|
|
OpinionSUNDAY NIGHT- Growing up in a boatSunday Night by MaryHelen Swanson, editor Our pastimes involved family outings, imagine that, all five of us together enjoying a day of activities. Sometimes it was rock hunting, other times sightseeing. Sometimes we had picnics after visiting museums and historic sites. Other times we explored Minnesotaís interesting towns and villages. Most of the time, from ice out to late fall, we went fishing. Again, you have to remember we didnít have much money. We never had a boat, a motor or fancy devices to enhance our fishing experiences. Our leisure days would start with the words, ìLetís go fishing,î and end with a mess of fish for cleaning, eating and freezing. It took little time for Dad to gather the gear; Mom packed a few sandwiches, a jar of water and the most necessary item - a wet rag in a plastic bread bag for wiping hands. Weíd head out to one of our favorite lakes where weíd rent a boat for about $1 a day, purchase a quarterís worth of minnows and climb into the row boat to our assigned seats. We could not afford to rent a motor, so Dad rowed us all around the lake. It was something like our driving trips. Mom would say ìturn hereî so Dad turned the boat, because usually Mom knew best about where the fish might be hiding on any particular day. Actually, when I think about it, Dad was the silent partner in the fishing excursions, but extremely necessary. I know he loved fishing, but even more than pulling in the big one, I think he enjoyed watching my mother and us three girls catching fish. If we were lucky (and we rarely got ìskunkedî) weíd find the crappies or sunfish and enjoy filling our basket with a nice mess of panfish. The lakes I remember most included Bald Eagle, Big Lake, Green Lake, Birch Lake, Grey Eagle, Prior Lake, Big Island Lake, Square Lake . . .and the clearest lake ever south of the Twin Cities that started with an M. So clear was this lake-even more so than Square lake- that my little sister and I could drop lines down and pick out which fish we wanted to take our bait. I caught my first walleye at age four. I got the best tans from hours in the boat. I learned lessons of nature. I daydreamed and planned a future that included catching the ìbig oneî someday. I enjoyed my familyís company for years and years carrying my love of fishing (and relaxing summer days) over to my own family when I grew up. I met a man who loved to fish. What more could you ever want from life than a good day shared with your family, sitting in the warm sunshine while waiting for the fish to bite? It may have been a simple life, but it was good. This weekend is the opener for fishing season; many folks will be anxious to get out on the lake. They will have fancy boats, gigantic motors and new-fangled electronic equipment. They will bypass the panfish in search of Minnesotaís famous walleye, perhaps catch a few, and then dock that expensive boat for the rest of the summer. Please be careful as you head out to the lake, remember, fishing is supposed to be relaxing and fun . . . like the good old days. ©ECM Post Review |