It was a terrific day! Earl and I both caught what are deemed “trophy” fish, meaning each is over forty inches in length.
But what was even more satisfying to me was that I finally began to understand the logistics, the technique, and the skill involved in catching a fish. It is so much more than tossing a pole in the water and hoping for the best.
It requires being comfortable in a boat, casting without scratching your boatmates with your lure, and recognizing when you have to set the hook. This latter occurs when a fish actually is attracted to your lure and you must make sure the lure hooks a part of the fish in such a way as to insure no escape. Imagine a giant hook grabbing the inside of your mouth and protruding out your cheek and you have the idea.
An accomplished fisherperson sets the hook on instinct; but a novice, like myself, struggles. It’s because I can’t always tell when a fish is toying with my lure, so I’m slow to react in the hook setting process. But after today, I’ll be better. I caught four large fish in a row, so each catch helped reinforce what I’d learned as much as it helped me claim some bragging rights.
In fact, one of my fish showed up on the Bragging Board, that daily chronicle of who caught what here at Wollaston Lake Lodge. I felt very proud. In yoga terms, I felt one with my fish.
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