Are we (you) genetically predisposed to fish? 2025
slonezp reply :
Thought tis would be a fun topic
I got to thinking today about some of the terms we throw around like fishing is a hobby, or a sport, or an addiction or a pastime, Now, that may be true for some of us who are just picking it up, and even those of us who have been doing it our entire lives. But, maybe for some of us it goes deeper than that.
I was catching up with my mother on the drive home from work today. I took my dad fishing this past weekend and my mom thanked me because my dad really enjoys getting out on the boat. (They are both in their late 70's) She then proceeded to tell me how he "sorts all his hooks in containers and he could lose all his hooks and still never get thru them all" I thought to myself "Little does she know...the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" as I'm typing this my son is texting me pictures of bass he's catching in a local pond. where he went after work.
Is the need/desire to fish evolution of the gene pool? and if so, why are some men hunters(fishermen) and gatherers, and others are not? Did they lose the instinct? Did they simply evolve differently into a being with less primitive attributes?
Have certain families evolved over time where the hunter/gatherer instinct has become part of the family genetics. I know there is a long history of fishermen in my family on both my mothers and fathers side. Even one relative on my fathers side of the family who designed lures around 100 years ago.
Or, Is it nothing but tradition passed down from generation to generation?
Thoughts?
CenCal fisher reply :
Is this one of those "help me convince my wife to let me go fishing" threads?
slonezp reply :
On 4/27/2016 at 8:32 AM, CenCal fisher said:Is this one of those "help me convince my wife to let me go fishing" threads?
No wife, I can fish whenever I want. It's one of those 40* and rainy all week threads
soflabasser reply :
I think fishing/hunting is mostly a tradition that is passed from generation to generation.
Senko lover reply :
Some people are more talented than others. Thinking specifically of the Roland Mary-Ann and Scott Martin dynasty. Rick Clunn, Kevin VanDam, and Aaron Martens all have something that noone else has. It's more than just skill too.
South FLA reply :
Yes, I am genetically predisposed to be a "hunter- gatherer" that likes using modern equipment to pursue my game, but can't depend on the acquisition of game to provide for my family , so I satisfy that primitive craving to fish or hunt when I can....at least that's what I tell my wife!
From a human anthropological point of view it can get a bit complicated, but to put it simply "it takes all kinds." However, without successful hunters eons ago, we would not be here today. So yes I think many of us have that innate drive to be fishermen, hunters, farmers, etc. Now match that with mental fortitude, physical ability, ambition, opportunity, and some luck and you have Bassmaster and FLW Pros who succeed year after year.....isn't modern living great?
DogBone_384 reply :
On 4/27/2016 at 8:47 AM, soflabasser said:I think fishing/hunting is mostly a tradition that is passed from generation to generation.
X2
Bluebasser86 reply :
Everyone in my family fishes, even most of the women. Several hunters in the group as well. My dad and mom fished often when I was young and almost every weekend during the summer was spent camping with family at the lake. Fishing was a means of survival growing up very poor. Now it's my escape and the urge to go is uncontrollable. There is no way to describe it to someone who does not possess it either. I really believe that I was predisposed towards it though.
JRammit reply :
When i was a kid (im sure the same for many of you), i was obbsessed with catching any kinda creature i could get my hands on!.... Frogs, lizzards, grasshoppers, crawdads.. I even chased rabbits around the yard.... Nothing was safe!
When i caught them, i hadnt the slightest clue what to do with them??..But they were fun to look at!
Why would i rather do that than play video games like some of the other kids??.... Maybe the same reason puppies play fetch and kittens chase yarn... Its preparation for what you as a species are meant to do at the age of maturity
Now i cant explain those who dont hunt or fish... Idk what went wrong, and i cant imagine what it does to their poor souls???
lecisnith reply :
It kind of goes along with the "nature vs nurture" debate. As a species we haven't really evolved much in the past 100,000 years or so. The only development has come from technology. That would mean that we all still have the instinct to provide for ourselves and our family in any way we can. Just as with any other predator, we eat what we can catch. We have just developed the technology to have the practice of predating become a luxury. Then there is the socioeconomic side of it. Most kids growing up in an urban setting are not going to have a whole lot of access to an area that is conducive to fishing or hunting, so that instinct is never tapped. My father never once took me hunting or fishing. He passed down his passion for football and baseball. I imagine he had enough of the "primal instinct" run it's course in Vietnam. As all bass fisherman and big game hunters know, when you have that five-pounder on the line, or that ten-pointer in your cross hairs, the adrenaline gets going. That adrenaline is your instinct to hype you up to amp your abilities and focus so you can perform better under pressure situations so you will be a more successful predator.
A bit of a meandering ramble but that's the short form of my thoughts on it.
everythingthatswims reply :
We often have 3 generations in my family hunting and fishing together at the same time
xbacksideslider reply :
The mental aspect of fishing, of hunting, is genetic, beyond any doubt. Innately, we look for causation, for patterns, we try to predict animal behavior. All valuable for the survival of our genes
Hog Basser reply :
I think some are more predisposed to it than others. I've seen some families that fish where one kid may not like it and I've seen some people take up fishing when no one in their family does. Mostly, I see it passed down through the generations. It is difficult to pick up on your own without a mentor or at least a great website like bass resource. A great mentor will really get you into it. For me, it is passed down. My family duck hunts and fishes. I learned mostly from my older brother and from my dad. I fished a lot when I was younger, not as much in my college years, and I've really accelerated my fishing in the last few years. I don't think it will ever slow down now that I've rediscovered my love of the sport and learned so much more. I have hunted consistently my entire life and love it and fishing fills the gap between hunting seasons, I even fish on the warmer afternoons during hunting season now. I cannot wait to pass it down to my two sons. They are still a little young, but I look forward to the day I can take them out with me on an all day long adventure.
BassinLou reply :
I think I was adopted.....lol!! ..... kidding.... All I know is my Dad who doesn't know a lick of fishing took me once when I was kid and I was hooked ever since. I was self taught up until my mid 20's where I guess you can say I met my bass fishing mentor. I'm in my 40's now and all I can say is that I love this sport, as much now, than that of that little kid 30 something years ago. Was it in my genes? I will never know, all I can say is that my love for bass fishing comes from a place that only a few really understand.
.ghoti. reply :
Growing up, the men in my family fished; so I did. I still do. Genetically predisposed? Beats me.
You have however opened an entirely new version of the old nature vs nurture debate.
atcoha reply :
Good topic.
I grew up fishing. Some of my earliest memories are waking up before daylight with my grandpa, he would take me bass fishing in the canals.
Some times I did not want to get up. When I was big enough, me and friends would ride our bikes to the canals and fish. My dad had a gnarly old boat we would fish biscayne bay. My stepdad had a boat, in my pubescent years, we would fish biscayne bay, florida bay, mangroves, everglades, flamingo, wherever. I stopped fishing for many years, life got in the way. I got married, my paw inlaw had a boat, we would go all the time. I love to fish, but it's different than it used to be. I'm older, it's more enjoyable to me now. Although, I don't stay on the water from dark to dark anymore. My son fishes some, bass fishing can be a little slow for him at times, so he does not go all the time with me. My youngest girl goes with me a lot, she loves it, and she can hang with anyone. If I had to guess, it would have been the way I was raised, fishing from an early age with people that have left an impression on who I am. To me, it's more than just something to do, and I want to pass that passion on to my kids, and hopefully, them to theirs.
Dye99 reply :
Scandinavian/German descent. Raised in Texas. Family members far and wide fish and hunt. I was going to be shooting or throwing lines no matter what.
Neil McCauley reply :
Genes take a long time to change through evolution, but fishing is similar to our most ancient roles hunting and food securing. Probably all men are predisposed to fish since for most of the last 2 million years getting meat by catching wild animals was key to survival and involved being away from home and physical challenges/dangers in the wild. We're also more inclined to use tools, which first began as weapons. Some of us are more predisposed to these things than others, but it doesn't always lead to fishing. It might get directed separately to things like sports, careers, other hobbies. The culture and experiences you have growing up matter a lot more imo. For me, it wasn't much, just a few early childhood fishing trips, some family I looked up to who were into fishing, and spending a week every summer at a lakefront house. By age 7 I was doing everything on my own. Interestingly neither of my younger brothers got into fishing.
BronzeChaser reply :
Interestingly enough, no one in my family is or ever was an avid fisherman. Most don't even have any fishing gear at all, but quite a few like to hunt.
I got into fishing simply by chance. I didn't get my first rod until I was 15 and it wasn't anything special at all. I had no one to show me the ropes and had to learn everything on my own. I started seriously targeting bass when I was 16 and taught myself how to use casting reels shortly after. That was tricky to learn with no idea how to use one, and i went through a lot of line lol. Eventually I found resources online like this site which are invaluable for people like me, with only one or two friends who seriously fish in the area.
Fast forward 6 years later and I'm "hooked". Not the way most people get started, but I'm glad I did.
Hurricane reply :
On 4/27/2016 at 8:32 AM, CenCal fisher said:Is this one of those "help me convince my wife to let me go fishing" threads?
We can definitely create a thread for that... Would go on and on...
Ratherbfishing reply :
I am an identical twin and my brother is luke-warm at best about fishing. And my dad only rarely took us kids fishing (to a pay lake for trout). So I'd say it's neither nature or nurture. I think it was something to do to get out and something which was unique to just me (if I had been a Borg, I'd have been named "8 of 8." I always imagined myself to be a future mountain man but since there weren't any mountains around, this was the next best thing.
But I'm sure the research would bear out that if your biological or adoptive parents or family like to fish, you are more likely to fish as well.
Mosster47 reply :
On 4/27/2016 at 8:56 AM, Senko lover said:Some people are more talented than others. Thinking specifically of the Roland Mary-Ann and Scott Martin dynasty. Rick Clunn, Kevin VanDam, and Aaron Martens all have something that noone else has. It's more than just skill too.
Those guys have something more than just fishing. There are a bunch of people that can go on the same handful of lakes and catch good fish whenever.
Those guys put EVERYTHING aside and and center their lives around a specific set of days on some specific water. They almost never "fun fish" like most people. They also the steel trap mental game.
Fishing is like golf, pre-Tiger. Every normal human being was born with the ability to compete at the highest level. It's just very few that put in the time to do it when it really matters.
Everyone on this board could be the next great bassbass fisherman, but we won't because it's just not that important to us.
Nitrofreak reply :
Genetics may play a part, I'm really not one to say for sure, my father was the only one in my family who fished, even then it wasn't much, he was the one who introduced me to the outdoors, hunting and fishing, camping, all that great stuff that a father and son share, we only went together maybe a handful of times, that was enough for me, I used to go as a kid as much as I could, everyday I wanted to fish more and more, I used a stick and some fishing line as a youngster then graduated to a cane pole my great grandfather gave to me, in school everyone wanted cars and motorcycles, I wanted a boat, I worked for my first one and got it at 16, I fished every opportunity I could and even joined a club, at 26 I met my wife and as life goes we started a family so the boat got sold and it was replaced with a family vehicle, since then I had to put fishing aside for the most part until just a few years ago when I began to seriously put back in the effort, as far as I know there was no one in my family that has or had the same passion for the outdoors as I do, I was simply introduced to it and it seemed to grab ahold and not really let go, the one thing I think my dad instilled in me has a lot to do with my passion for fishing, he taught me that if I had found something in life worth pursuing that I give it all and leave nothing on the table, I'm like that with my family too but now that the girls are all grown up its reverted back to my passion for fishing, in particular bass fishing.
the reel ess reply :
I'm sure if I had been born a native American before white expansion, I would have been one of the tribe's fisherman. And probably hunter as well.
Jar11591 reply :
I'm definitely known as "the fisherman of the family". My dad is the only other one who fishes, and he is the one that taught me although he was never avid about fishing. I have been fishing since I was old enough to hold a rod and I knew at a very young age that this was something I loved. I simply could not get enough, and eventually it morphed into a full fledged addiction, which is where I am now. When I'm not fishing, I'm reading about it, watching videos of it, organizing my tackle or rigging up for next trip out. Family members who see all the tackle I have literally think I'm crazy. And I am- about fishing.
Josh Smith reply :
It's controlled insanity. We repeat the same action until we get a different result.
Insanity is genetic.
Josh
BassMaster17 reply :
I didn't learn how to fish until I was about 11, and even then it was from a friend I met when I moved. so needless to say I'm the only one in my family who even expresses an interest in fishing, let alone an addiction 
Kris2016 reply :
Actually, I don't think I was pre-destined to fish. My Father did not fish so when I asked about going fishing my Mother had someone at work teach her. Then she took me to Bird River in MD to have a place. Later I had a friend whose Family took us out on the Chesapeake Bay to fish. Long time with sporadic fishing before I really got into it. Small Montgomery Wards jon boat and a 10 hp Johnson. Next was a 17.5 Ranger and then, my favorite, a 20 foot Gambler. More time with no boat, sporadic fishing and then back into it. A 14 foot Grumman, a 16 foot Ouachita in the works and now an 18 foot Ranger in the works. As one friend says, I don't have enough projects.
Choporoz reply :
I suspect the gene is more common than we're giving it credit for. But maybe it just needs a 'trigger'...or proper exposure. I've met a couple/few people who were exposed to fishing, caught a good fish (or many fish) early on and didn't get rabid about fishing. But not many. I'd guess the majority of people, even those from non-fishing families, get the itch if they have good early experiences fishing/catching. I think a lot of people who 'don't get it', haven't had an opportunity. Not all, of course. One of my sons doesn't...but he's the exception in my family...generations back, even.
slonezp reply :
On 4/27/2016 at 8:56 AM, Senko lover said:Some people are more talented than others. Thinking specifically of the Roland Mary-Ann and Scott Martin dynasty. Rick Clunn, Kevin VanDam, and Aaron Martens all have something that noone else has. It's more than just skill too.
On 5/9/2016 at 2:45 AM, Mosster47 said:Those guys have something more than just fishing. There are a bunch of people that can go on the same handful of lakes and catch good fish whenever.
Those guys put EVERYTHING aside and and center their lives around a specific set of days on some specific water. They almost never "fun fish" like most people. They also the steel trap mental game.
Fishing is like golf, pre-Tiger. Every normal human being was born with the ability to compete at the highest level. It's just very few that put in the time to do it when it really matters.
Everyone on this board could be the next great bassbass fisherman, but we won't because it's just not that important to us.
So, if we take this into consideration, could/would the tops of our sport excel at other things not related to fishing? If KVD were a car salesman, would he be the best car salesman that ever lived? If Aaron Martens were an accountant, would he always be the second best accountant that ever lived?
Were they born to fish? or just born with specific traits that mixed with the act of fishing allowed them to be at the top?
If you've never seen and have the opportunity, catch a seminar put on by one of the elites. Both KVD and Ike come to mind as I have attended seminars from both of them as well as a few others. Their actions are very logical and methodical. Both are very analytical when it comes to a day on the water. Wonder how much of that just comes natural to them and how much is learned.
avidone1 reply :
I'm the only one in my family who fishes. Not my dad, or grandparents or siblings. I have no idea where I get it from
Jar11591 reply :
On 5/10/2016 at 10:17 AM, avidone1 said:I'm the only one in my family who fishes. Not my dad, or grandparents or siblings. I have no idea where I get it from
What made you start?
avidone1 reply :
On 5/10/2016 at 10:21 AM, Jar11591 said:What made you start?
My friends and I would ride our bikes to the docks. There were a lot of blow fish back then. My mother called then 'chicken of the sea' she would fry up the tails and they were really good. We also used to catch blue claw crabs off of those docks. This was back in the late 50's early 60's. It was a great time to be a kid.
jtipton91 reply :
Im basicaly self taught / learned most everything from this forum. Began fishing a yr and a half ago. Just thought of going fishing one day, so I bought a cheap combo and fished till I caught a dink on one of my grandpa's old worms that was handed down to me. now I can't control the urge to go fishing...my dad never fished nor anyone else in my immediate family.
Paul Roberts reply :
Yes -in many ways. As I understand it, genes are best seen as the raw material that generates everything from our hard-wired autonomic actions to the raw predispositions that need outside environmental actions to activate. This latter is known as "epigenetics" and is the vortex where much of the science is getting sucked into these days.
I'm pretty much self-taught; Raised in a time when I had 'wild' space to play in. The world is urbanizing, and the environments our kids are playing in is changing.
A-Jay reply :
On 5/10/2016 at 7:28 AM, slonezp said:If you've never seen and have the opportunity, catch a seminar put on by one of the elites. Both KVD and Ike come to mind as I have attended seminars from both of them as well as a few others. Their actions are very logical and methodical. Both are very analytical when it comes to a day on the water. Wonder how much of that just comes natural to them and how much is learned.
If we think out many of our own experiences, both in fishing & in many other of life's endeavors, we each have our own "natural" approach and manner of navigating through any challenges to come to some level of success. Very rarely is The First Time where & when we peak. Experience always teaches us something; either what or what no to do next time.
By selecting to attend seminars offered by two very experienced anglers, you may have realized the value of experience. If you had seen them during their Rookie years I believe their presentations would have indicated what I mean. Both KVD & Ike enjoyed success early which also may indicate that "The Natural" talent was there as well.
All that said, I will always believe that the single hardest thing to do in sports is to square up a moving round ball with a round bat. However, putting it all together to have a successful day on the water often seems just as daunting and when done right is just as satisfying.
A-Jay
hawgenvy reply :
Maori bone fish hook.
Oregon Native reply :
Interesting topic....not sure if I believe the genetitcs stuff but interesting. I myself have a passion for fishing and used to fish for everything. Only one's I remember fishing was my grandma and grandpa on my dads side. Moms side .... her dad owned a marina but worked all the time and never fished. My dad fished a little but due to the fact he never caught much he said it was just good to get out...which is true to a great degree. (he had a lot of life's pressures that kept him away. My son enjoys fishing but has more of a passion for hunting and viewing sports like football etc. At 65 I still enjoy putting in a ten to twelve hour day and then look forward to the next day. They are all gifts from above.
Tight Lines
Jon P. reply :
I think the force that drives us to fish is the same force that drives bass to spawn. the ice melts away from the lakes, the water warms up, and both the bass and us take notice. the little males build nests, while we leave ours, and the big females put on the weight while we put on our favorite fishing caps. then something magical happens. the water hits the magical sixty five degree mark, and both fish and fisherman feel an uncontrollable urge, to hit up the spawning flats.
but on a more serious note, I don't believe that it is genetics. I believe that if we begin fishing at a young age, say four, and learn how to catch fish we gain an instinct for it. sort of like how children raised by wolves learn to eat meat and bite strangers, but with fish.
gobig reply :
All I know is that I fill the freezer every year with elk, venison, duck, geese, salmon, halibut, albacore, sturgeon, crab etc...
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 5/25/2016 at 2:50 PM, gobig said:All I know is that I fill the freezer every year with elk, venison, duck, geese, salmon, halibut, albacore, sturgeon, crab etc...
I want to raid this guys freezer.
gobig reply :
On 5/25/2016 at 2:57 PM, Bluebasser86 said:I want to raid this guy's freezer.
It's not always a perfect balance but I don't buy much meat from the store. My family does buy a few free range cattle every year that I get a few scraps from.
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