Had an awesome night last night with my Dad. He was watching fishing and hunting shows, and just was on a roll with making fun of guys and their fish. ( nope James, not you!)
That spiraled into so many “remember when” stories. Hell of a stroll through life. The outdoors has always been my solitude, sanctuary, and place of belonging. My father drank too much when I was a teenager and it left a void. A number of years ripped by that I went off fishing and hunting without him. Butter sweet in some ways. I was on my own and found my own ways. Met some awesome friends along the way and we excelled at learning. That led to many adventures all over the country fishing and hunting.
In my mid 20s, dad had health issues that forced the issue to stop drinking. It took time, but I gained my father back and that grew to best of friends. Through my 30s, it was hauling dad all over turning him on to fishing spots like he never experienced before. Fortunately for us, many of those bites were well before the explosion of social media.
So now, so many years later, it’s fascinating to hear my fathers perspective of stories, which were most meaningful, and his regrets.
I had never paid much attention to it, however my father never once attended a tournament weigh in to see me on stage or how I did. I had no clue how big of a regret that is for him. He did see me doing seminars at Cabela’s and Bass Pro and he was quite wowed at how many people attended and was impressed to see where I had advanced to. Proud dad moment.
I was shocked to know the most memorable trip he ever gone with on was a last minute 2 day trip to a lake near Boulder Junction, WI. Doubtful Thomas didn’t believe I had a spot on a lake that I had down to the minute the walleyes would fire up. We hauled butt up a near 4 hour drive. Dumped the boat in and motored to a small gap between 2 humps. I dropped anchor and took a nap. He casted, jigged….and got frustrated. At about ten minutes to 9pm, I handed him a rod with a #7 shad rap and I had similar crank and put everything else away. Switch got flipped and combined we caught about 80 or so eyes. Just kept a couple.
We crashed out in the truck and stayed for a second night. Like perfect clock work, had another fantastic night. We kept nothing the second night – just catch/release. Most of them were small 13-18”. But to him, it was hammering all 30”. It was just one more great night out for me and never knew what that weekend meant to him.
For me, it was a grouse hunting trip. I thought I was gods gift to hunting and could do no wrong. (Obviously dumb punk teenager). It was a great year and plenty of birds. But my dad decided to walk back through an area I had just walked through. Kept telling him he was wasting his time. In one tiny thicket I passed, he jumped a bunch of birds. He dropped 4 of 5 that he shot at and two were pushing 65+ yards. He didn’t walk but 25 yards and a single shot dumped his 5th. All he said to me was “you’ve been out here how long?” Put me in my place pretty quick. But it taught me a lot and carried a life lesson I never forgot. -pay attention to details.
So, what’s some of your most memorable moments?
