Discover Boats

Over the years I have written many an article about fishing to be sure. And, although this one is clearly my personal favorite, I’m not sure it’s really about fishing at all.

You see, this was a great trip not because of weather or location or the many fish we caught. This was a great trip because of my companion; my eldest son. And it may well have been our last trip together.

I remember how he smiled ear to ear when he caught his very first perch so many years ago. He hid the fear of removing the fish from the hook and just beamed; another of life’s right of passages behind him.

And now he is grown; a 21 year old who could be doing any number of things instead of sitting in the middle of a lake with his boring old father. But if this was in fact to be our last fishing trip together, it couldn’t have been better. We were different than at home, almost not even father and son. Just two guys fishing and enjoying the weather and the slower pace.

It was as if we could talk about things that were normally difficult. He told me of dreams he had; his desire to see the world, to make movies one day, to get his own apartment later this year. And I offered none of the usual advice (okay, just a little). I did not judge his plans, just gladly sat and listened to him. I was so struck with how quickly time goes by, I just sat and watched him, enjoying the fleeting time we had.

It’s funny how fishing and time distort each other. For me time just stops out on the water. The “real” world disappears. There’s only that moment, and I wished I could freeze the moment forever.

The most natural thing about having kids happens to be the hardest as well; the fact that, one day, they will leave us. Our very job in fact is to do our best to prepare them for a day we wish would never come. I’m very glad that I learned early on to cherish the time I spend with my kids. It really does pass in the blink of an eye.

And so, on the last day, when he pulled that perch from the water, we looked at each other with a look that acknowledged the past but moreover, that seemed to silently agree on our new roles in a new chapter of our relationship. And he still beams from ear to ear when he catches a perch.

For all I know there will be more fishing trips; it may not have been our last. But he’s leaving us now, striking out on his own, and it very much felt like the end of a life chapter. And though bittersweet, I am unbelievably grateful to have managed this spontaneous trip.

If you are a parent who is lucky enough to be fishing with your kids, I encourage you to stop and embrace every moment. Keep teaching them, but sometimes, just sit back and watch them. Although it sometimes feels that time stops out there in the middle of the lake, I’m sad to say, it doesn’t.