I love fishing. I fish every opportunity I get. I carry my poles and tackle with me everywhere I go. I just can’t get enough of it.
I’m blessed with four sons. They like to fish, and one even has the “fever” almost as bad as I do. The other three are always willing to go, but they haven’t caught the “fever” yet. I think they will.
One Saturday afternoon I took them fishing, not really expecting to catch much, but looking to have a good time with the boys. I caught the first fish, a little largemouth. That was the only fish I caught. I tried everything, but nothing interested the fish.
My “fever” son had decided to try a different spot. He told me he’d be back. The other boys stayed around me.
We don’t have the problems that I’ve witnessed with other dad-son teams. Our fishing time isn’t spent arguing, tracking down kids or getting accidentally hooked. My children know how to cast, retrieve and tie on their lures. I taught them these things early on. This ensures all of our fishing pleasure and allows them to gain independence. They also understand lure selection, color patterns and how time of day affects fish.
Perhaps I taught them too much.
Shortly after my son arrived at his new destination, he hollered for me to bring the net. I am trying to teach them to grab the bass by the lip, but they don’t quite believe me when I tell them that it won’t hurt.
I spotted my son with his pole in his hands and he had a grin on his face. He had a pretty good bend on the rod. We landed his biggest fish ever, a three-and-a-half-pound largemouth. He was beaming brighter than the sun. He released the bass and went on to describe the strike, fight and skill with which he landed it.
Then he cast again, eventually hooking three more.
This child, whom I’d taught to fish, whom I’d raised, whom I’d shared the wisdom of the ages with, turned to me and said, ” Dad, you’ve just got to take your time with `em. Slow down your retrieve, and they’ll hit it”.
Sometimes, the lessons we learn in life come from unexpected teachers. That day, I learned that my son was coming into his own as an angler. I also learned that I still have a lot to learn.
I felt a huge surge of pride as I watched. His brothers had joined him, and he wasn’t bragging about the fish he’d caught. Instead, he was sharing with them what he’d used, how he’d rigged it, and how he’d retrieved it. They all started catching fish.
I didn’t bother to rig up again. I just sat on the bank enjoying the sight of my children enjoying the sport I love. On this particular day, they taught me well.