Make Memories – Go Fishing!
“Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” Henry David Thoreau
I used to believe that I was after fish, but as my rocking
chair days approach, I find myself remembering not the fish, but the people. Every day on the river was a great day, always
a memorable adventure. People from all walks of life made up the cast of characters, with the Atlantic salmon as the great
equalizer. In the eyes of the salmon, we were all equal except that some were better fishers than others.
Most people were kind and helpful
to fellow anglers, with few greedy or cranky sorts. The elderly were highly respected for their knowledge and skill, which
they frequently used to make difficult fishing challenges seem easy. River veterans seemed to hold many
special secrets that, if a novice were very lucky, he might learn, but usually never more than one at a time. To the veteran,
these carefully guarded secrets usually didn’t come easy, but rather were the result of a great achievement that brought
much satisfaction. Learning them was the satisfying part, so why deny a novice that satisfaction? Everyone can use a little
help at times, but not too much!
My own desire to learn about Atlantic salmon fishing has led me to meticulously read every
written word on the subject that I can find. I have literature published over four centuries in my bookshelf. I’ve found
that most writings offer at least a few pearls of wisdom, some more than others. Often the authors present differing opinions,
so the reader must experiment to make an informed choice. Also, the best advice for one person may not be best for another,
because each of us is unique. More than anything, though, the best of these writings help us comprehend our innermost feelings
about the salmon. The very best tell us about ourselves.
Other visual art forms can best express feelings that
are hard to put into words, such as photography, video and painting. Often a great book combines words with visual art to
reveal its secrets. Today’s information age is scorned by some for making great knowledge too easy to find and because
our secrets, being so accessible, have lost much of their value. We’ve come to expect knowledge on demand, for free,
rather than learning the hard but infinitely more satisfying way. Fortunately, I believe two things: there can never be a
single source of all known secrets, and all Atlantic salmon fishing secrets can never be known. If we don’t believe
this, what’s the point?
We have to spend precious time on the river in order to make friends there. My dear departed
friend Bill Strople understood that very well; he had more friends than anyone I’ve known. Most of my best and longest
lasting friendships were made on the river. Some are still with us, some not, but memories live on. Take time to make memories
– go fishing.
Please
send comments and suggestions to slim@rivermagic.ca.
Please stay on the line …