"The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope" - John Buchan

I could spend hours on the water fishing.  I find it incredibly relaxing yet exhilarating at the same time. Every cast could be the one that lands the next big fish or the one that lands tonight's dinner but it could be just nothing.   You never know, that's the allure.  

There are a few times in my life that remember fondly that basically entrenched fishing into my life.  

1. When I was very young my Grandfather would take my Mom, my brothers and I out fishing.  Still to this day I don't remember exactly where we went or how I even got a fishing pole.  I do recall loving my time out fishing with them and I always remember trying new spots, new bait, casting in different locations etc.  My family said my line was out of the water more than it was in it.  I did catch fish most of the time though.  Seems even back then, contrary to their methods I was pretty good at it. On one particular occasion I remember catching a few quite large brown bullhead catfish.  My Grandfather kept them and brought them home so we could have them for dinner.  He cleaning them in the laundry tub in the basement and long after their heads were cut off they were still gasping for air.  Freaked me out as kid but later when I got older I understood.  Those were some great tasting catfish.

I was hooked

2. My family used to go to a friends cottage for a week each summer.  We would load the car, canoe on top and the dog in the back and head down the highway for a few hours before arriving at this out of the way cottage on a beautiful lake.  It was at this cottage that I found a love for top water fishing largemouth bass.  We would spend the daytime taking the canoes out on the lake, try to dump it,  practice rescues, go swimming and just enjoy the day.  When the evening came though it got serious.  

Dad would get us ready in the canoes with fishing gear and lifejackets and we would head out just before what he would call "prime fishing time".  We would head down the lake and quietly into the back water bays.  These out of the way bays would be untouched shoreline with pockets of lily pads.  We would all have on either a Hula Popper or Jitterbug. I would cast out the lure and watch it land on the dead calm water beside the lily pads.  Wait for the ripples to subside then start the retrieve to mimic a frog.  There is nothing better than the slow retrieve of a Jitterbug - blup, blup, blup, blup - Slam.  For those of you that have done this, you know exactly what I am talking about.  I continued to fish like this for bass for the rest of my life.  It's such a rush when a bass attacks a top water bait.  

Here are my 2 favourite lures for top water Bass.  

After many years of fishing I started to look back at some of my most memorable trips and the fish I have caught.  There is one thing that has traveled with me through all these fishing trips and it's not what you think.  

While out fishing for long periods in the summer you need a nice, light, long sleeve shirt to use a cover up so you don't get roasted by the sun.  When in high school I came across just the shirt.  I started to take it with me on my trips for this reason and I don't wear it any other time.  I never really gave it any thought.  When I look back at all the fish I have caught I have had that shirt with me and most times wearing it.  I have come to realize that this shirt has seen more lakes than most people have caught fish.  It goes everywhere I fish and now has almost become my good luck charm even though I certainly don't believe in that.  My brother wants me to write a story of my travels and the fish I have caught.  I think I should write the story of all the lakes my shirt has seen. Check out the shirt in all it's glory with a beauty of a Northern Pike.  

I don't see me quitting fishing any time soon.  Seems like a great past time you can do well into your golden years.  I am going to be retiring in a few years and at that time I plan to spend way more time finding those out of the way lakes to enjoy, while wearing my classic shirt.  See you out there on the water.