By Englis Glover
Why do most of us outdoorsmen choose the pastimes that we do, other than the sheer challenge and enjoyment of being outside? I know that after years in the golfing industry as an assistant pro and also as a struggling competitive player, I realized that my full focus was not on the game and the opportunities were slipping away. I also knew that one of my addictions with it was the challenge as well as the fact that I grew up in a golfing family and thought it was my job to carry the name on. Well, I realize now that there was another factor in this and as well it is why I am so addicted to my three favorite past times.
WIKIPEDIA says: “Adolescents and adults with ADHD tend to develop coping mechanisms to compensate for some or all of their impairments.” Well that explains my need for the water, woods, or green fairways. I was diagnosed with adult ADHD (Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder) in 2006. Growing up I always recognized the fact that I was hyper and had trouble concentrating and so did the many teachers and principals I was in contact with through my school years. Having realized in 2006 that one of my coping mechanisms had become alcohol, I looked for help and was quickly diagnosed and given a prescription to help combat this disorder that I had apparently dealt with all my life. After beginning the treatment, I found it necessary to grab a new coping mechanism to use as a crutch through this process. Fishing quickly became just that, as I found that I would not be affected by tendencies to want to have drinks, but yet get my tackle ready for yet another day on the water researching what has now become my defining addiction. The fact that I could get up day in and day out and hit the water by myself was one which I think has led me to so many great things, but it is one that cost a lot of money to begin mastering. Most of you have been born into fishing or hunting as I was with golf. I did my share of fishing as a kid, but I was more into chasing girls or playing football and golf. I see so many of my great friends that have created a fire in their children for these things at young ages and they are excelling in school and life because of this. I joke around that I was tired of looking for golf balls in the water so I decided to at least search for something that would feed me.
Coming off of a weekend that I have fished in a tournament and played in a golf tournament I see so many similarities that let me know why these are my coping mechanisms. In fishing, as well as golf and hunting, there is a great deal of planning that goes into a successful day on the water. As in golf and hunting, we find ourselves taking care of our equipment and making sure that we are prepared for our day on the water. Who wants to go out with a cracked rod and reel or a busted driver? Same goes with guns, we have to constantly maintain them and put time into keeping them ready to use. This is a big factor in why these become such great coping mechanisms for myself as they stimulate my brain and help me focus on tasks at hand. How many times have you hit the water and not been able to decide if you are going to go after the flounder that you know are biting, or go chase schools of reds that may be on the oyster beds at any day now? It is no different with golf when I try to map out a plan of attack on a course and decide if hitting driver on those questionable holes or do I pull out a fairway wood and play safe. Or how about going to that stand where you got pictures of deer every day or making that decision to sit in the stand near the swamp that has had many a big deer harvested over the years. These are all things that make my mind function better and I am sure these are part of the enjoyments that most of you get from these also. I realize that the golf comparison for some may be tough, but as someone who has played my entire life whether I am playing tournaments or for fun, I find myself wanting to be the best each round.
I knew going into writing this article that I was potentially going into an area that could become somewhat “Gary Busey’ish” but it is just my thought on why these three activities keep my mind fresh and my heart beating. There are so many more similarities in these three that I could go on writing for days, like studying your locations, investing in the best and latest equipment, knowing your targets, working on new techniques, practicing, and so forth and so on. But I think at the end of the day for my ADHD mind the simple challenge of all three is the biggest. You take a golf ball and put it in the woods with 180 yards to the hole and trees all around, my mind lives for the thrill of pulling off the shot through the tree tops that no one thought was possible. Same with sitting on a public river trying to get that one flock of fleeing ducks to think that your spread and calling is an actual group of birds sitting on the water. Or to take those jelly balls and add some enticement to a teaser and hope that you can get those hundred or so spades to climb up the water column and fool them into eating a waiting chunk floating on a hook. These are just a few of mine but I am sure there are so many more reasons that you are addicted to similar activities and we would love to hear them.
“Reelin’ Up The Coast” is a dynamic fishing show hosted by Captain Englis Glover that takes place in the waters off the South Carolina coast. But it isn’t just about catching fish! Captain Englis Glover (Capt. E.) uses his vast knowledge of the water to educate the viewer as well as entertain. PHONE: (843) 655.5459. EMAIL: CaptainE@reelinupthecoast.com. WEB: www.reelinupthecoast.com 
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