjoy it. Good Luck.

   

[Nutt]

I will not drink alcohol or have it in my boat.  Too dangerous.  If I am camping where I dont have to drive, and fishing off the bank, then you bet I will.  Its hard enough to look out for the other guy in his boat who could hit you.  I dont want to be him, or set that kind of example for my child.