Firstly, I think it important to understand the level to which fishing has consumed my life.
Fishing has become, over the past few years, my true passion. I need it, I yearn for it, I work more hours now so I can take time off in the spring for it. I find nothing in the world as relaxing and exciting as being on the water searching for my elusive foe.
I feel it mostly spiritually. Being a guy that believes in God and his son, yet not being the Sunday morning go to meetin' kind. The water is my church, the boat my pew, and my preacher - god's creation. I see his beauty, majesty, and power in every sunrise...fog lifting slowly off the water...birds and fowl of every sort flying, swimming, and diving around; he's in there, every bit. Every fish I catch seems to glow with creation. I know this sounds odd and a bit obsessive. All I can say to that is...I don't care, I love it. I feel truly connected to the earth and its creator when I'm out there.
I spent most of my life liking different things. I liked motorcycles, cooking, baseball...I have liked lots of things throughout my life but never had I found something that I loved. Yes, I love my family and friends, but never a thing. This thing...this thing I love. It fills me with something that eludes most...joy.
Having attempted to explain how I feel about fishing, one should understand the symptoms of that obsession.
I spent last season fishing out of a 14 foot jon boat and trolling motor. Not the quickest way to get around on any body of water, but my sanctuary none-the-less. I upgraded my vessel to a 1986 17' Fiberglass bass boat by Bass-Hawk, which are no longer produced. When Bass-Hawk was in business they were made in Olive Hill Kentucky, which adds to my buy local frame of mind. I love it. Yes it's old, yes the gel coat is faded, but it's mine. It has character and class, if a boat can have either. The 115 Johnson outboard, made around the same time as the boat, runs like a dream with a top speed of about 45 mph. It's not going to outrun a Ranger but frankly I fish better than most of those guys anyway, or at least that's what I think. This is symptom number 1, buying a bass boat before buying a new car that you really need. Don't worry the boat is paid off now and I have recently purchased a new car to tow it with. Which presents symptom number 2, buying a car based on its ability to tow a 2000 pound bass boat. Not on its safety rating or gas millage.
After the season was over, meaning cold weather set in, I had the boat winterized and in the back yard it sits waiting till the first warm spell in February or March. Now the big question is what the hell do I do now that I can't get on the water!
Hunting, something I had never really done until this year, was on the agenda. I shot and killed my first deer this year. I must say, it was exciting, fun, and felt absolutely great to be in the woods, even at 5am. Not to mention, delicious.
After having spent November in the woods, distraction was much needed. Not having my usual lake time outlet of pent up energy, I needed something. Jann's netcraft offered the outlet. I began making lures. I had designed jigs and spinnerbaits in the past and continued producing more and more. Every size and color combination lay across my work bench, but I wanted to do more. Now plastic lures take up most of my space on the bench. Again, I love it. Flukes, worms, senkos, craws, and creature baits. Softener, hardener, colors, molds, dyes, and glitter. It's like a chemical craftstore in my basement. I know how great it will feel when I catch a bass on a hunk of plastic that I designed and created.
All for what? The love of the game? Catch a fish? What is it? For me, it's a combination nature and the connection to it, the spiritual closeness it makes me feel, and yes catching a slouch. You can thank Mark Zone for that.
I guess my point here is that the world is really so very awesome find that thing that brings you joy, and pursue it constantly.
This blog with feature mostly reports from Cedar Creek Lake in Stanford, KY, but may also have some reports from fishing elsewhere around the state and perhaps the world. Feel free to post comments and pictures
Also check out the Cedar Creek Lake FaceBook page here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cedar-Creek-Lake/202952089718249
Justin
