Unknown boat set a collision course. What happened next is sign of the times

We were trolling south in a cove at San Luis Reservoir when an unknown boat going north veered off its course and headed directly for us. I changed my heading but the other vessel kept its collision course. What unfolded got me doing some introspection.

I was offended and irritated that someone was going to cut me off. I had the right of way, holding a steady course until the other boater initiated an intercept path. I held course; “He better wake up!” I thought. But I was getting anxious; was this someone trying to send me a message?

Instead, I heard a familiar voice call out from the enclosed cockpit of the unrecognized vessel. “Roger, how are you doing today? Any big fish?” It was an old friend in a new boat.

I tried to recover my composure but it wasn’t easy. My mental artillery had already been wheeled out.

My hair trigger reaction to defend the castle and go on high alert bothered me. Yeah, we need to be ready, but my whole narrative had gone from making one wrong assumption that led to another and so on. I had few facts. I realized that being emotionally stressed made it far too easy to let my imagination run amok. I had gone to DEFCON 1 about someone coming over to say hi. Why had I overreacted so badly?

What also jumped out at me after doing a postmortem and from my talks with other anglers is that we are all affected by the stressors going on right now.

I’ve found that when my emotional reserves to handle stress are running low is when this type of thing happens. Add to this the anxiety that most of us feel when we go to the lake as we try to reset and “relax.” When any issues come up that are exactly what we’re trying to get away from, the fireworks go off.

I know that I’m more on edge than ever before from the isolation. It’s also easier to let things “offend” when you’re not feeling like yourself and someone looks like they’re trying to crash your party and your path back to normalcy. I think all of us look at our time at the lake fishing as one of refuge. When I thought I had a looming potential problem, I just wanted it to go away. I already had enough issues; don’t mess with me!

We all go to the lake to relieve life’s pressures and worries, while trying to somehow also feel normal again. It’s a time capsule and a step back to normalcy, as well as how we want to feel at our best. Recharged and optimistic. Our special place.

Fishing is my haven of restoration, helping me feel more like my best self. I like it when I’m relaxed, easy, focused and feeling balanced. I don’t like feeling compromised and just ... plain ornery! We’re all feeling stressed, but after it’s all said, life is good — especially when we’re on the water. Be kind , patient , forgiving and slow to judge; we all need to give and receive those mercies on the lake and off.

Never give up!