I’m taking Charlie fishing at the Battenkill River next week.
He keeps insisting that we both will fish together, I keep insisting that I am bringing a book, and will drive him to and fro fishing and watch him fish.
Otherwise, I’m just a bystander. At the Mansion, I just have to sign him out and bring him back before dinner.
I don’t fish, I told Charlie today when I brought him his new wader, and I don’t wish to learn.
Charlie smiles and talks about how much fun we will have. He has plenty of fly fishing rods, his new fly kit, a map to the best fishing spots on the Battenkill River.
Before all this fishing talk, he was getting severely depressed. The mere mention of fishing brings a big smile to his face.
He loves his new rubber wadding suit.
I explained that I don’t have a wading suit, a fishing rod, flies and am prepared to offer encouragement and transportation, period.
I figure if I mention it often enough, he might accept it. Believe me; he’s not going to turn me into a fisherman.
Charlie insists I should learn this sport, not just watch other people do it. “You brought me all this good stuff,” he said, “we’ll use it together.”
No, we won’t, I said, shaking my head.”All I’m bringing is him and his bottled water. All I’m bringing is me. “We’ll fish and eat lunch,” I said with stern authority.
Lisa, an aide, was cracking up.
Our first fishing trip is scheduled for next Tuesday. I’m going to sign him out in the late morning and bring him back in two or three hours, as agreed.
I’m excited to be going (but not to be fishing. It won’t happen, and if it did, it would be a disaster. We’d both end up falling into the river.)
If you need to take a book, take The Compleat Angler by Izaak Walton. You could read it aloud while he fishes.
That’s a cool idea..
I’m so glad you got him all set up with fishing gear. And I agree with you in not wanting to hurt the fish. Perhaps you would enjoy borrowing some waders and just enjoy wading. It truly is enjoyable… just be careful.
Oh, come on, Jon! You speak often of learning…..continuing to learn……….what would be the *harm* of getting a lesson from a pro and casting one or two out there just for fun?
Eeek..
Hmmm. Sounds like when you were trying to get around the blueberry bushes. It is fun to cast. No need to catch anything. ? No matter it will be nice to be in nature???
I have to admit the idea spooks me…
This is going to be a really different adventure… really great, really something, it’s in the air I can feel it.
A summer spent sitting, reading and watching my young son fish was one of my most enjoyable ever. Enjoy!
I don’t know about New York but in Oregon fishing without a licence is a pretty hefty fine. If it’s the same there you just have to say you don’t have a licence. And believe me you won’t like fishing. You have to kill the fish. Killing the fish is very upsetting. Hope you have fun, Charlie too.
I wouldn’t worry about it, Wendy, and I agree with you about fishing…Almost everyone here fishes out of their back yards and streams, which run everywhere…It’s not a big deal
I spent hours on a lake, just casting with only a weight on the line (no hook at all) I liked just practicing and improving a skill and just being out there.