Reflections on 2009

As I was thinking back over all the fishing I've done this year and some of the conversations I've had with people at the lakes and streams, one conversation really stuck out in my mind.

I was fishing in a lake at a local state park. There is a fairly steep hill leading up to the lake. I had been fishing for about an hour and there was a man sitting by the lake. He looked to be in his mid 60's. He had a fishing rod with him and a tackle box but in the hour I had been working the bank looking for bluegill, I didn't see him make a single cast, he was just sitting there looking over the water.

I worked my way toward him and when I got closer, I noticed he didn't look real good. I sat down and started talking with him. He seemed like a nice guy and I asked if he was OK. He said yes, why. Well, mister, you look kind of pale and I thought I'd ask. NO, this isn't going to be a ghost story.

The man looked at me and smiled and thanked me for asking. He had a heart attack earlier that week. He snuk out of the house to go fishing. He said his wife was worried about him and had called his cell phone several times while there and he kept telling her he was OK.

I asked him why he walked up that hill to this lake so soon after being so sick. He said he had been fishing that lake for over 30 years and while he was in the hospital, he realized it was his favorite place on Earth. He figured he could die looking at the ceiling of a hospital, or he could die doing the one thing he loved to do most of all. We talked for another 15 minutes or so and I went on along the shore line catching bluegill. Every time I caught one, the man congratulated me. He said he was having more fun watching me work those bluegill with my fly rod and popper than he would if he was fishing himself.

I offered to let him catch a few with it but he declined saying he'd rather watch an "expert" work over those bluegill. I told him I wasn't an expert. He said anyone who can cast one of those things and catch as many fish as I was must be an expert. I reassured him of his error in judgment, we both laughed.

A little while later, he got up and started heading back to his car. I had caught enough fish that night and walked back down the hill with him. I didn't want him going down there alone. We got to the cars, he put his stuff in the trunk of his car, I put my stuff away, we chatted for a couple minutes about what a pretty evening it was and went to our cars to head home. He rolled down his window and thanked me. For what I asked.

He said for saving his life. I asked what he meant. It seems he had gone to the lake that night prepared to die. Watching me catch a bunch of bluegill made him realize his life wasn't over. I asked if it was ok to pray for him and he said yes.

I never saw him at that lake again and wonder if he died or if we just never crossed paths.

Anyway, that was without a doubt the best conversation I had with anyone fishing this year (or any year that I can remember).

Jeff

Jeff, That was BEAUTIFUL!! I don't know if I will ever get to even equal that. I know that I would thank the Lord if he ever put me in such a situation for haveing the trust in me to do as you did!!

Wow, an incredible story and encounter. I'm constantly reminded of the beauty of flyfishing and the wonderful people and situations we meet. Thanks for sharing.

Kelly.

That was a great story, as a guy about 5 weeks shy of 64 I can tell you mid-60's is too young to be thinking about dying anytime soon. I hope he got his health restored and is looking for a first flyrod.

I was thinking earlier about a flyrod I inherited when a friend moved and didn't have a place to store it anymore. When I finish reworking it and adding an old extra reel I have there is a guy I know who has a couple of neat sons. I think they need something to start with and when it warms up we will try out a float tube with at least the oldest son, probably both.

Jeff, may be the only guy around who saved a life with a flyrod in 2009.

Thats a powerful story, and a lesson as well. Thanks for sharing it!

Jeff,

You are a hero! If you had not come along when you did, the elderly gentlemen may have passed on that night. Your compassion saved his life. Your story is a great lesson for us all. Thank you for sharing it with us.

wow that is wonderful and moving to say the least!

Very nice Jeff. Way to go! Thanks for sharing and pointing out that there is more than one way to share the Lord's love.

Most times after people find out I have been out on a fishing trip, they ask me, " how many did you catch, how big where the fish?" I most time respond with, " flyfishing is not just catching fish, its how I go about catching the fish. Theres alot more to that statement that people don't see, but its the only way I can think to say it in a short response.
Sure I want to catch fish and larger ones are nice, but I can almost say, that if that was the only reason Jeff was out on the water that day, that he may not have noticed that person or may not have taken the time to converse with him. I am not attemping to speak for Jeff, I am speaking from my point of view...

Jeff thank you for a wonderful story and helping to make some ones life better...:)