Like most avid fishermen, my love for the sport can be traced back to an individual that took the time to introduce me to the great outdoors. For me it was my father. As we grow older we tend to forget most of our childhood, however, I can still to this day recall most every fishing trip that we went on. Where we fished, what we caught, and most of the conversations we had while fishing. He could have told me to mow the lawn before I  left to play ball 10 times, but yet I still managed to "forget". But when he told me to throw large crankbaits in the fall, it has managed to not be forgotten after 35 years. While I enjoyed fishing, the greatest enjoyment of the trips was a chance to not be father and son, but friends, fishing buddies. It was a chance to see the other side of my father. I didn't hear "don't leave the door open" or "clean up your room". We just talked like he would to any of his other fishing buddies, "where do think we should fish" or " maybe we should change colors", we were equal, with one goal, catch a limit of five pounders. We never caught a limit of five pounders, but we sure had fun trying.
Now that I am a father, I have learned the greatest gift you can give a child is your time. I probably couldn't recall more than 1 or 2 christmas or birthday presents that I received. But I can tell you about hundreds of fishing trips we took. I hope to pass this love of the outdoors on to my daughter , I take her as often as I can , and I try to teach her like my father taught me. My dad, being a new father , tried real hard to get my older brother to love fishing, too hard. My dad told me about taking him fishing and staying on the water for 10 - 15 hours at a time. The boredom overtook him and he grew away from fishing. My dad didn't try so hard with me, if I fished for two hours and wanted to quit, he let me. If the bass weren't biting, he'd let me fish for bluegills or any thing that was biting. I learned to fish with crawdad tails (crayfish for you yankees) chewing gum, bologna, and I couldn't tell you how many times we turned the boat inside out looking for crickets. Some times I stopped fishing and just played, or more often ate the lunch my mom had packed, and usually my dads.These lessons were not wasted, when I take my daughter , she may fish for 5 minutes or 5 hours, the choice is hers. I take along plenty of snacks, she takes some books, some movies and I learned real quick that its just the fact she is with me that gets her so excited about going fishing. I try to make each trip special. When my dad and I fished, we usually fished a small inland lake named Wamplers lake. The highlight of the trip for me was that we always drove by a small ice cream shop on the way home. With luck we would stop and get a milkshake. We didn't always stop, but it was often enough. Most of my daughter's fishing trips end with a stop at an ice cream shop. Not only for her enjoyment, but for the fond memories it brings back. I think all of us should make the effort to introduce someone to the sport. I get no greater joy from fishing, than when I am fishing with someone that is learning to fish. My father didn't take me fishing because it was his duty, it was a choice he made. It is the reason that I love this sport, and the reason I can share this with my daughter.It is a choice we all should make. TAKE A KID FISHING!! I hope that she grows up to enjoy the sport and appreciate the choice I made.
Thanks dad, for the choice you made, and for The Greatest Gift! |
