Saturday I was fly fishing in the Brazos. Coming down the river was a group of kayakers with a father and son well behind in their two separate kayaks. The boy was about five years old, had a little tiny kayak that fit him well. He had that type of kid's voice that carries for miles without trying, sort of a saw blade meets sheet metal kind of voice. As they got close enough for the boy to spot me I heard him ask his dad what I was doing.

"He's fishing." Dad said.
"Doesn't look like he's fishing." Son said.
"He's fly fishing."
"Looks like he's just waving his pole back and forth is all."

Fortunately I caught a small bluegill as they got close, thus I was able to prove to the child that I was indeed fishing. I doubt I could have proven my case otherwise. The way the river is at that point they had no choice but to paddle right in front of me as they went by. I asked the boy if he wanted the fish. He smiled and said yes. I tossed it in his kayak between his feet into the water pooled up there.

As they went on down the river I could clearly hear the boy yelling to his friends up ahead about his fish, for at least the next half hour he was yelling about his fish. They eventually disappeared from sight down the river and I could still hear that little buzz saw yelling about his fish. He was extremely happy to have a fish in his kayak.

I'm sure glad I could prove to him I was fishing... :-)

standing in a river, waving a stick

There's some days I need help proving to myself that what I'm doing is fishing!

It's those little thing in time that have great affects on people and their life. That little fish tossed into that boys boat may some day God willing manifest into great acts of kindness for others or a love for the river that some stranger once threw him a fish. We need all the people we can taking care of our rivers, creeks& lakes. There are those who don't get what it means to "stand in a river and swing a stick" they never will nor can I explain to them how it is part of me. fantastic job sir for not letting that moment in life pass by.