Wait ... I am getting a bite I decided to go fishing today. The sun was shining and the wind was calm. Wide Hollow reservoir is only 2 miles from town and now that the weather is getting colder, the fishing is good. I saw a picture of some fish that my neighbor caught last month and it gave me a little push to try my own luck.
When I was a boy I came to this reservoir to fish with my grandmother. She loved to fish and although my grandfather didn’t like to fish he would drive her to the lake. Grandma never learned to drive so she had to rely on my grandfather. He would drop us off in the morning and pick us up in the afternoon. She loved to fish whenever she could. My grandmother was an optimist when it came to fishing. The slightest tightening of her fishing line always came with the comment, I am getting a bite. Sometimes it was the wind. When she wasn’t looking it was fun to wiggle her line and watch her reaction. I loved that time with her. She taught me a lot about anticipation and patience on those fishing trips.
I thought I would take my laptop today and do some writing but the fish were bitting and I wasn’t able concentrate on my thoughts so I watched the ducks on the water playing and making noises. Most were coots and they sat just off where I was fishing. I watched a hawk soar around the water looking for an easy catch. I saw some eagles last year but haven’t seen any this year. I was glad I bought a warm coat when the breeze picked up. I was going to leave but I thought I saw my line tighten and wondered if I was going to get a bite.
I picked up that optimist trait from my grandmother. I try to look at the bright side of any situation and find the good. It has helped me to go through times when I was stuck in the moss and my line was caught on the rocks.
I reflected on many things today as I watched my line. There is uncertainty in the world and unease between nations. I thought about staying home instead of shopping on Black Friday, But I didn’t need anything. Last week my son suggest a present for his kids so I worked on that yesterday and got it finished. Wood Blocks, I spent half a day on that project. They will last forever, not like those toys that break on the first day or need batteries. I thought about the Christmas lights that I put up on the fence and my 2 foot tree that I put in the window. I thought about my 10 year old truck and the miles we have traveled together. We still have many more miles to go together. I thought about my blessing ceremony this spring when I placed a large crystal in this reservoir. I floated in my kayak and gave thanks for the water. I thanked Aquaria, the water element. I asked the crystal work with Aquaria to purify the water and raise the spiritual vibration of everyone in this valley.
My attention was suddenly brought back into focus when my line started to tighten. I watched as the pole began to bounce and I grabbed it and set the hook. I reeled in a 2 pound trout on the hook, I thanked him for his gift to me. A few minutes later I pulled in another fish, this one weighed one pound.
I brought 2 fish home today. I had a good day fishing. I thought how blessed I am to be in a this place. There is only a little moss in the new reservoir.
There have been times in my life when I have been stuck in the moss and had my line hooked on the rocks. Instead of breaking my line or loosing my temper, I have been able to learn from my grandmother, remembering her patience and positive attitude.
I smile when I think of my grandmother, sitting on the bank in that little red school chair waiting for the fish to bite. I can see the dust of my grandfathers truck coming up the road and I can still hear her telling my grandfather after 4 hours of sitting on the bank, Wait ... I am getting a bite.
