Adventure: Casting Doubt

I’m an okay fisherman. Like all things modern, the fishing world has seen an explosion of high-tech advances over the past few decades. I grew up fly fishing in Wyoming and spin casting in Indiana, Texas and anywhere else I could find reason to wet a line.

My grandfather was a solid fisherman as was my father. Saltwater, freshwater, pond, river, ocean or creek, they could find and catch fish pretty much anywhere. I’m the same. But that’s as far as it goes with me. What I truly love about fishing are the environments I get to experience while fishing. And I love being on the water. Any water.

I’ve fished for tarpon, snook, and bonefish on the flats of Florida and the Carribean. I’ve taken tiny float planes into the wilds of the Northwest Territories in search of pike, walleye, lake trout, and smallmouth bass. I’ve fly fished for bass in Texas and trout in New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado, and California.

I’ve waded streams, floated rivers, canoed lake country and fished many times from various banks here and there. I appreciate the technique of fishing, the strategy, and the solitude. And I appreciate the species themselves. To see a big bass or pike up close is a wonderful thing. They are so beautiful, so magically layered, covered, colored and designed. True marvels of evolution.

Most of the time I catch and release, but if I get a chance to keep a walleye I will. They are my second favorite eating fish right behind halibut. There is nothing quite like fishing in the northern parts then finding a small island to build a fire so that you can cook up those ultra-fresh fillets through the smell of woodsmoke and the sting of endless mosquitos. I know this might not seem like fun to some of you but to those who fish, you will know what it means and what it feels and tastes like. (I did get a tick bite doing this once.)

One of the great things about being here in New Mexico is that I can fish once again. My kit will never leave my truck so that no matter where or when I will be ready to go. And you don’t need much to fish. You really don’t. Rod, reel, line, license,lure. Good to go.