“Life and fishing are very similar; you never know what is at the end of the line.” -David Humphries June allows us to recognize the father figures in our lives. When I think of my Dad, I can’t help but think of fish. His dedication to the sport and commitment to the “big catch” gets him up with the sun. A successful fisherman is able to spend long days near, or on the water and brings with him a lot of patience. The “tag along” child can change this experience and the patience piece may come up more often. Children love the outdoors and spending time with Dad is an added bonus. This is how most children get introduced to this sport. There are some who will take to it and want to spend the whole time actually fishing. Then there are others who find ways to entertain themselves while the hours pass. Fishing can be difficult for the impatient, restless and loud. These adjectives describe most children and for someone who enjoys solitude this may add a challenge to the experience. For a child spending a full day in a boat, or by a river, can be quite the an adventure. Learning how to caste a line, or bait a hook, is interesting and fun, but for some young people this interest only lasted a short time. When you have a Dad who is dedicated to his passion, you learn how to entertain yourself. Luckily there are often many bait frogs to play with on the boat and rivers offer plenty of entertainment. The lessons learned from fishing are the attributes the fisherman possesses. Patience, enjoyment of the outdoors, persistence and the satisfaction of solitude. A child with a parent who fishes gains these attributes. I am thankful to my Dad , whom I associate my fishing experiences with and time spent with him was usually on the water. I have him to thank for my love of the outdoors and respect for all living things. Although I am not an enthusiast myself, I appreciate the patience and determination required for the sport and I use these skills in my every day life. The quote mentions that life is the same as fishing and knowing what is at the end of the line is the question? Does this need an answer? Fishing taught my younger self to be able to be in the moment and find ways to enjoy where I was. I try to follow this into adulthood and I continue to enjoy the moment I am in, make the best of the place in which I am and make the best of the situation in which I am put. I will worry about “what is at the end of the line” once it has been reeled in. Lessons learnt from my fisherman; be patient, spend time outdoors, persevere and enjoy some alone time. Thank you Dad