The Old Fisherman

 

A day fishing is not always about catching fish.  My last two outings are a testament to that.  The water is very low this summer, it’s been very hot and the fish have not been biting that great but being on the water can give you opportunities to meet some interesting people.  Yesterday about 6:50 am I was exploring a small bay that I had never been in.  The sun was warming the morning air, the water was calm and really clear and the sunfish were feverishly attacking my scum frog.  I had the bay all to myself.  Can you think of a better way to start the day?   As I was enjoying the peaceful setting a little old aluminum boat with a small outboard puttered around the corner and into my bay.  At the helm was an elderly gentleman.  As he pulled his boat up to the dock and killed the motor I ask how his day was going.  He said he caught about 15 bass and kept 3, motioning at the 5 gallon bucket in the boat.  I asked if he fished this lake much and he replied with, “50 years.  My friend usually fishs with me but he is sick and the rest of my friends have passed away.”  We spent a good 10 minutes or so talking.  I learned that he is a WWII Veteran and that he only goes fishing from 4:30 am to about 7 am.  He only uses topwater plugs because “they are the most exciting.”  When his grandson, from Idaho, came to visit he taught him how to topwater fish for bass and now that’s all he wants to do.  We talked about several other things as well.  As we said good-bye and I picked up my rod again I thought to myself, today has already been worth the trip.  If I don’t catch any fish today, just meeting this old fisherman with a lifetime of stories is as good as a livewell full of fish.  Take the time to meet your fellow anglers.  You will be surprised at where they have been and the things they have done.