Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Reflections on Being a Fisherman


I last went fishing in about 1978,  I got bored, and went across the harbor for lunch and never went back.  I was young and impatient, more interested in catching than fishing.  Fishing is more about time spent on or near the water.  Time spent trying to decide how to find and understand the fish.  What are the fish doing, where are they hanging out, what interests the fish.  People who fish take time to observe and understand the world around them.  Maybe, now that I am older, slower, more patient, more observant, I should try fishing again.  And people who fish, have the sweetest boats.  

Do you fish? 

9 comments:

  1. I haven't fished in years but I hear ya. My dad took me to a fish hatchery last time I fished. I was very impatient and wanted to be doing other things. He has a high ho time, and he caught 2 fish. I took the net in the water and came out with 15 trout. I said "There, can we go home?"

    He didn't find it funny, and we put the fish back in. Beside that I don't like eating fish, except salmon.

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  2. I went fishing on the Atlantic a couple of times with my father. Time with him was always a bit stressful. Last time I was fishing was on the Missouri River in South Dakota in 1989. I never loved it but was especially bored that day and haven't done it again. I'd go out on a boat any time and could happily and patiently bob around. Someone else can do the fishing.

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  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUusX1Js6R0

    this is one way to go fishing (safe for work).

    never went fishing, but I DO LOVE to eat fish! except oysters and sardines.

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    Replies
    1. Very funny, I like the twist at the end.

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  4. I was a camp counselor on Cape Cod the summer after my junior year in college--1971. One of the extras the parents could pay for was a deep sea fishing experience, and I got to go along two different times to watch over my charges. It was exciting to be on the water, but I don't remember the fishing at all except that the rod was heavy.

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  5. If you count doing it with a string, safety pin and kernel of corn fishing, then I fished once. My first time camping. My husband, me and our two just under the ages of three and two went with a group of friends. I actually caught something. I don't recall what it was, but it was small and wiggly. ICK! My friend made me scale and clean it. She said "Oh, it's a female! Look it has eggs!" I shouted "I killed a mother?!" and proceeded to cry (yes I can be quite the sap). Never again will I willfully commit fishicide. I don't even eat the suckers, except tuna (canned)and shrimp. I don't think fishing in the freezer for fish sticks counts (as fish or fishing).
    I gave up trying to make a long story short. Shocker.

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    Replies
    1. EEEWWW!!!! Think of the children! Oh, the fishmanity! Okay, gag me with a fancy spoon.

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  6. I just heard a podcast interview with an old Cornwall fisherman. It sounds a hard and dangerous life indeed.

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