It's all about that fish... or is it?
by Wayne Wooten

I have been asked; is it just about catching fish? Wouldn't it be easier to go to the grocery store and simply buy some? I began to ponder these questions and here is what I came up with.

I started fishing when I was 6 or so. My grandfather (Pop) Wooten purchased 12 acres out in the country with a big creek running through it. Pop and my dad would take me with them to work on the property. I was too young to help so to keep me occupied; Pop bought me a cane pole, a tub of red wigglers and made some fishing spots on the creeks' bank. They could keep an eye on me and interact while they worked, and it gave me something to do. I fished there for years and later taught my sister there too! So fishing was my first baby sitter!

When I was about 10, Pops bought a cabin on the Yellow River / Lake Jackson. I was now an adventurer because a wooden flat-bottom boat with a 9.5 HP Johnson came with the deal! By now, I was taking friends to the lake with me for the weekend, and we would cruse the willows setting limb lines and using our Johnson Centuries and Zebcos to cast to cover. It was sardines, crackers and cokes for lunch, and we talked about everything under the sun. We didn't have a care in the world just two guys living the life! So fishing is my first social network!

When we were not at Lake Jackson, my friends and I would get our parents to take us or walk to local pay lakes. One of my friends was Larry Barnes. As I was the first guy in our group to get a driving license, we would load up my 59 Ford and hit Lake Jackson on our own, which we did often! It was our primary hangout, and our parents approved.

After graduation, life happened so Larry and I didn't see each other for about 40 years, and we reconnected in 2010 and what do you think was the first thing we asked each other? Have you been fishing? Well, it only took a month or so and we were back at it again until this day, like we never missed a beat. I've fished all these years at what started as something to keep me occupied (and still is), what became my first social network (and still is), what was a series of adventures (and still is). I have barely mentioned catching fish; which is what we do and like doing!

I will have to say, yes, it is all about that fish, without that fish we wouldn't have a reason to go. And yes buying fish would be easier, but then you couldn't have these wonderful experiences.

 

About the author: Wayne Wooten is a freelance writer, lure and lure kit designer at Wayne's Baits, LLC. He has over 35 years sales experience and was Vice President at Custom Services Inc. Now retired he devotes his time to creating and promoting products for the outdoor industry. He has been fishing since 1960 and enjoys taking people fishing on his home lake, Lake Deerfield, and writing stories and sometimes filming these trips. He has also worked in television doing commercials on outdoor shows. He lives in Ila, GA with his wife, you can contact him at wayne@waynesbaits.com or (706) 255-8504