It's all good

After a 33 year career with a large, multinational company it was time to retire my roller luggage and blackberry to pursue a long time ambition of opening a small fishing tackle shop.

 

Family and career had caused the occasional hiatus from fishing but my love of the sport always brought me back, especially when my son became a fishing fanatic in his own right.

 

There were several reasons why opening my own shop made some sense.

 

My wifes' not so subtle declaration. "I hope you're not planning to hang around the house all day bugging me".

 

My love of fishing. There's nothing quite like setting the hook on a big fish that almost rips the reel from your hand.

 

The realization that I enjoy all of the peripheral activity associated with fishing almost as much as the fishing itself. Scouring the magazines, internet and web forums for the latest technology, tactics and hot spots builds tremendous anticipation and confidence for your next time on the water.

 

Maybe the least obvious but most compelling reason is that I thoroughly enjoy interacting with other anglers. They come in all shapes and sizes but all share that fishing "buzz".

 

I believe I have a reasonable and diverse knowledge of angling but I can honestly say that hardly a day goes by that I don't learn something new from my customers. That ongoing learning process is a good place to be when you're retired. It helps to keep the mind sharp.

 

As it turns out there is a substantial entertainment factor that is inherent to tending to a fishing tackle store. In all of my business career I can honestly say that I haven't met the casr of "characters" that I've enjoyed since I've opened the shop.

 

Of course the stories are tremendous and I'm sure most of them are true but even if they aren't all serious anglers know that exaggeration and fabrication in the context of a fishing story is all good. It's an anglers inalienable right !

 

Allow me to pass on one of my favorites and the undisputed winner of the "hardest to keep a straight face award".

 

I greeted one of my regulars with my customary invitation to share any recent fishing experiences. "Tim, I got into a Bass on the weekend that I fought for 20 minutes. It had to weigh 9 lbs (at least it wasn't 10 lbs). I was throwing a rubber frog into pads and he hit like a freight train ! I couldn't believe how smart this fish was. After 10 minutes I thought I had him tired out but just then he wrapped himself around a pad and jumped up on the pad to rest, (now my face is spasming from trying not to laugh). He comes off the pad with more strength than before but I hang with him for another 10 minutes before he finally breaks me off (thankfully he didn't go for another rest on a pad or I would have exploded).

 

You can keep your Harry Potter and Dancing With The Stars, for entertainment value this stuff is priceless!

 

Have a great holiday and please be safe.