Personal Narrative: My First Fishing Trip To Minaki, Ontario

According to aboutontario.com, Ontario Canada has 250,000 lakes that contain one-fifth of the world's fresh water. These lakes are filled with an enormous amount of fish ranging from hundreds of different species. This results in the province of Ontario being dependent on fishing and tourism for some of its revenue. These lakes attract Americans who come over the border to try their luck at fishing and revisit the place they once came to as a child. The annual Yelle fishing trip to Minaki, Ontario is the most enduring tradition in the Yelle family because of the history of the trip and the multi-generational involvement.
There is a long and rich history around the annual Yelle fishing trip to Minaki, Ontario. The first trip to Minaki happened
with no intention of creating a lasting impact that would continue for years to follow. In 1984, my dad and grandfather got home from another tiresome day on Lake Winnibigoshish, sunburned and lacking anything to show for their efforts, they decided that they were fed up of catching nothing. After hearing about the abundance of fish caught in Minaki, Ontario they were intrigued by the experience. However, the first trip happened five years later in 1989. During the first few years, the fishing grounds remained a mysterious place. When my family first started coming to Minaki, the fishing party would only venture out one or two miles from the fishing camp, out of the expansive ten miles of the fishable lakes. The circuitous path between islands and partially submerged rock piles proved to be unnerving even for the veteran navigators, keeping them to the confines of the initial lake. The fishing there was phenomenal. According to my dad, the first few years he went there the fish cleaning house would have a heaping pile of almost 20 gallons of fresh fish guts a day. The excellent fishing was soon overshadowed by the bond that formed between my uncles, dad, and grandfather. The first year expedition was just my dad and grandfather, but each one of my uncles eventually went. For a matter of fact, my Uncle Kevin has gone a total of seven times. My uncles will talk about their experience in Minaki and how it brought them closer to their dad as they partook in the activity he enjoyed the most. The fishing trip in Minaki, Ontario not only has a long history but has the potential of having an even more extensive history.
The most significant aspect of the Minaki fishing trip is that it has become a multigenerational ordeal.
My first trip to Minaki resulted in the annual trip becoming a three generational tradition. The first trip that I went on was the summer before fourth grade, and I have shared many trips since then with my family members. Out of the eight trips that I have taken to Minaki with my dad, three have been with my grandfather and two with my Uncle Kevin. The third generational growth of Minaki looks promising. In the summer of 2015, I went to Minaki with my cousin Zack and Uncle Todd. Additionally, my sisters may possibly be going to come along this upcoming summer. My dad always talks about how when he retires he wants to spend his summers in Minaki and have my siblings and me visit him and my mom. Additionally, I think that it can serve as an important lesson for my future family members at a young age because fishing teaches a variety of different lessons. The life skills that fishing teaches can be applicable to many things outside of their learned field. I would like to not only preserve the deep tradition that lies underneath the deep, cool and mysterious lakes of central Canada but allow it to teach the next generation of my
family.
The Minaki fishing trip has been an important tradition for my family for a long time, and it will remain an important place for years to come as more family members become involved with it. The long and symbolic history associated with the Minaki trip will serve as a foundation for years to come. However, it is impossible to tell what the future will bring to my family and the place that we hold so near to our hearts. There could come a day that the busy life serves as a blockade to this long time tradition. That is why every time the Yelle family goes to Minaki, they appreciate every moment, good or bad that they spend together.