The first time I heard, “the tug is the drug,” was not that long ago. I had been telling someone for probably the fifth time that I love to fish and that was his response.

I had never heard that before, which seems odd to me because of how much I enjoy fishing. It’s true though, that tug on the line is such a rush!

It got me thinking about why I enjoy fishing so much. I had never really thought about it and instead just simply enjoyed the experience. Every time.

After hearing the friend’s response, I engaged in some insight to figure out the why behind my love for fishing. Here is what I discovered.

The thing I think I enjoy about fishing the most is the mystery of it. You can do everything to try and catch what you’re after that day (walleye, perch, trout, etc.) but until you reel that fish in, you really don’t know what you will get. The surprises are fun. While ice fishing recently, my fishing partner was pulling up a line to check the bait and a nice-sized small-mouth bass intercepted the minnow on the way up. We were not expecting that! Of course, we tossed the bass back because it is not possession season for that species, but it was still fun to catch that unexpected fish.

You also never really know the size of the fish you’re reeling in. I caught an impressive Crappie once that I knew was going to be decent, but it wasn’t until the Crappie was on the ice that I realized just how nice it was. The anticipation I feel before seeing and landing the fish is rewarding.

Fishing is a puzzle, and I love the challenge of it. You can go one day and catch incredible fish of impressive size or weight, and the next day catch nothing even though you did nothing different. The challenge is to figure out what to do differently to achieve more success. There are many factors that play into the outcome, and it is fun to try and learn the patterns and techniques for different situations. Fishing is not for someone who doesn’t like to learn through trial and error.

I also enjoy learning more every time I go fishing. It’s the same way I feel about golf. For me to continue to enjoy and improve at fishing, I must keep learning. I practice and try different techniques. I try and stay up on fishing and learn from people who are more knowledgeable than I am, and who have more experience. I don’t necessarily feel the need to keep up with purchasing all the latest and best equipment, but I do like to explore what might be best for me.

Finally, although I enjoy fishing alone, I also very much enjoy the social aspect of it. Chatting with others while practicing patience is a great way to grow relationships and develop new friendships. Sharing the experience and creating stories that last a lifetime (we still talk about Crappie night!) is of great value to me.

I am a fan of experiences that don’t go quite according to plan. Those are the things we remember and talk about well into the future. That’s fishing. Lots of unexpected things happen that give you great memories and learning opportunities. I have another story about fishing at the beautiful Les Cheneaux Islands that involves nearly running out of fuel, realizing the gas stations on the water aren’t open very long on a Sunday, and hiking miles including through a stinky field, to find a gas can that didn’t have a hole in it.

I’ll never forget that experience, or so many other fishing experiences I’ve had.

I’m glad my friend responded with, “the tug is the drug.” I find it valuable to spend some time exploring the “why” behind things I enjoy and don’t enjoy.

If you stop and explore the “why” behind things you enjoy you can then use that knowledge to make other things more enjoyable. Be in the moment and enjoy what you like to do, but at some point, spend some time discovering what it is you enjoy about the things that make you happy. That knowledge can help you incorporate more happiness into other parts of your life.

Jackie Krawczak is president of Jackie Krawczak LLC. Her column runs every three weeks on Thursdays. Follow Jackie on X @jkrawczak.