Bob Haase’s Another Can Of Worms

Finding Some Stress Reducers in Your Life

It seems like many of us have more and more stresses in our lives.  For some it could be our job, money problems, family issues, or a variety of other problems.  Stress can cause a number of health problems and I think it is important to find ways of reducing stress in our lives.

For me fishing, hunting, outdoor photography, and other hobbies that involve spending time outdoors are my stress reducers.  Sometimes it involves fishing with others like yesterday when I spent the day floating a stream in northern Wisconsin fishing for smallmouth bass and muskies with a good friend Bill Sherer.  Bill runs We Tie It fly shop in Boulder Junction and guides for fly fishing for bass and muskies on northern Wisconsin rivers.  What was nice about the trip we took yesterday was that we drifted almost four miles of river and did not see another person on the river.  We caught a lot of smallmouth bass averaging around  four pounds and a couple muskies.  I can’t think of a better way of getting rid of any stresses a person might have than to spend a day will Bill on one of these river fly fishing trips.

I also enjoy outdoor photography and plan on spending today photographing loons on Harris Lake and walking some of the trails in northern Wisconsin photographing the beginning of fall. One of the nice things about outdoor photography is that it allows you to see things that you would never see without the aid of the camera.  Two days ago I photographed Monarch butterflies on goldenrod flowers. You can see butterflies as they fly around, but you can really see the beauty of these insects when you get a closeup shot of them on a flower.  It is relaxing to just spend time hiking some of the great trails we have in Wisconsin, but taking a camera with you looking for things to photograph allows you to see things that others just walk by.

Hunting season is fast approaching and I will soon be spending time sitting in my ground blind bow hunting.  I will probably do as much hunting with my camera as I do with my bow.  I usually have my camera with me and photograph deer and other wildlife from my blind.  I enjoy hunting with a bow or a gun, but enjoy hunting with my camera just as much.

What are your stress reducers?  Wouldn’t it be nice if a doctor could prescribe a day’s fishing or some other outdoor activity instead of the normal prescriptions.  It would probably be better for us and a lot more fun.  As our lives become busier and we feel stressed about the things happening in our lives maybe it is time to find a few stress reducers such as fishing or other outdoor activities.

Bob Haase is the host of “Outdoors Thursday” heard Thursday mornings at 9:10 a.m. on News-Talk 1450 KFIZ.