I think more than any other past time, fishing has brought me more great memories than any other activity. Fishing as been an important part of every stepping stone in my life journey.

I have lost some great people that include both family and friend, but their memories are fresh in my mind and in many cases it was a fishing trip I shared with them that I most treasure.

How important has fishing been in your life's memories?

I had a great fishing partner that decided he didn't want to be here anymore. We had some great times from high school into our early adulthood spent at many different bodies of water. I don't know exactly what awaits us on the other side, I sure would like to go fishing with him, my father and my grandfather again. I think about them frequently.

Gone Fishing
Do you ever stop and think about the past
A little fishing for the memories to last
Where we have been and what we have done
Memories of friends and of our loved ones
The people who mattered most of all
They were the ones I fish for now that they are gone
No longer here with me but always in my mind
So we can go fishing any day any time

My Dad was my best friend and fishing buddy until he passed away about 10 yrs ago. We had fun together no matter what we did but some of my fondest memories are from fishing with him. It seems every time we go fishing I wind up telling someone a story about when Dad and I used to go. Hope I can give my girls some of these same memories as they grow.

Mike - that poem is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

There is something spiritual about fishing.
God gave it to us as a blessing to help us cope with everyday life, and to nourish our bodies.
I have to feel sorry for those folks who ignore the gift, and the fact that they will never know what it is like to witness a sunrise or sunset and feel the breeze over the water or feel the tug on the end of a line.

Some of the happiest times in my life have been fishing with my children and now My grandchildren. like the slot red my grandson caught last year below.

What a compelling question..."How important has fishing been in your life's memories?

From my Grand Dad down to my grand kids, for as long as i can remember fishing has been a part of not only my life, but my family and friends as well. .

i have learned about the character of the people i have fished beside.

leaned and shared the beauty of being in nature with the newbies, and learned some of the secrets from others that only come from a life time of fishing...(the really important secrets, like why we do the right thing even when no one else is looking, and how to run the lines in the right order, and why we nurture and keep the resources healthy for our kids, and why we dont troll around a boat on anchor)

without a doubt it truly is a gift from God..

it not only lets me cherish and keep the memories of fishing with my grandad, and dad, it lets me make new memories and embark on adventures with my children and grand kids that only a grand dad can..
Fishing gives us the opportunity to share and instill the good character qualities in the ones we fish with... that is being very blessed...

Well said Mike, this really hits close to home.

Many old fishing friends have passed. Wonderful secrets and knowledge of fishing have been shared over the years with all of them. Time is flying, so make as many memories as you can with those that can keep up. For those that can't find a way to make it happen; for deep down in side they want to go just one more time.

When I was really young, one of the first outdoors thing to do with Dad was fishing on Pensacola Beach.
One of my best Christmas's was one of getting much fishing equipment.
The last thing we did together before he passed on, was fishing at Fort Clinch.

Brought me closer to my dad and brother, and kept me from doing things I was offered in high school but refused cause my addiction was and still is fishing. People complain about me fishing too much, say I am addicted. I say its better to be addicted to fishing than other things. The way I see it, fishing saved my life and made me the man I am today. So I cherish every second of it, even the smallest things like how certain scents for whatever reason remind me of a particular early sunday morning up at Moss Lake with my dad. Or how each time I see an Osprey I think of a trip out to the grasslands where I landed my biggest bass as an Osprey was perched on a treetop about 100 yards away. Its these little details that make connections to my most beloved and biggest memories.

All the ones who taught me to fish have passed on now. Every November 3rd I fish on my dad's birthday.

My first experience ever fishing was with two of my brothers and my dad . We lived in Lubbock Tex but grandparents lived in Kaufman Tex on a farm about 7 miles out of town . Grandpa had only one tank at the time . I learned on a cane pole . Caught my first brim and dad took a picture of me holding the pole and line the little 3" brim was on but i was proud ! My other brother just older than me did the same thing . An older brother (teenager) had a 5' rod with a zebco 33 reel on it . I got introduced to the zebco this trip , older brother caught a catfish and i didn't know it (maybe 1-lb) and he fixed it on the hook and let it swim out and he called me to hold his rod and when i did he told me to reel it in ! I didn't know how but he showed me and i thought for a long time i caught that catfish but later i found out the truth . All the time tho it's been the most relaxing and exciting event in my life . Then i moved to W.Tex and now i hardly get to go but i do try at least a couple times or more a year only cause it's a bit far to drive one way which i do spend all day when i go . But i do have the same memories everyone here is feeling and have had .