BRIAN JOHNSON ON OUTDOORS: Five resolutions your fishing partner wishes you’d make
Published 8:53 pm Saturday, December 30, 2017
It’s that time of year again … the time of year when we all make our New Year’s resolutions.
Most of us will resolve to be a better person, a better money manger, or to get into shape. However I have come up with a short list of resolutions that your fishing partner probably wishes you would make.
If you already do these things then you are welcome to fish with just about anyone. If not, well there is always room for improvement:
1. I will be early for every fishing trip
There is nothing worse than a late fishing partner. No doubt, I enjoy sleeping in as much or more than the next guy. However, a fishing trip is no time to hit the snooze button.
Every fisherman knows that those first minutes of daylight are magical. Dusk and dawn are the times of day that most fish are usually caught and no one wants to miss this golden opportunity because their partner was too lazy to wake up.
If you are having trouble waking up early then plan to go to bed earlier. Heck, you might even want to set two alarms. By resolving to be a few minutes earlier than agreed upon, you will relieve a lot of stress from your partner. Who knows … you might even catch the big one.
2. I will bring my own tackle
We all know the guy who shows up with little to no tackle. If he does bring a tackle box, it is evident that it belongs to his grandpa. The spinner bait skirts are melted together in a sticky mess, the soft plastics appear to have cross-bred as they now share each other’s colors, and all of his hard baits have rusted hooks. He is secretly hoping to use your baits. He obviously knows the high cost of today’s fishing lures and doesn’t want to make the investment.
Instead, he has decided to mooch if of you. Don’t be this guy! He never gets invited back. If you do find yourself borrowing baits, be sure to pay for or replace them. A little common courtesy goes a long way.
3. I will cast in my zone
There are some things that every fisherman should be taught from a young age. As a young boy who grew up with brothers, my dad would take us bass fishing at Sam Rayburn.
Sometimes we all four would be in the same boat. The guy in the front would cast ahead of the boat while the two middle guys would cast straight out from where they were in the boat. The guy in the back could cast anywhere directly out or behind the boat. These were our “zones”, and as long as everyone observed this rule, there were no issues. If someone got greedy and cast in the wrong place, we usually ended up in a tangled mess. When you fish this year make it a point to never cast over someone else’s line of to cut them off with your cast.
4. I will pay my fair share
If you are the guy who owns the boat that is being used, then you have certainly paid your part. There are so many expenses that go along with boat ownership. New boats today can be in excess of $80,000.
They have regular maintenance to be kept up with, as well as registration fees and insurance payments. If you happen to be the co-angler, and not the boat owner, there are some things you can do to increase your chances of being invited back.
First you should pay for all of the gas. This could include truck and boat if you don’t own either. It is much cheaper to buy gas than to go buy your own boat.
Also volunteer to pay for any snack or meals on the trip. While your partner might not take you up on this offer, it is still the right thing. By paying your fair share it will ease some of the financial burden for your buddy and also let him know that you are not a free loader.
5. Don’t leave until the work is done
In fact, it is a good idea to help with the work before the trip as well. Meet at your partner house the night before to load the boat and pack all of the gear in the truck. Once the trip is over, be sure to help unload, clean the fish, and help clean the boat. This may include washing, vacuuming, and flushing the engine. Help your partner park the boat and unhook it from the truck as well. While this may seem petty, it goes a long way.
A good fishing partner is a great partner. Not just in the boat catching fish, but throughout the entire trip. My son is my fishing partner and he knows exactly what his role is. We are a great team and we each do our part. From packing to launching, and clean up, we share the load. I encourage you this year to make the necessary resolutions to be the kind of fishing partner that your buddy wouldn’t dream of fishing without.
Happy New Year and may God richly bless you in all you do! I pray every fishing trip is successful and you catch the big one. Remember, if you get a chance … take a kid fishing. Y’all will both be glad you did!
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Brian Johnson, originally of Port Neches, is pastor of the Outdoorsman’s Church in Winnie, owner of DuckDogTrainer.com and the outdoors writer for The News.