What Does It Mean To Be Thirsty?

I thought to myself the other day, “What does it mean to be a thirsty fisherman?”  Well, let me give you some background on how it started.  At work I write a blog and one of my posts was describing an experiment using ice and our insulation product. This experiment left me with a 2.5 gallon bucket that was essentially a cooler which happened to be perfect for holding my favorite bottles of beer on my tiny tin boat.

I spent father’s day out on the lake with my bucket full of Leinenkugel’s.  I took some pics and wrote a post under the persona of The Thirsty Fisherman.  “Thirsty” started off as a coy way of suggesting I was longing to be happily under the influence.  I loved writing in this suggestive and humorous voice, however it was not well suited for selling insulation products.

That is why I conceived of this blog you are currently reading.  I wanted a place, a platform, a venue if you will to make witty observations about fishing and life.

Why am I a Thirsty Fisherman?

Life is not possible without water.  We need water to survive and our bodies tell us when we need more.  Without thirst we would not know when we need to replenish our systems with much needed moisture.

Fishing makes me very thirsty, so it is important to stay hydrated by drinking water when out on the water in the sun. Of course it doesn’t hurt to have a few barley waters now and then.

Many times it isn’t just our bodies that need replenishment, our souls need to be fueled as well.    When I am fishing I enter a frame of mind in which there is no time and space and the worries of everyday life disappear.  This is exactly what my spirit needs to rest and recharge.

I love fishing because it doesn’t matter if I am good or bad at it and nobody cares whether I do it or not.  For me there are absolutely no strings attached.  I do it for the pure joy of doing it regardless of the outcome.  How many things in life can we say that about?

I admit I am always thirsty for a good brew, but what I am really after is that moment of peace when angler and nature merge into one and time stands still.  This is what replenishes my soul, this... is what I thirst for.

Ignoring the Experts Can Catch You More Fish!

Last night I ran into a fishing acquaintance and we got to talking, as fishermen do.  We fish the same river and we were comparing notes.  This river is great because you can catch channel catfish, flathead catfish, carp, freshwater drum, northern pike, smallmouth bass, and walleye.

Its backwater lakes also have crappie, largemouth bass and bullheads in addition to the other species.  You just never know what you might get.

Of these fish the walleye has the reputation of being the most finicky, dare I say smart.  They also happen to be the best tasting by far of them all.  Many of my fishing mentors in the area spend a great deal of time in pursuit of the walleye.

I was telling my friend that my son and I usually get up around 5:00 am to go fishing.

“Why on earth do you go fishing at 5:00 am?”  He asked.

People, as well as books, tell me that walleye don’t like bright light and that the best time to fish for them is early or late in the day.

“I catch most of my fish between noon and 2:00.” he said,

“Are you crazy?” I asked

“It’s a great time to fish because nobody expects it to be.  Don’t listen to the people that say walleye won’t bite when it’s sunny.  Just get out there and fish."

Although it seems fairly obvious and simple, this advice seemed extremely profound.  Possibly the best fishing advice I have ever heard.

Everybody has their idea on how fish should be caught.  There are volumes and volumes of books out there on catching every imaginable species of fish.  Trust me, I have read many of them.  They are all full of great information and techniques that will most likely make you a better fisherman.

The problem is that fish are unpredictable and they don’t always do what we think they should do.  I don’t know how many times I have heard guys say, “Aw man, there should have been a fish there.” After casting to the “perfect” spot.  

If you limit yourself by others’ experiences you might miss out on an extraordinary day of fishing.  You can set yourself apart from the competition by thinking outside the box.  Do something unexpected and you might just catch one to hang on the wall.  You might not catch anything at all, but you never know until you try.

Go fishing whenever the mood strikes even if it contradicts what the “experts” tell you. Sure you may not catch anything, but you just might find that they are on a feeding frenzy and you get your limit in no time at all.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and fish!

Confessions of a Fidgety Fisherman.

This weekend I was on the river fishing for channel cats, which is something that I don’t do very often.  I am rather fidgety, I like to be doing something at all times.  Had I been a kid in school these days I most certainly would have been on some sort of meds to calm my mind and body down.  This is why I am not a very good bait fisherman.  It just isn’t in my nature to sit and wait. 

Bass fishing really fits me well because bass fisherman are very busy.  Cast and reel, cast and reel.  Change the lure then cast and reel.  Change the lure again and cast and reel.  There are times when the bass fisherman is looking for an immediate reaction from the fish and if it doesn’t happen the goal is to get that lure back to the boat as fast as possible. 

I don’t catch a lot of bass, but I am an excellent bass fisherman.  I love to fly fish as well, but that level of craziness is a story for another time. 

So you can imagine what I am like when I am fishing with bait.  One pole would certainly not be enough, and if I could legally have more than two I would.  This gives me the chance to fiddle with something and always have one line in the water. 

Here’s the problem: the hits ALWAYS come on the rod that is not in my hands.  To make it worse they always happen when my hands are covered in slippery, slimy stink bait.  If I am not re-tying, searching for the last worm, then it happens while I am taking a sip of my favorite beverage. 

Every once in a while I get a big one on and I have almost lost a few rods to fish.  One particular occasion I literally dove from the front of my boat to the back just in time to save one.  It’s a good thing I have a tiny boat, or I would have had one less rod in my collection. 

Back to my current story… Of the two fish I caught, one was a small but feisty carp that picked up the worm and stayed motionless.  I didn’t even know I had one on until I picked up that rod to fidget with it.  I routinely do this to make sure the bait is still there or that the current hasn’t washed off all of the stink bait. 

I could have brought home a feast of fish if I had hooked up with only half of the fish that tugged my line in the hours I was on the water.  That is assuming they were good sized fish, which they probably were but I am going to justify my losses to the fact that they were little fish just “pecking” at the bait. 

There is a lesson to be learned here…

That lesson is that if you are focused on too many things you might be missing out on something.  What is true in fishing is also true in life: spread yourself too thin and you might miss a wonderful opportunity.  I think we all could benefit from thinning things down a bit.  So next time I go out, I will only take two rods instead of six. J

Hello World! This is the premier post of my new blog.  The subject will be just about anything: witty humor, outdoor stories, tall tales, parables, musings on life love philosophy, and pretty much anything I feel like.  More to come...