Why We Catfish

Guest Editorial – by Bryan Norsworthy

It had rained most of the night, and the biggest part of the day. You could see blue sky peeping through the clouds back in the west. As I stood on the ramp waiting for another boat to launch, the lady standing next to me kept asking the same question over and over. “Do you think we will do any good?” I put my sunglasses on so she couldn’t see the doubt in my eyes and I replied, “I just don’t know. We should, but I just don’t know.”

                As we idled around searching for bait I managed to catch half a dozen shad and a couple of big yellow tails. The whole time I was thinking what a complete disaster this afternoon of fishing was going to be.

I dropped anchor in about 42 feet of water and faked my best over-confident look. I glanced at her and said, “This is where the biguns hide.” I cut up the bait making it as appealing as I possibly could. I baited four rods and placed them in the holders.

As time went by we reeled in a couple small fish. The sky was getting brighter as the afternoon passed. She sat patiently and quietly listening to the current with anticipation in her eyes. Then it happened. The rod to the far right went down hard. I set the hook and handed her the rod.

I instructed her in fighting the fish. “Hold the rod tip up, don’t let any slack in the line.” I figured it was a good fish, but I wasn’t expecting what I was about to see.

I looked down at the water and saw a blue cloud rising to the surface. Then things changed, and I do mean quick! I netted the fish and observed the excitement the lady showed. It was more excitement than I have seen a child have at Christmas time.

Following a few pictures, we released the fish to fight another day. As we stood on the ramp, after loading the boat, she gave me a big hug. The look on her face showed that she meant every squeeze that she had made in that big hug.

 Later that night as I was drinking a cup of coffee and planning the remainder of the day, all I could see was that smile on her face and the excitement in her eyes as she reeled that fish in. My heart was warmer than the coffee I was drinking. Yep, it was a good day. Yep, It was truly a fantastic day. That my friends is what it’s all about.