It Began so Innocently

It all began so innocently, so simply, so beautifully. That is usually how the best things in life happen. They just sort of sneak up on you. Like girls for example. You’re around them for your entire life. Years and years and all of a sudden you notice that they are different. No not just different, but really different in an interesting and exciting way! All of a sudden somewhere around the age of twelve or thirteen, BAM it hits you! Girls go from being creepy things you tolerate to Goddesses whose approval you crave! Seeking that approval for most of us becomes a life long endeavor. It may well be the proverbial “unattainable goal, but it occupies are thoughts and actions for the rest of our lives.

That’s the way fishing was for me. It began as a simple trip to my uncle’s small farm pond with my grandfather. I was six years old and I still remember to this day that I caught eighteen catfish. They were all little; actually my grandfather said they were stunted because the pond was over populated. Nonetheless I caught them. That was the important thing. I caught fish and had a lot of fun! No I didn’t realize at that moment that Bass Fishing was my destiny. Nor did it become a way of life. Give me a break. I was six years old! However, now several years’…okay decades later, fishing occupies my thoughts at least as much as girls if not more. Funny how that works. That is you don’t get over girls you just add another obsession.

Please tell me I’m not alone. It seems that every waking hour I am either fishing, getting ready to go fishing or dreaming about fishing. At least that’s my wife’s perspective! I tell her I need something to occupy my mind and to keep me out of trouble when I’m not able to be with her. See, I’m still seeking that approval. But she isn’t buying it and rightly so. It may sound crazy but that is really the way it is. My beautiful bride of 18 plus years says I’m eat up with it. I must confess, she’s right. But I really can’t help it. I mean what’s not to love about it. You’re outdoors in God’s beautiful creation matching your wits against the survival instincts of the bass. You’re either soaking up the beautiful silence of your solitude or your enjoying the company of a good friend for some uninterrupted one on one conversation. Uninterrupted that is except for the occasional distraction of having to set the hook and land Mr. Bass.

Whether your fishing from the bank, a canoe or a $50,000 state of the art bass boat, how much better could it be. For many of us I believe it is a near spiritual experience.

I know that there are those of you who will not relate to this. You just don’t get it. I am sure you have other things that you are passionate about and maybe I wouldn’t understand them. But if your one who does understand and perhaps even shares the same crazy obsession as me, then take the time to thank someone who got you hooked. Maybe it was your grandfather like me, or your father who definitely threw fuel on my fire or a friend or other relative. Think of the memories and good times you have had because they took the time and had the patience to get you started. Unfortunately my Grandfather has long since passed away and my Dad though still alive is in bad health and can no longer fish. They both played an important role in the development of my obsession but I had one other major influence as well. His name was George and he was a close family friend. Because of his work schedule George had a lot more time to spend in the great outdoors than did my father. George passed on his passion to me. He took me hunting and fishing when I was a youngster and would not have gotten to go were it not for him. He was truly a patient person who never seemed to mind my endless questions and constant goof ups. I truly owe him a lot. In fact George is the one who made me aware of BASS and got me reading BASS MASTER Magazine when I was just a kid. I called him the other day out of the blue. I am embarrassed to say that it was the first time I had spoke to him in several years. But I thanked him for taking me with him and for having the patience to help me when I know I was nothing but trouble. I thanked him for a lifetime of memories. It was an emotional call but one that I believe made us both feel better.

If you’re still with me at this point I have to assume that you have connected with this story in at least some small way. If that is true then I would make one suggestion. Be sure and pass the gift you were given along to someone else. Especially a kid. Whether your own, a relative or friends, pass it on. Give them the same opportunity to develop a love of the outdoors and the same chance to develop a lifetime of memories that you were given. There could be few things of greater value that anyone could ever receive.

Tight lines!

John