I found out there is absolutely no better way to spend a Saturday evening in August than taking two nephews on their first fishing adventure.
Maybe it was because for the last 32 years in August, the Mangas family has jigged for walleye and cast for Northern pike — but our favorite fishing camp is not open this year. Maybe it was because I was missing the sounds and taste of walleye shore lunches sizzling in the big cast iron pan over an open fire. Maybe I was pining for the task of changing lures and bait, and the boat trash talk and camaraderie with fellow fishermen.
When I found out two of my nephews had never gone fishing, I knew I was destined to be their “fishing-with-a bobber” master. After the Hubby got four rods and reels ready and stopped to get red-worms and crickets (no minnows this time), we picked up the boys and told them the first three important things in fishing:
1. Make sure you have your fishing gear. (They did, thanks to their Uncle Steve.)
2. Make doubly sure you have snacks. (We stopped at a gas station but they’d already packed their own drinks and healthy snack — thanks to mom Amanda.)
3. Have fun.
A friend graciously allowed us access to their private pond in Mooresville, so away we went. I think I may have been whistling “The Fishin’ Hole” — the theme song to the Andy Griffith Show as I envisioned walking toward the pond next to my nephews carrying our fishing rods like Andy and Opie.
My nephews Isaac, 12, and Drew, 9, listened intently as their Uncle Steve briefly gave them instructions on how to bait the hook, cast into the pond, and when and how to set the hook when the red and white bobber disappears under the pond surface. A quick 60-second tutorial as he handed them the pre-baited rod and reel, so they could get to the task of being fishermen.
Some of our conversation went like this:
Drew: “I got another one!”
Me: Taking off Drew’s bluegill as Steve unhooked Isaac’s bluegill, “Have you guys ever seen the Andy Griffith TV show?”
Isaac: “Yea, where that sheriff takes his boy fishing?”
Drew smiled, looked up and nodded affirmatively.
Me: “Yes — and by the way, you have great parents,” as I start whistling the Andy Griffith Show theme song again.
After Drew caught his eighth fish within 30 minutes, he and I moved north around the pond. He noted, “This reminds me of ‘Fortnite’ — me and Isaac or Eli sometimes fish out of the same fishing hole.”
Me: “’Fortnite’ is that computer game you guys play, right?”
Drew: “Yea, and sometimes guys fish all together.”
Later as Uncle Steve kept us in bait, doling out a half red-worm per hook, Drew got serious and pensive asking, “Hey, Aunt Janet, where do you buy these?”
Me: “What?”
Drew: “This fishing stuff?”
Me: “Oh, the rods and reels?”
Drew smiling: “Yea.”
Me: “From any store really — Honey Creek Tackle, Walmart, the Outdoorsman Sport Shop, Rural King.”
Drew: “How much does it cost?”
With that question, I knew he was hooked on the sport.
Isaac and I each hauled in eight fish — mostly pan-fry size bluegill, a large-mouth bass and one catfish. Drew brought in a whopping thirteen.
Steve patiently kept us baited and untangled with a big smile on his face, since he had gone fly-fishing the previous week.
The next week, I curiously looked up fishing on ‘Fortnite’ and found Eurogamer.net explanation of the best fishing spot locations in the game:
“If you’re familiar with battle royale in ‘Fortnite,’ then you already know fishing spots are a constant in lakes and rivers. You probably won’t have trouble finding them on your own, but it’s tricky to find a quiet enough place to complete the challenge without other players interrupting the calm moment. Plus, fishing rods aren’t everywhere.
The following spots in the map below have fishing roads nearby, as well as plenty of opportunities to fish…”
For some reason this took me back to “The Fishin’ Hole” and Andy Griffith:
“Well now, take down your fishing pole
And meet me at the fishing hole.
We may not get a bite all day
But don’t you rush away.
What a great place to rest your bones
And mighty fine for skipping stones.
You’ll feel fresh as a lemonade a-setting in the shade.
Whether it’s hot, whether it’s cool
Oh what a spot for whistling like a fool.
What a fine day to take a stroll and wind up at the fishing hole
I can’t think of a better way to pass the time of day.”
Janet Hommel Mangas grew up on the east side of Greenwood. The Center Grove area resident and her husband are the parents of three daughters. Send comments to letters@dailyjournal.net.
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