Life Lessons Learned at the Lake

I never heard him complain about having me tag along on his weekend fishing trips.

In fact, I haven’t heard my dad complain about much in all my life. His life has been far from easy and not without trials yet he doesn’t waste time whining about it. He perseveres and endures which are some of the many lessons I’ve learned from him. He worked long hours most of my childhood, leaving a couple of hours before I was awake each morning and not returning until dinner time. He would eat dinner with us, work in the yard, tend to our huge garden, then go to bed and wake up to do it all again. 

The weekends were his relaxing time and heading to our family cabin by Henry’s Lake to fish was his favorite way to relax. We would load up some clothes, food, lots of fishing gear and head up to Island Park almost every weekend all summer long. I’m his youngest child and when all of us kids were at home, we would all go camping but as my siblings got jobs and left home, it became just the two of us more often than not.

My dad is a diehard fisherman through and through. He takes fishing serious and can teach anyone to catch a fish. I’ve never met someone as dedicated. He not only takes notes but also knows the surrounding lake’s and reservoir’s best fishing spots. He knows which lures work at what time of day in what weather conditions. He will put the lure on your line that he knows will work while experimenting with something new on his. He paints his own lures and ties his own flies. He does it all.

I got a front-row seat to his skills for many years and didn’t appreciate it the way I should have. It’s hard how much of life we take for granted and don’t value until it’s gone. I’m grateful for what I learned sitting in our boat with my dad in the middle of the lake.

I’ve always loved to talk and having my dad all to myself without anyone or anything around to distract him was amazing. He never told me to stop talking and would just listen. Of course, we had to talk quietly so we wouldn’t scare the fish but the undivided attention was valuable to me growing up and it’s valuable to my kids.

My dad taught me to truly listen to and care about my kids.

He taught me that our children should be seen and heard.

My dad taught me patience in many ways.

He could fish for hours and only a big storm would get him to turn the boat towards the marina before sunset most days. Sitting on a boat on a hot summer day is great for an hour or two but as a child, I would grow impatient. He would distract me with a story or a snack. Fishing is not a quick experience though so I learned patience as I watched the end of the rod for a movement on the line.

I lost many lures over our years of fishing. I remember waiting for my dad to get angry one particular day as I got his brand new pop gear stuck in a mass of seaweed. It was stuck hard at the bottom of the lake and there was nothing we could do but cut the line.

He didn’t yell but then again, I don’t remember him ever yelling. He reminded me how to not have that happen next time and put another set on my pole. I asked my dad recently how he never gets angry and he said that life is too short and it doesn’t help anything. My dad wasn’t one to do much catch and release fishing. He wouldn’t release a fish even if it was small if it wouldn’t survive from being hooked. I learned to respect all living things, that every life matters.

His love of nature is inspiring and he taught me to appreciate the outdoors. My dad treats everyone the same and doesn’t care much about appearances. He takes the time to talk to and help anyone who needs it. He is kind to everyone and everything.

My dad would study the fishing rules and regulations every year. Every lake can have different catch limits and he made sure he knew what we could and couldn’t do. From fishing rules to the laws of the land, my dad taught me to have integrity and to do what is right.

As a veteran and a proud American, he taught me to love and appreciate this great country we live in.

Even when storms rolled in across the lake, my dad remained calm. He made me feel safe even when the waves were rocking the boat. He would get all our poles reeled in and pack up. I never felt scared. I trusted my dad and knew he would protect me.

He taught me to be a strong girl but he also taught me to not be afraid.

I don’t know how my dad seemed to be prepared for every situation but he just was. I remember him throwing in an extra sleeping bag or more food than we needed. He was quick on his feet and though he probably wasn’t always sure what to do, I didn’t know it.

He seemed to have an answer for everything and I thought my dad was a genius. My friends called him a mountain man and he truly is so wise. I have become an over-packer and try to think ahead for what situations could arise so I can try to be prepared for anything like he was.

Now, my kids go fishing with my dad. They love time with grandpa.  I went with them last year and as we sat on his boat in the middle of the lake, I was reminded of these many lessons I’ve learned from him and am grateful that they too are learning them.

I try not to take time for granted like I did as a child and I truly appreciate these special memories for my children and I. We can’t rewind time so we have to make the most of it and keep going. I know with who we are willing to spend our time on shows our love. Getting outside in a boat or on a trail is a great way to spend our time.

Life can’t be all work and no play. I’m proud to be the daughter of a fisherman who is passionate about life and learning. The old saying of “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day but teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” often comes to mind as I think about all I’ve learned from my dad. I’m grateful for the life lessons I learned at the lake while he taught me how to fish.