College Essay About Fishing

Fishing is a worldwide sport that is loved by millions of people and is the heart of many towns and communities around the world. It is one of only a few outdoor activities that are open year long and one can go whenever he or she pleases. Fishing takes skill, patience and a lot of luck. Some people are known for their luck of fishing and others are known for their skill. Over time, people get known for what they are good at, and what they are bad at, this applies to fishing too. Everyone thinks of himself as ‘that’ guy, no matter what, there is always a way to classify every fisherman, from die hards, know it alls, bad luck, good luck, the snag master or the rage monster.
Everyone's goal is to catch the biggest fish, but some people want
it to happen and others make it happen. The guys who make it happen are known as the “die hards.” These guys are out there when everyone is inside, no matter what the weather, and no matter what the cost. They'll risk their boat for a fish. They study and analyze the fish’s every move, knowing when they spawn, how the water temperature affects them, and what time of day is the best to go out. These guys are the real deal, for they know everything about fishing. For example, Aaron Meyer is a musky guide up north who guides 5-6 days a week. When he isn't guiding, he's fishing on his own to gain more knowledge. Being the die hards, they know that patience is key. When things aren't going their way, they have learned that getting mad will not make the fish bite, instead they use their knowledge of how fish react to certain situations and find the solution to catch the fish. Many guys think they know everything, but don't. These guys can be known as the know it all of the group, pointing out every wrong detail with your cast or that you have .016 ounces more than you should on your weight. These guys have a high ego and believe they are right on everything. Once on a canoeing trip, my cousin Nick tried to teach me how to fish a river even though he has never been on one. He likes to go the extra mile to show that he knows how to cast a rod. Know it alls tend to believe they have knowledge that no one else has thought off. When Nick’s answers aren't catching any fish, he usually has an excuse for it. the sun's too bright, the clouds are round, or his arm hurts. Nick is very bad a making up excuses on the spot. He’ll think of anything else before admitting he got skunked. I was beating him in a friendly bet because apparently the weather man said it was supposed to be sunny out, but it turned out to be partly cloudy. When something goes wrong, excuse fisherman like to blow it out of proportion so you ‘feel bad’ for them.
Fishing involves luck in many forms, from getting the lure out of the tree to your motor breaking down.
From personal experiences I have been apart of both sides. I once set my rod down on the dock to bait another hook, as I was looking away I heard a splash in the water. Excitingly thinking it was a fish I turned around to see my rod sinking into the current. I quickly grabbed another rod and casted in the direction of the rod, I felt the tug and started to reel in the rod. When I got it near the boat I grabbed the fallen rod and and reeled in the fish. That was lucky. Every fisherman has their luck, the luckiest are the ones who get blessed from the beginning. My great friend Michael Petron was chosen to be a lucky winner of the beginner luck. He went to Lake of the Woods for the first time and reeled in a beast 32 inch walleye. Many people know someone with beginner's luck, but everybody knows somebody with bad luck. Bad luck has been with fishing ever since man knew how to fish, and it always seems to happen at the worst time. I was musky fishing with my brother when a big nusky smashed his bait. He set the hook perfectly into the fish. Once he started reeling, the reel gave loose and fell off. He threw the reel down and tried to hand reel in the fish in, but the fish went under the boat and cut the line! He lost the fish and his $20 lure, that's bad
luck.
Some fisherman have no luck with even catching a fish, but have lots with catching snags, they known as “Mr.
Snag.” When they scream fish, nobody really pays attention to them because that fish that they have on turns into a boot by the time it gets to the side of the boat. Half of the conversations with these types of fisherman consist of “Can you get me closer to that log?” or “ It must be a monster! It’s not moving!” My younger cousin, Christopher, has reeled in more sticks, weeds and miscellaneous things in one day then the average man would in a week, he strongly earned the nickname “Mr.Snag” over that family reunion
weekend. After so many snags anyone can get frustrated, sometimes so much that they become the “rage monster.” these guys have had multiple broken rods, they have “lost” their pliers and yelled so loud that everyone one in the county knows about it. For example, my father was having a terrible day with losing fish and only catching snags. When he was about ready to have it, he stuck the hooks into a heavy fish. All the tension inside of him let loose when the line snapped soon after. Rods were all over the place and there were no fish for the next mile. Most people try to stay away from the rage monster, but when you are trapped on a boat with them, there really is no escape. In the end, every fisherman can be classified someway or another whether it be a die hard who strives for the best. The men who think they know everything, but more than likely are all talk. Mostly though it comes down to who has luck and who does not. Not everybody will like their name, but there always has to be a fisherman who tips his canoe. No matter how the fish are biting, someone will be the guy who caught the 30 pounder, but lost it. More importantly is the guy who actually catches the monster. Even though fisherman can be divided into many groups, essentially it brings a group of people together for a wonderful and exciting time, this is what makes fishing such a great sport.