How I started, a Tribute to My Dad

My Dad was the guy who they meant with he "take your kid fishing" ads. His idea of a high time was to take a group of kids fishing. He would load up the car or the back of the 54 GMC pickup with as many kids as he could cajole into going and head off to some pond in Wilson County. He would spend the afternoon baiting hooks, getting lines unsnagged, moving people to where they might catch one and generally making sure that everyone had a great time. On those trips, he never put a line in the water. I don't think he ever really wanted to concentrate on fishing. His idea of fun was to spend a hot summer afternoon making sure that the kids were having fun.

We did take some other trips that were fishing for him. He thoroughly enjoyed floating minnows for chain pickerel. It was the way to spend quiet time. We never kept many, or any, because he didn't think they were worth eating. I moved to Michigan in 1980 and began to catch a few northern pike. I tried eating one. It was delicious. After I moved to Virgina, I tried pickerel. Excellent. My Dad never knew that he was throwing back some great dinners.

I don't think it really mattered much. His idea of a great way to spend the day was to take care of a truckload of kids and make sure they had a ball.