Click for larger view of Mom and Dad, before marriage, with plaque still hanging in their house, “An old fisherman lives here . . . with the catch of his life!”
My dad is 95 and not as active as he was, like about 95 percent less. In his earlier days he was always active and interested in a great many things; and fishing topped the list. He fished in lakes, steams, in the ocean—from the shore, the pier, or deep water. And he caught. He’d catch when nobody else was. But even when he didn’t, he enjoyed the time, just being out there.
It’s not something I inherited. But on reflection, I’ve learned a lot about life from Dad’s fishing . . . and what it takes to be successful in so many things.
First, he loved it. If you love what you do, you’re likely to do it well.
He worked at it. From the outside, things look easy, but then we find out different.
He thought about it. Before he went out he prepared, and kept adjusting the whole time.
He was happy to wait. A lot of fishing, and life, is about waiting.
He believed the fish were there. When we stop believing we stop . . . everything.
He knew attributes, habits and preferences of different kinds of fish. He applied knowledge.
He used different bait, lures and approaches for different fish. He applied wisdom.
For small fish, he used small bait; for big fish, he used large. He applied common sense.
For some fish, he’d cast and reel; for others, it was a sinker at the bottom. He knew “the where.”
He knew the fish bite according to their schedule, not according to his. He knew “the when.”
He had facility with all different kinds of fishing. He honed his skill, he knew “the how.”
You can’t catch a marlin with a trout line; or grunion with a pole. He had the right tools for the job.
He’d often have two lines in the water, one passive, one active. He made the most of his time.
When boating from one location to another, or going in for the day, he’d troll. He was fishing beginning to end.
He knew when to keep quiet; if you scare the fish away it’s all over.
SOME ADDITIONAL POINTS
About chumming . . . be extravagant. Spread your bread on the waters.
Have a net ready . . . the fish is not caught until it’s in the boat.
On a good day, be happy; but let others do the bragging.
About the one that got away, don’t lament too much . . . such things happen.
Know there are no guarantees . . . even with all knowledge and wisdom and skill, the right equipment and all patience, the fish may just not be biting.
Finally, enjoy the process . . . without this, you will not continue; and if you do not continue, you will not catch fish.
Is this life, or what?
Tell me if you can relate, and where you think it applies.
_____________________
Feel free to share with a friend.
Next: The More I Know the More I Know I Don’t Know.
Coming Wednesday.
Our Lives Together
Its About Life
9:23 am
Hyatt, So good. Thanks.
9:46 am
So, timely, Hyatt. This week, my older sister is in the hospital on life support, as a result of a long string of self-destructive patterns. My thoughts were, “God is emptying her… preparing a house in whom to reside.” Well, maybe. But she’s not interpreting it as I am, and is not yet the broken vessel I’d anticipated. In spite of all the above, like you say, this fish just ain’t bitin’. However, after reading your analogies, I’m going to stay with her and enjoy the process. There’s a much larger something going on here, and I simply need to wait, and trust, and love.
12:43 pm
Hyatt My father was a weekend farmer. Although I did not inherit that particular set of genes I think at every turn in my life I applied his wisdom about Nature that eventually helped me to succeed. If I were your father I would feel totally rewarded by your comprehension and gratitude. Please read it to him once more for me. I wish I could share this with my father, but he is no longer farming in this world.
1:20 pm
Isn’t it amazing what we can learn from our elders we’re willing to take the time, listen, observe, and respect their wisdom! Thanks, Hyatt!
4:25 pm
Good analogies and so appropriate.
Sort of reminds me of my parents – a father who supported a family truck gardening and did we have good things to eat – not supermarket flavorless stuff! He gardened until he went into a nursing home. Yes, he liked fishing and got the best trout of mountain streams above us.
And mother was one tough cookie – planted her last garden a month before the last stroke took her at nearly 95. And when she was not gardening she was reading – nature, Bible, other mind building books.
4:29 pm
I hope you do read this to Dad – you know he cries now – at 95 and this will touch him deeply and he will chuckle more than once. I’ll never forget my first time on the ocean w/ him (after an early morning hot chocolate and donut – a treat!) in his little 12 footer. I caught a barracuda~ he was as proud or more so – than I! And, the best times were early morning (again!) trout fishing – don’t think I caught much, but he, of course,always did and Mom cooked it for breakfast. Great memories. A great dad. (: You forgot this part: he cleaned up after himself! What he caught, he cleaned – not Mom!
4:32 pm
Grat article…..I copied it for later use.
I just finished my book, Lessons from my Father. Will be published and available in about 4 weeks. Allan Hedberg
4:35 pm
PS Next: What I learned about Dad’s ping pong playing (equal number of trophies on the mantle…) (:
5:37 pm
Hyatt….great insights on your dad’s love of fishing. It warms my heart to hear you speak so lovingly about him as you so eloquently do. For me your words about fishing apply to my painting and drawing. I love to paint and draw especially from life models. Studying art has joyfully consumed a great deal of my effort to becoming even more adept as an artist. As you know, truly “seeing” and taking the time to look is essential and key to determining contrast, temperature and value in composing and executing a painting. And a good drawing is the basis and foundation for all good art. I can definitely see the similarities between your words about fishing and the process of painting. Know and study your subject; use the right tools; apply the wisdom you’ve learned; LOVE what you do; think about it and work at it! Thank you Hyatt.
1:34 am
Hi Dad :)
This was very timely. Last week i was saying ‘i NEED to find out from Hyatt II where to fish for Trout in southern California’.
1:16 pm
You are a gentle teacher Hyatt. Thank you for sharing some very important points about life through the picture of fishing; something I shared with my own dear, departed Dad. Sweet times, sweet memories. This post alone is a book waiting to be written!
7:21 pm
Hyatt, finally got a chance to read this great article of yours! I love it when you see the parallels between things appearing to be completely different going on in life. such as fishing, in their simplistic form———– to the important things in life that are complicated and deep! Such as gaining wisdom, understanding, patience, chumming, being equipped, etc…….. Thank you. Very wonderfully written and appreciated by us all! love Lisa
8:35 am
I love the painting of Mom and Dad! And, the comment about Dad being 95 and having 95% less strength. When I called the other evening, he wasn’t concentrating on what I was saying. I asked to talk to Adalene instead, and she said he was focused on the game of Rumicube they were playing! I went fishing with Dad a lot, too. Good times.