Fishing: Roger’s Remarks for July 8

I recently had an 83-year-old fisherman call me up to take him fishing at San Luis, and the productive outing got me to thinking about the changes I have seen in older anglers — especially the ones still out doing it. When Bill first called, I asked what he wanted to do: Catch some stripers or try for a bigger one, which is what most folks are looking for in a trip. His answer: “Neither! I just want to have a great day on the water enjoying the lake, the wildlife and if we catch something that’s just gravy!” Sounded like my job just got easier, but the way that he had explained it to me, that he just wanted to have a great experience, got my curiosity up.

Launching the boat, I headed for one of my spots, as Bill was sucking in the whole scene. He had gone by the lake multiple times, but hadn’t been on it before. He also told me that he had never caught a striper before, either. I asked him why he wanted to catch one and he said it was on his “bucket list.” Hopefully, this was going to be a day of firsts!

We’re only trolling along for about 100 yards when the pole starts jerking and I hand it off to Bill. It already seems like a heavier fish to me, but as it got near the boat I could see that it was much bigger than the usual schoolie stripers we catch. I net it, lifting the nice fish into the boat for a quick release. It is more than 26 inches and fat, way above the normal. Great fish to start with!

Nonchalantly, Bill asks, “Is that a decent fish?” Well, yeah, I tell him, as I realize he’s not really aware of what a good striper should weigh here and also that the fish wasn’t that important to him. His perspective on the whole trip was summed up when he told me that “I just don’t know how many trips I have left, so I look at the whole trip now, and the fish are just extra!” He was excited about everything, not just the fish. A better perspective, I wondered?

Next trolling run we hook up again and this fish feels heavy, too, as I again give Bill the pole. Reeling like crazy, I get him to slow down as the line moves toward the boat and I’m thinking we may have an 8- to 10-pounder here on just his second fish. I’m getting things out of the way when I suddenly look up and see the line going over the back of the boat near the engine! I had turned my back for a minute and I hadn’t cautioned him not to do that. I had to get back to the motor quickly and make sure the line wasn’t in the prop. As I looked over the back, I followed the line down into the water where it ended with the massive head of a striper swimming right up to the engine! The fish had come in like a puppy on a leash. Yikes! He was still reeling as it rolled on its side by the engine where the near 20-pound fish just lay still for about 3 seconds. I frantically tried to develop some slack line for the blast I was sure would come when the fish exploded, throwing the lure and water back at me!

Unflustered, Bill asked, “Was that a good one?” It would have been a good picture, I said. “Yeah, I’m having a blast out here and the water is so perfect!” he continued unfazed. The lost fish was not on his mind. I think we ended up with 12 fish, and at that point it didn’t really matter to him. I could now feel the silent ticking clock he knew marked each of his trips, and that the game had changed for him, from a compulsion to catch something to one where he made every inexpressibly valuable moment on the water count!

As we said goodbye, it struck me that after all of it, he had gotten exactly what he had hoped for that day: Some peace! Never give up!

This story was originally published July 7, 2015 at 5:41 PM with the headline "Fishing: Roger’s Remarks for July 8."