Below freezing again this morning. Snowing. Just as the daffodils and wild flowers were starting to sprout too. Winter just doesn't want to let go I guess.
But I'm sitting here thinking about fishing.
Haven't been in a long time. Last summer was a wash. Had some bad health challenges all summer. Couldn't get out. Couldn't do much of anything really. But things are different this year. I'm ready to go. Physically and mentally.
Need to get my reels, rods, and tackle ready. No doubt my youngest will want to go. He lives close to us. His schedule will just need to work out. Hopefully it will since I don't drive anymore. I'll need a chauffeur.
We have a couple state parks about 20 minutes away. Been to one a few times to fish. We call it the Dead Sea because we never even get a bite let alone catch anything. Think we'll try the other park this year. Can't be any worse.
Got a new rod and reel for my birthday a few months ago. Bait caster. Haven't had one of those in a few years. It'll take some getting used to again. Bought it on sale at Bass Pro Shops back in December. Got two of them actually. One for my son and one for me.
Supposedly the crappie are biting right now. But it's just too cold for me to get out next to the water. The cold and my lungs don't get along. I'm more of a bass and catfish guy anyway.
In fact, as I've gotten older, I just like to bait a line and throw it in the water and sit around and wait. No rush. No pressure. While waiting I love conversing with my son or whoever I'm fishing with. Talk about shit going on in life. Drop some unsolicited advice like dads do. Sometimes it's just nice to sit in the quiet. Listen to the critters. Wind in the trees. All the other natural noise. It sure beats the concrete jungle.
That's what fishing is really about for me now. Not the catching. The being there. The time with people who matter. The stillness.
For now I can just think about it until it warms up. It's coming. Eventually.
Do you fish? Been out lately? Got pictures?
Thanks for reading,
Joe
Notes:
-All content is mine unless otherwise annotated.
-Images are my own unless otherwise noted.
-Photos edited using Linux photo editor and drawing and/or iPhone SE.
-Page Dividers from The Terminal Discord.