Lessons in Fishing

“Fishing is not an escape from life, but often a deeper immersion into it.”
-Harry Middleton

GROWING UP

Weekends were reserved for hunting and fishing. Some of my most cherished memories involve my dad, brother and I fishing the Susquehanna River in Dad's boat. Everything I have learned about fishing can be credited to my father. I don’t remember a lot of things from my childhood, but tying an improved clinch knot comes as natural as tying my shoes. Every hook I tie, I think of him. He taught me patience through fishing.

You can’t rush fishing, just like you can’t rush life. Kid's don't see it that way though, and as a young boy, I never wanted to sit still.  As you can imagine, impatiently waiting for a fish to bite often does more harm than good. Just like wishing away the days of your life so you can go to a concert, or take some trip, etc. Life goes by so fast that you can often miss out on the little things that bring you REAL joy. Like sitting in that boat all those years ago, spending time with a man that taught you something that would end up being a fundamental skill that you'd use in aspects of life, for example.

GONE TOO SOON

My father passed away a few years ago. He left this world before I had the opportunity to ask him a lot of questions. "How do I change the string in a weed-eater?" Or, "How do you use a router and what bits are best?" And most recently, "What do I need to do to get back into hunting again?" YouTube has been my substitute father since Dad's passing. That’s where I get a lot of information. While I've used YouTube for equipment reviews and education on deer behavior, my brother has been my mentor in hunting laws, clothing, what tools that I should keep in my backpack, and even how to field dress a deer.

My father taught my brother everything and I wanted that same education. It has been a blessing to have him teach me and it far outweighs learning from some guy on the other side of the country that's speaking into a camera. Now, I could go on about hunting but I’ll save that for another blog (stay tuned!). This is about fishing, and it’s one of the few things my dad and I shared an interest in, aside from cars and motorcycles.

MY FONDEST MEMORY

When I was about knee high, Dad and I went shore fishing. We set up right where we usually caught bullheads and bluegills. As we sat on the shoreline in our fishing chairs, my dad broke the news to me that our family beagle, Fang, had passed away. She was an old dog, but I was too young to really understand that everything has an expiration date. I cried, I asked a million questions and was likely hysterical, but Dad knew to tell me while we were fishing. You see, there's something calming about fishing. Casting a line can bring you solace and reeling one in can really lift a guy's spirits, too. Sure, I was upset for days, but I've always been thankful that he told me at that spot, at that time.

FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE

It was always like the world stood still once my hook hit the water. Nothing else mattered until I got home. While I had a fishing pole in my hand, it was just me and nature. Spending that time alongside my dad made it even more special. He and I are a lot alike, so I imagine he felt the same way. The only thing that could bother us, was if our hook got snagged on a stump. This was always an enjoyable spectacle, for me at least, when it happened to Dad. In fact, that’s probably where I learned my colorful vocabulary.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Fishing has always been in my blood. It’s the one thing that really helps me de-stress and recharge. Whether its bait or tackle or when you feel that line tug and those vibrations wiggle toward your reel, there is no greater joy. Sure, it only lasts a few moments, but the rush we once felt keeps us casting for more. That’s like life, isn’t it? We put ourselves out there. We hope for good things. Sometimes we snag a stump and frustration ensues. Other times there are moments when that split second of lightning strikes and our lives couldn’t be any better.

It’s a rollercoaster. You have your ups and downs and your highs and lows. Sometimes you have a great day, and sometimes you’ll go days without a nibble. As long as you practice patience and keep trying, one day you’ll reel in a monster that’ll keep you telling stories for the rest of your life. Most importantly, your children will tell their stories about the lessons they learned from you.

Thank you for teaching me, Dad.

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