Fish Stories

You've heard them all...the most popular, "you shoulda seen the one that got away!"
So I'll digress. 
This is a different kind of fish story.
My best friend and I try to get together at least once a year, mostly during trout season, to go fishing.
We both learned to fish from our dads, who also were best friends in childhood.  This friendship won't likely continue into another generation, since our girls are pretty far apart in age.
But once they do come of age, we're hoping they'll appreciate what it's all about.
Some anglers dream of catching 'the big one' and mounting it on the wall, maybe a picture taken with it. 
For us, it's a little more.
It serves as a reminder of what all was here long before we were, and what will remain after we leave this world.
And just how we survived before all of the modern conveniences came that we now take for granted.  We lived off the land.
That's the message all anglers should convey to their young 'uns. 
The things that were here before cars, cell phones, computers, fast food, video games, you name it.
I've always considered fishing one of those activities that can be completely thought-provoking or utterly mindless, and neither one of those things are bad.
As I entered the cold waters of Elk Creek alongside Patrick, all I could think of was 'would my daughter ever appreciate all this?'
Someday I'll put her to the test and find out for sure.
And even if she's more content to pick flowers along the banks of the creek, that'll be good enough for me.
Because she'll have something on her mind other than her V-Reader or the next episode of "Dora the Explorer".


NEXT WEEK:  Cosby Philosophy