Is it "Cabin Fever" or "Impatiens Captat ?"

 

"Cabin fever is an idiomatic term for a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a person or group ends up in an isolated or solitary location, or stuck indoors in confined quarters for an extended period. Cabin fever describes the extreme irritability and restlessness a person may feel in these situations. When experiencing cabin fever, a person may tend to sleep, to have a distrust of anyone they are with or to have an urge to go outside even in the rain, snow, dark or hail."

(Definition from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 But now I wonder, could there be something else? From time to time, especially in the winter, people claim to have "Cabin Fever" because of the lack of outdoor activities. This no doubt effects anglers to such a degree that they will spend hours on the computer looking at pictures of fish, lures, rods, reels, boats and just about anything that pertains to fishing.

 For most people a temporary cure for this malady is simply going outdoors. Not so for a avid angler! Visits to the local tackle store just make it worse. Driving by the lake only intensifies the sickness. Opening our tackle boxes and fondling the lures will result in flashbacks of fish gone by but will make us even more anxious. The only cure for us is to actually go the lake, river, pond or stream and take a cast or drop a line down the hole in the ice. This usually results in immediate relief from the ailment.

 Once the weather improves normal people rarely complain of "Cabin Fever" due to the regular doses of outdoor exposure. However, anglers are not normal people and there is another syndrome that attacks us, and is even more debilitating than any form of "Cabin Fever". It is called "IMPATIENS CAPTAT" which is Latin for Impatient Angler. Strangely enough this disorder is initiated by actually curing "Cabin Fever!" The initial symptoms, although negligible, sneak into our subconscious minds long before the real dilemma hits us.

 It works something like this... You arrive at the lake just before dawn full of anticipation and a feeling of absolute joy. Everything is going fine, the fish are biting, the weather is comfortable and the sounds of nature abound. Then, without warning, you receive a little message in your head that tells you that all of this will end and you will have to return to reality. Early on, this scant reminder has a very minor affect and is dismissed without a second thought. Then as time goes on and you are engrossed with the adventures taking place it hits home again. A glance at your watch tells you that five, of the planned eight hours, have already passed. There are only three left before it is over! This is when your mind starts haunting you with the realization that the end is near. Thinking about the upcoming deadline begins to overwhelm your thoughts. The final hour is so despised that you may wish that it was here now just to get it over with. Once the closing minutes arrive you give in and commit to that final and last cast of the day.

The moment your line is retrieved and secured is when "IMPATIENS CAPTAT" hits you like a brick wall. You now become impatient and can not wait until the next scheduled fishing day.

 Although you continue with the normal everyday things like family, work, school or whatever, you are obsessed with figuring out when you can go fishing again. People around you might notice your restlessness as you interact with them. Visions of the lake keep distracting your daily activities. Planning your next fishing day is a priority and the thought of any other obligations quickly irritate you.

 These symptoms begin to ease up once you have finalized a plan to get out again. Everyday things become easier to focus on and accomplish. As the big day gets closer you become less annoyed by little setbacks around the house or at work. Still impatient but under control knowing that you will soon be out there again to enjoy the start of another day on the water.

 Many years ago a friend and I were struck with this sickness in the worst possible way while returning from a three day fishing trip to Canada. We had literally fished 22/7 (yea we needed two hours of sleep each night) and could not keep count of how many fish we caught. The fins and teeth of numerous Bass, Walleye and Pike had scarred our hands and fingers till they bleed. We were tired beyond belief. His boat and all our equipment was in need of some TLC. In the middle of the trip home on U.S. 81

we were hit with "Impatiens Captat". We could not face the fact that our trip was over and normal life awaited our return. Our solution or you might say antidote was simple. Right then and there, we decided to not go home but instead head right to Marsh Creek Lake, which was close to home, and continue fishing for the remainder of the day.  We forgot that deep down in the depths of our minds, lurked another round of "IMPATIENS CAPTAT!"


So therefore I give you the first definition for this wide spread ailment called ...


"Impatiens Captat is a term that is used to describe any angler that has finished a day or days of fishing and is somewhat distraught because it has come to an end. When experiencing "IMPATIENS CAPTAT", also known as Impatient Angler, the unfortunate victim initially goes through a period of deep depression. He or she also has a tendency to irritate others by a general disregard for what is going on around them. As time passes slow improvement can be expected but is governed by how soon the ailing person can see that there is a chance to go fishing again in the near future. It is best to stay clear of the sufferer until noticeable change is obvious. You may first detect a smile, be it so slight, or even a sliver of interest in a project that doesn't pertain to fishing. This will be a sign that things will be back to normal soon. As a word of caution it is best to remember that "Impatiens Captat" is bound to happen again and is unavoidable."

Thanks again for visiting "ONE CAST ... ONE FISH !"

© 2016 LCFdesign