Fishing

   Fishing is many things to many people. If you asked 10 people on the street to define fishing, you would no doubt get 10 different answers. The definition is even different among fishermen.

   I have had many instances where I was pulling my boat out of the lake and had someone ask me this question. “Did you have any luck?” Well, no, I didn’t actually have any luck at all. What I did have was another opportunity to use my skills, knowledge and different techniques to match wits with a small green finned creature who lives in this body of water. Some days I am able to combine these skills and put Bass in the boat. Other days the fish win. But to be honest, luck has very little, if anything, to do with it.

   Another favorite is this one. Ask another fisherman “What are you going after today?” and you get this answer. “Whatever is biting” I usually wish them luck, because they will no doubt need a lot of it.

   I take fishing very seriously. I spend hundreds of dollars a year or rods, reels, line, tackle, boat supplies and gasoline in order to go out onto the lake, work all day to catch fish, and then proceed to drop them back into the lake. I sometimes wonder if I need a good mental health professional!

   Despite taking the sport seriously, I also have a TON of fun at it. No matter how a trip turns out, it is always a great time. Any time on the lake is better than being at work, and even if the fish are reluctant to submit to my superior skill and intelligence, I am still having a great time on the water. I am a firm believer that a bad day fishing beats a good day in the office any time!