Retirement: Golf Vs. Trout Fishing

C'mon you baby boomers retired or about to retire! Get up off that couch and take up a wholesome, outdoor, sport like trout fishing. When IBM did a study about their retired employees, they found that the average person only collected 18 monthly checks after retirement; and it was due to inactivity. Therefore, you who are about to retire must find something that you enjoy to fulfill your need for exercise. I know you couch potatoes are out ther. Raise your hand!

I had always thought that when I retired, I would seriously take golf lessons. I had saved up the money for golf lessons from a local pro. I knew that I could not golf without the lessons since I had tried golf with dismal results. I took the max count at every hole, despite some mild cheating. But, after reviewing the club fees and the greens fee and golf lessons, I decided to go for the trout fishing. I must admit that I do not see many golfers who are flabby. Also, the water traps can harbor some mighty big bass! But putting that aside, and now that I am fully retired, I am happy that I chose trout fishing.

You boomers about to retire, should take a serious look at fly fishing. It is a sport that will yield physical fittness, great scenery and many friends. As for fittness, both require several miles of walking per outing, but the NC mountains offer a greater challenge to those leg muscles. Both require arm muscles to swing the club or to cast the bait out, but I will give the slight advantage to the golfers for arm exercise.

I will admit that a golf course, properly manicured, is a pretty sight, but it can not compare with the scenery found along the beautiful waterfalls that can be found in the mountains. Imagine, having lunch near the pristine tumbling waters of a mountain stream. A chance to mediate, without any noise, or commotion, or traffic that plagues the cities. Try that at a golf clubhouse filled with smoke and noise polution.

Instead of spending several hundred dollars on expensive golf equipment and upgrading to new clubs for that ever longer shot, buy yourself a good fly fishing outfit. Fly fishing, unlike golf, does not require annual club fees or a grounds fee. To go fly fishing for trout, you do not even need a tee time! All that is required to go fly fishing is a modest investment for a fishing licence, then the fishing for the entire year is free.

As for perfecting the art of lying, it is hard to decide which is better, a golfer or a fisherman; I will leave that up to the reader.