Fishing isn't for everyone
Some people enjoy fishing and some don't. I haven't decided which category I belong in, so I keep trying it every year or so.
About a week ago I said, "Let's go fishing." I'm sure Dennis thought I'd finally gone over the deep end. I'm usually not the one to come up with activities that aren't work-related. After assuring him I was serious (and not feverish), he loaded up the fishing poles, chairs, and tackle box, and we headed off to the county lake.
We stopped to buy bait; it sure has been a long time since I've been fishing. I think the last time we paid for worms they were about 50 a dozen. They're considerably more expensive now.
We settled on a nice, quiet point along the edge of the lake. I set up the chairs and Dennis baited the hooks. I cast my line, got my pole propped up on a couple of rocks, and settled down to wait for the fish to bite.
Fishing requires patience and that's something I apparently lack. After five minutes without any activity, I determined there weren't any fish in this area of the lake and whipped out a book. I could sense the eye-roll from my spouse, but decided to ignore him while I waited for something — anything — to happen.
I may have had a couple of bites or I may have bumped the pole when I turned the page. Regardless, I didn't catch anything.
Dennis, on the other hand, was working two poles and having a hard time keeping up with them. The fish evidently found out he was open for business because he was going through the worms about as fast as he could get the hooks baited. He finally caught one fish worth keeping, and that was just enough to keep him interested.
Two hours and $58 later (fishing licenses and bait), the wind almost blew us into the lake, so we packed up our stuff and went home.
I'm still not sure I enjoy fishing — guess I'll try it again sometime. I'm sure I could grow to like it — as long as I remember to take a book.
— DONNA BERNHARDT
