I have fished this new pond for about 2 weeks now. I am becoming a regular to the setting. Without fail, I have encountered a kid doing her best to catch fish each time I visit the pond. I have to say that she always catches more fish than me. She takes her butterfly net and quietly waits with it in the shallows until a bluegill gets within reach. Simple yet effective. One day she wasn't catching anything so I called her over and gave her a length of fishing line to tie on her net handle and I tied on a pheasant tail nymph for her. She was thrilled to say the least. She asked so many questions about what the nymph was and why fish eat the things they do. As I would catch a bass she would run over and inspect every detail of the fish. I taught her how to release the fish And she wanted to release every fish after that. The greatest thing was that she said thank you to every fish before she let it go.
That little girl reminded me of why I fish. For most it is a hobby, but for some it is part of them. That kid connected with fishing and the outdoors just like I did as a kid. I didn't catch many fish that day, but I thanked God for fishing and that kid.
Most awesome piece I've read in a long while. She said "thank you"...respect for the creature, and awe that fishing actually works. It really shouldn't :) Thanks for the reminder...
ReplyDeleteAnd I guarantee you, that little girl will remember you, The Fisherman, until the day she dies...