I did not go fishing last Friday, but I still had a good fishing day, twice actually. The first event was hearing about an encounter on a stream that was told to me by Bad Ted Friend, Chris. I think it is worth relaying to you.

Chris is a dedicated steelhead angler, and he has a deep appreciation for the quality of fishing found in the Lake Erie tributaries. I have yet to fish them and Chris was calling me to set up a trip. He also wanted to tell me about his morning fishing.

As he tells it, he ran into a couple of anglers while steelhead fishing one the streams in our area. They had been watching Chris catch a couple of fish from a small pool, but respectfully (and ethically) watched from a short distance away. Eventually, Chris struck up a conversation with them and discovered that they had traveled from Washington to fish the Lake Erie tribs . That speaks volumes to the quality of the fishery we have, and of the fisheries management in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

He also discovered that they were a father and son team. The son had recently graduated from college and this trip was a celebration of his accomplishment.

When Chris asked them how they were doing, they sheepishly admitted to not catching anything yet. They were float fishing using spinning rods. Chris continued their conversation.

“What are you guys using?

The man at the bait shop gave us these red things and some minnows.

Based on my experience and what I am seeing today, I think we are getting a little late in the year for egg sacks. Put them away, hook those minnows through the tail, and you will catch some fish. Here, fish where I was fishing.”

And as he worked his way along the stream, Chris saw his new friends catch two fish.

But wait, “fish in my spot”? Who gives up a spot where he is catching fish? The answer to that question is actually pretty simple. A sportsman.

I love this story, simple as it is, because it encompasses principles that we all should promote and support. {Most of us do, and the rest need to.} Here we have a demonstration of ethical fishing and sportsmanship. By being a sportsman and not just another guy fishing, Chris may have turned a miserable fishing trip into a fun trip and a great memory. And isn’t that why we fish…for fun, to spend time with friends and family, and the memories?

I appreciate friends like Chris. Not just a sportsman, he is also a great ambassador for fishing, hunting, and conservation, especially in our area. He and his friend Don host one of the top forty outdoor podcasts, which, as they say, covers “all things hunting and fishing” in their area. Please check them out on the 120 Outdoors podcast.

So, that’s it for today. I hope you catch our next couple of posts. I will give you the titles, just to tease you a little and hopefully, “lure” you back. The first, “Talking Fishing with My Grandson” and then, as fishing season really gets cranked up, “Challenging Hans: 4 Species in 4 Days”.