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21 replies

Gone fishing...

jerseydadjerseydad1,000+ posts
I was visiting my son at Spring Training this week and he was telling me about his new roommates for the upcoming season. He was really excited about the guys he would be living with saying that they were a bunch of “good old boys” (Texas and Georgia) and he loved hanging out with them. Aside from baseball their backgrounds are quite different so they told my son they needed to break him in to the ways of the south. Being a southerner myself I wasn’t sure that was going to be such a good thing but I guess he received his initiation…

Tonight I received a picture text from jerseyson holding up what looked like a Small Mouth Bass with the caption "My first fish!” After I stopped laughing I text him back asking if he took the fish off the hook himself or if his friends did it for him…his reply was “one step at a time dad, but they did make me kiss the fish”. The look on his face was priceless. I don't know why but it then hit me that my son that is old enough to order a beer had never gone fishing before. More to the point, it hit me even harder that I had never taken him fishing… (something I did almost daily during my summers as a kid).

Now it’s not like we didn’t spend time together, I think it would be safe to say we probably spent more time together than the average father and son. As many of you know, that’s one thing that a family with a baseball habit enjoys…time together. No regrets on that front, I wouldn’t trade those memories for the world however I guess it frustrated me now looking back that so much of the time spend on baseball fields might have kept us from doing other things together…like fishing (or anything else for that matter).

Maybe it’s just me however it seems like things have changed so much over the years for our children. I can’t speak for everyone’s kids however I know that with all their structured activities my three kids didn’t have a lot of free time. With the "full time" aspect of many of our children’s athletic, music or scholastic endeavors it makes me wonder how many of life’s little joys like fishing, riding a bike or just taking a hike in the woods our kids miss out on?

I’m not sure that there is any great message here and I’m certainly not saying the added structure our kids experience is a bad thing however I do know one thing for sure…that picture served as bit of a wakeup call for me…I missed out on something special with my oldest son and one thing is for sure, I’m going to ask my youngest son if he wants to go fishing next weekend.

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JMoffJMoff1,000+ posts
Jersey:

My grandfather and father took me fishing many, many times. I took my son 'a few times'.

When I grew up, we lived in on the Atlantic Ocean in New Hampshire. You couldn't drive 1/2 mile without hitting the ocean or a lake.

My son grew up in Phoenix, where there are urban lakes but basically, we're in a desert. You don't have the same options. I took him to a few urban lakes when he was younger, but travel ball put a stop to much of the fishing.

He traveled every year to my folks, who have a place on the NC shore and he'd spend hours fishing off the pier. He grew to love fishing

Lately, he's found a place a few miles from here which is stalked, doesn't require a license (catch and release signs everywhere, which are followed). He's taken friends there and mom and I have gone down several times to watch. He's even taken dates there.

When this whole baseball thing is over, we're going to Mexico, renting a boat and catching a Marlin. I can't wait.
S smalltownmom100+ posts
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. My father, an avid fisherman, passed away when I was 7 months pregnant with our youngest. My husband didn't ever fish that much, and alas, even living in fishing heaven, we have not raised our sons to be great fishermen. My mom thinks every young man should fish, and every year until they were teenagers she got them a rod and reel and tackle box for Christmas. Well, during Spring Break of my son's freshman year in HS he went fishing with a friend. It was just like the picture you described. Since then we have fished a little, and really enjoyed it. I forgot how fun it was. When my sister and I were young we used to catch fish and put them in the bath tub with us (along with some river water), basically play tag. Mom and Dad had a trailer at a fish camp, and we thought we were in paradise when we went there. Then we would take them back to the river. Recently I was telling someone that one of my regrets was I didn't pass down the love of fishing to my children. He told me, "it's never too late, and just look what they have to look forward to." To mom's delight, we have started to use some of those rod n/ reels and the tackle. Our boys are more than a little impressed their mom is a pretty good fisherwoman. Don't have any regrets though. Our children have thoroughly enjoyed all of the time my husband spent with them playing ball, as I'm sure your son did. Those southern boys will have him proficient in no time at all!
ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
Fishing is proudly in my bio on this site. I started a thread a few years back about fishing and baseball. There seems to be some type of pastoral link between the two. Ted Williams, for example, was an avid fisherman.

I am glad I exposed my son to fishing because I believe it is one of life's great stress relievers. You don't have to catch a fish to get the benefits but it sure gets the adrenalin flowing when you do Smile He did not fish that much in spring training this year but he always fishes in South Carolina during the offseason. When we visit him there, I manage to get a few casts in myself.

We are very fortunate to have a 5 year old grandson whose father is my non-baseball playing son. It seems we are getting to relive all the cool baseball experiences I had with my sons but at a much more relaxed place in our lives where things don't seem like life and death anymore. He seems to love baseball and is really good at it but I fully intend to take him fishing as well. No reason fathers can't also take their daughters - you just have to get them over the "ickiness" of things which little boys don't seem to have too much of a problem with Big Grin
Last edited by ClevelandDad
BaseballmomandCEPBaseballmomandCEP1,000+ posts
Great thread, it is making me nostalgic.

My two sisters and I were daughters who didn't mind the 'ick' factor, CD, and many of my best, best memories with dad (who is 93 but who probably cast his last line about 5 years ago....)were fishing.

We grew up on the south shore of Long Island, so hot summer nights casting lines off the local dock to catch blow fish after dinner with dad was a regular activity, for all SEVEN of us, and surf casting many weekends out on the east end.


Dad's best friend was a clammer, so we had lots of fresh fish and clams from the Great South Bay. Times were real tight with 7 kids so it helped the food budget out considerably.


Year ago my dad did take my kids to a little pond up here in CT, and we had a great family trip where my dad, my husband and my 3 year old daughter were surf casting in NC (Emerald Isle I think).

Don't do much fishin' any more, but we have had few chances..... Maybe I'll bring the fishing poles along this summer. Any lakes near Marietta ??? lol

Thanks for the thread, it is a good message. We do have great quality time thanks to baseball and we are grateful for that, for sure. But nothing better than kicking back and waiting for the fish to bite.
keewartkeewart10,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by BaseballmomandCEP:
Maybe I'll bring the fishing poles along this summer. Any lakes near Marietta ??? lol


We reserved a lakefront cottage on Lake Allatoona for our WWBA week in Marietta. We may have to drive a bit more for games but it will be so worth it.

There are several state parks on/near Lake Allatoona, that may allow fishing. I know they have docks, picnic areas, etc...!

Gosh...I hope I didn't just give away a nice secret...!
Last edited by keewart
Backstop-17Backstop-17500+ posts
My son and I were just talking about this last night. He is a country boy caught in a city life, and really enjoys any chance to get away to family up north to enjoy the fishing/hunting activities. We are lucky in Tampa to have ponds and piers to fish from.

We were talking about his friends on the team who like to fish (Florida Fan’s son is the team fishing guru with the best stories) and why the players like to fish so much. His comment was “I think so many ballplayers are into fishing because we have so little down time in our lives, and when we are in season (January – August) we miss out on what other people take for granted.” He notices that many of his friends that have gone pro seem to spend time in the off season fishing because it is so relaxing.

There could be a number of worse things that they could spend their down time on. Thanks for the stories!!
G gotwood4sale10,000+ posts
.

    "Gosh...I hope I didn't just give away a nice secret...!"

I don't think you did entirely keewart, we now know you'll be in Marietta for a week during the WWBA, but you cleverly didn't reveal which week!

"I wonder what other secrets keewart has?"......"Well certainly not anything about Cooper Creek just north of the dam and the 6" Top Water Bull Shad on 15 lb. test fitted to a swimbait rod."

.
BaseballmomandCEPBaseballmomandCEP1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by keewart:
quote:
Originally posted by BaseballmomandCEP:
Maybe I'll bring the fishing poles along this summer. Any lakes near Marietta ??? lol


We reserved a lakefront cottage on Lake Allatoona for our WWBA week in Marietta. We may have to drive a bit more for games but it will be so worth it.

There are several state parks on/near Lake Allatoona, that may allow fishing. I know they have docks, picnic areas, etc...!

Gosh...I hope I didn't just give away a nice secret...!



QUICK!! Delete that post!!! (and send me your realtor's name ...)
Bulldog 19Bulldog 195,000+ posts
I didn't do much fishing growing up. First time I went fishing probably was in like 6th or 7th grade. Mom and I went to WalMart and bought a cheap fishing pole. Neither of us had any idea what I needed, but we were going fishing with the Boy Scout troop and I needed a pole! Went out and that weekend and caught a 3/4 pound crappie and as a prize for catching the biggest fish I got another new fishing pole! Been fishing probably a dozen times since then Wink

I grew up on the ballfield and in the gym. That is what dad and I did. Dad did the sports thing and mom did the Scouts thing.. Smile
keewartkeewart10,000+ posts
(Quote) QUICK!! Delete that post!!! (and send me your realtor's name ...)[/QUOTE]

Has anyone looked yet at Mapquest to see how close Lake Allatoon is to Emerson, Ga?! I read that Red Top Mountain State Park, on the lake, had a lodge which closed about a year ago. If they knew what revenue could be had, they would do well to reopen it by summer 2013.

Back to fishing....I was the one in my family that would catch the most fish growing up. My dad would give us an Oreo cookie for each fish caught. When I got full, I stopped fishing for the day. Later as a teen, when my dad got a bigger boat, I realized I had (and still have) motion sickness. That ended my fishing, and come to think of it, camping as well.

"Camping" and "fishing" to my spouse is staying at a Holiday Inn and ordering crab cakes!
Last edited by keewart
keewartkeewart10,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by gotwood4sale:
.

"I wonder what other secrets keewart has?"......"Well certainly not anything about Cooper Creek just north of the dam and the 6" Top Water Bull Shad on 15 lb. test fitted to a swimbait rod."

.


Woody, I had to look up where Cooper Creek is, and the only Shad I am familiar with is the annual Shad Planking, which is now more of a political event in Virginia, held in April. You would need more than a 15 lb test line to reel some of those politicians in!
J HJ H5,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by keewart:

Has anyone looked yet at Mapquest to see how close Lake Allatoon is to Emerson, Ga?! I read Red Top Mountain State Park, on the lake, had a lodge which closed about a year ago. If they new what revenue could be had, they would do well to reopen it by summer 2013.



PGStaff, among others, seem to have already jumped at the opportunity to capitalize on said potential revenue.

http://www.daily-tribune.com/v...e-of-a-kind--complex
jp24jp245,000+ posts
Love this topic. Me and 14YO son do both -- baseball and fishing -- and almost always bring fishing gear to out of town tournaments. Just last week took HS softball-playing daughter to lake for some bank fishing ... just the two of us. It's all about quality time, baby! Take advantage of it while you can.

Last year, when we traveled from Dallas to Triple Crown National Tournament in Steamboat Springs, we packed rod & reels along with son's bat bag -- and had a blast catching and eating trout during downtime. Teammates joined us and learned to fish, too!

ClevelandDad's observation, "There seems to be some type of pastoral link between the two," is spot on IMO.

Henry David Thoreau said, "Some men fish their entire lives without ever realizing it's not really the fish they're after."

I think some men play baseball their entire lives without ever realizing it's not really the win they're after, either.

It's all about believing ... and hope. The next cast! The next pitch!

Anything's possible.

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