Unconditional Love

Today we chose to go fishing with two of our friends. They think we are just fishing, it’s not so. I am watching, listening, taking in each moment of the day. Joe and I started out at 5:30 am driving to the bait shop to get some crawler harnesses, because that’s what was needed for the day. We are the closest and it was easier for us because we weren’t towing a boat. We then headed to the docks where we will meet up with Chris and Mike. We get there early and have to wait until the gates open.

As we wait, we are both on our phones looking at the weather, Tik Tok, Facebook or just whatever. The daylight starts to break, no sun yet, but it’s lighter out and the world is waking up. The gates open and we park the car waiting on the guys to get here. We are now people watching and just relaxing until the Happy Chaos begins.

They finally arrive and we start to unload the cars and load the boat with the gear, coolers, rods, and essentials we need for the day. Joe backs the boat into the water while Chris is in the boat, Mike and I are on deck with the ropes tying off. Joe then parks the truck and trailer and heads back to the boat that is running and awaiting it’s last passenger. We are off to the water to enjoy a day of Walleye fishing.

As the boat speeds to the spot we need to be, the waves part and make a beautiful trail of white rolling water. It’s soothing to my soul, I could do this everyday. I truly enjoy being on the water. Most people don’t know this about me, but I could literally be on a boat all day. It makes me feel alive and gives me a sense of well being when I’m out there. It’s my therapy.

The boat is almost to it’s destination, the poles are set up, the worms are on the hooks and it’s almost time to drop the lines. We are slowing down, Captain Chris is turning into position and ready to troll from some Walleye. Joe is in his seat to the left and I let Mike sit on the right and fish first. I start off as the netter and Chris is in control of the trolling motor, we are now fishing.

Four poles in the water, everyone in their seats and the fun chatter begins. There’s this routine on the boat, when there’s a fish on someone will call out ONE, TWO, THREE… it’s the pole position and the pole with the fish. ONE, ONE, ONE is being called out, it’s Joe’s pole, fish on. Now the happy chaos begins. Chris is yelling “GET THE NET, MOVE TO THE MIDDLE JOE, IS IT A WALLEYE?” Joe caught a walleye, I netted it and it’s a keeper. WALLEEEEE JOE, hell yeah, high fives and happy faces.

THREE, THREE, THREE, I got it, says Mike. Get the NET, get to the middle of the boat, you would think after so many times fishing the routine would be down pat. It’s not, the pure excitement when you have a fish on, throws the whole routine overboard. So the YELLING continues each fish. Mike and I switch places after each fish and then we let Chris have a few turns. We work it out so Joe can stay in his spot and not be knocked down if a wave hits too hard. We have a happy medium and it works out for all of us. Even though there’s a little taunting at Joe for catching the most fish.

The boat is trolling down river to an end spot and with only a few fish, after asking, planning, replanning and pointing to other boats on the river, we decided to pull up the poles and head back to the spot we first began and troll back down the river. There is a lot of area on the Detroit River but we had seven fish in and the goal is to limit out for each person on the boat. So back to make a second pass in hopes to get at least seven more.

Mike is captain now, Chris is on the seat to the right, Joe on the left and I am netter. Of, course and we get to the spot the chatter begins right away, get the poles in the water, what are waiting for?, we could be catching fish, what’s the speed Mike?, what’s the depth?, are we marking fish? Same chatter, same spot, then the fun begins, ONE, ONE, TWO, TWO…. fish on. Oh the chaos when two fish are caught at the same time, adrenaline is pumping, the excitement when the fish is pulled out, who has the biggest one, is usually the competition when Chris is fishing. So much fun, so much happiness and they think we’re just fishing.

These memories will forever hold a spot in my heart. The happy chatter, the walking down memory lane, the fish being caught, the stories that we can tell of who got the biggest and the most fish and most of all the friendship we share together on that boat and in life is what it’s all about. So when asked to go fishing, GO, but know that it’s really not about the fishing at all.