So you’re married to a fish-aholic, or the Three Seasons of Fishing
I read with interest about the lady in Indiana who went
on strike because her husband goes fishing too much, and didn’t help around
the house. While I don’t know how little help he provides, I can almost
promise her spouse doesn’t fish as much as mine. (I look at it this way – I
know where he is, what he’s doing, and who he’s with. And the female he’s
obsessed with is green and has gills.)
Fishing no longer qualifies as a hobby at our house --
something done on weekends a few times a year. It has become a way of life,
and there is no respite. Are there any topics of conversation that do not
relate, in some way, to fishing? If there are, I’ve forgotten them…
Our Winter begins in January with boat shows – not
attending them, but working them. As part of his Ranger sponsorship, my
angler works the boat shows for his dealer, and I help at their annual open
house. I wouldn’t miss it for the world – it’s a great big family reunion.
Show season is also the time to stock up on new lures, install new
equipment, make last-minute preparations.
As the boat shows end, it’s time to get out on the
water. Got to make sure all the equipment still works right after sitting
all winter. Got to try that new locator. Got to get the casting arm in
shape for those hundreds-of-casts-a-day tournaments. Got to get the timing
right – can’t catch the fish if you don’t set the hook right…
Tournament season. There is no spring or summer – just
tournament season, around which our lives are centered. There are
tournament weekends, practice weekends, and those rare
stay-at-home-mow-the-grass weekends. Vacation days are planned around
tournaments. You mean some people actually travel without a boat in tow?
Or go places that don’t have bass?
Post-tournament season. In other walks of life, this
time of year is called Autumn and is followed by Winter. Tournaments are
over or are winding down. Time to take those last trips on the water before
winterizing the boat. One last waxing and polishing (the boat hull is
probably cleaner than my kitchen floor and sparkles like rubies in the sun).
Vacuum the carpet. Empty the storage bins, clean the rods and reels, and
get everything organized for next season. Make the shopping list for the
off-season – new rods? Reels? Locators? Lures? Silly questions.
Enjoy a few weekends at home – or visit the relatives
you don’t have time to see the rest of the year. Celebrate the end of the
year holidays but don’t forget the list of boat show dates from the dealer.
Make special note of New Year’s Day – it’s the beginning of Boat Show
Season!!