11 Jul The Best Fishing Buddies

Rachel with a nice Provo River brown.

The sad truth is that there are a few downsides to guiding. For example there are the disapproving looks from your neighbors that are clearly meant to suggest that a responsible person would actually know where the sprinkler heads in his yard were. There’s getting  caught a mile from the truck in a downpour with lightening closing in. There’s getting up early every morning and going to bed late every night. There’s having to go fishing on your off days so you know the water level, the bug hatches. . . . Oh, wait. That’s a good thing!!!  (I just tell my wife it’s drudgery. Please don’t tell.)

But one of the true drawbacks is that I don’t get enough time to take my girls fishing. As far as I’m concerned, I have the best group of fishing buddies to walk the planet, great guys, great anglers, and just good people. But to spend an evening on the river with one of my girls is pure magic.

Last night, I took my youngest, Rachel (a.k.a. Bug), to the Provo for the evening caddis hatch. And while the hatch came off only moderately, a full on attack of the flies wouldn’t have made the trip any more enjoyable. Rachel is a real joy to be around. She’s smart and thoughtful, and she applies that to her fishing. The kid casts with a true grace, and she sees things on the water. She mends without being told, and she does it in anticipation of drag, not just to stop drag.

Where she needs some work is in containing her excitement at the take. (Some of her hook sets would have made any pro bass fisherman envious.) After the first take last night, she was so excited she couldn’t hold still. She was so wiggly that I kept thinking she had to pee.

My fishing buddy.

We had a great time teasing and playing, and whistling duets of the “Andy Griffith” and Disney’s “Robin Hood” theme songs as we walked to the truck through the dark turned out to be fun of the highest order.

I’ve always enjoyed guiding parents with a teen, especially when both of them show some interest in fishing. I wish more parents would bring their kids along for a half-day trip. (That’s usually best, since it leaves the kids wanting more rather than wanting to go home.) I know it’s hard. Teenagers live such busy and full lives, that it can be tough to find a time that doesn’t conflict with something or other. Rachel had plans for last night, but I invited her anyway, and I was surprised at how eagerly she arranged to come.

A wise person once said, “You can take a kid fishing, or you can go fishing, but you can’t do both.” These days I never take a rod when I take my girls fishing. In truth, I could now. They handle themselves pretty well, but by playing guide I get to stand next to them and talk. As it turns out, that may just be better than catching a fish. . . .