Remembering Dad

[Scott F]

Every Father's Day, I remember my dad who passed away 32 years ago, but introduced me to smallmouth fishing when I was only 10. My dad did not take many vacations when we were kids, but he did take a few days off in early summer to go fishing and a few days in the fall to duck hunt. Dad grew up in the Thousand Islands area of upstate New York and he never missed opening day of bass fishing which was always Father's Day weekend. In 1965, when I was 10, he took me with him for my first fishing trip. We drove all night from Northwest Indiana, through Canada and back into the US at Alexandria Bay NY. I remember the morning when we arrived just after daybreak. The skies were clear, and the sun was bright when I had my first boat ride from the dock in Chippewa Bay out to Oak Island where my Uncle Bill was the caretaker of an estate on the island. Right after we pulled up to the dock, uncle Bill gave me my first rod, a Zebco 202 and a short time later, I caught my first smallie. Dad wasn't a great fisherman, but he knew the spots around the islands where we could find em'. As I recall, about the only artificial lures we used were Abu Reflex spinners. Dad also had a fiberglass fly rod with an automatic fly reel he used to throw poppers with. The upper half of that rod weighed more than an entire graphite rod weighs today. He taught me to row the jon boat my uncle loaned us to keep him in position while he cast the popper along the rocky shorelines. On Sunday at lunch time, we pulled up onto a small island where dad would cook up a shore lunch of smallmouth fried in bacon grease, a can of beans and new potatoes. While he got the fire going, cleaned the fish and cooked, I cast that Abu from shore to add to our catch.
I joined dad for several Father's Day opening days after that until my job kept me from getting the time off. Right around the time I was able to get vacation days, dad got sick and passed away.
Those 4 or 5 days back in 1965 have had more influence on my life than any other in my 59 years. I fell in love with the water, the woods, road trips and smallmouth bass during that short trip. Today, I spend a lot of time working for the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance, my home is decorated with items that remind me of the St Lawrence River and the Northwoods, and I am always planning my next smallmouth fishing road trip. I will never as long as I live forget that trip.
Thanks for the memories dad, I miss you.

[*Hootie]

Great story, great memories. I am fortunate enough to still be fishing with my Son. He just turned fifty last month. Just so happens we're going fishing tomorrow. Making memories.

Hootie

[Scott F]

I hope he appreciates the time he gets to spend with you. Happy Father's Day!!

[skeeter1980]

My dad grew up in IL.,met my mom when he was stationed at the Navy Base in Brooklyn NY.He settled in NY,mom and dad raised five kids,with me being the worst one.Dad and I had many fights,about me staying out late and coming home drunk.But dad did take us boys fishing in upstate NY.He took us fishing,camping and hunting.All of my friends dad's didn't do that,with their sons.Dad passed away in 1995,I didn't think it would bother me much.But I fell apart.I made Delaware's eight man team in the 80's.I called up dad,and thanked him for teaching me how too fish.I passed on to my son,what dad taught me,now he's passing it on to his son.Dad I love and miss you.

[WVbassin87]

Great story. i hope i can make memories with my daughter that will have an impact on her like that

[MemphisFF]

I can really relate to this post and every Father's Day is hard for me.. My dad introduced me to fishing as soon as I was born there were pics of my mom changing my diapers in the boat.. My dad was a bass fisherman and to me he was the greatest even better than KVD.

I got only 16 years with him and glad I did as my little brother only got 5 he got cheated. But I know one day we will be fishing again, so many fishing memories I got with only a short 16 years... Happy Fathers Day Daddy..

[STPC]

Great story, great memories. I am fortunate enough to still be fishing with my Son. He just turned fifty last month. Just so happens we're going fishing tomorrow. Making memories.

Hootie

Sounds to me like he is the fortunate one.

[fishva]

Great stories, guys. I hope one day (many years from now), my boy will have similar ones to tell about our times together.

[Lund Explorer]

Father's Day for me growing up always revolved around golf.  That was my Dad's #1 passion right up until the day he died in 1988.  When he finally got around to fishing, it was when the lakes froze over and the fairways were buried in a blanket of snow.  While he enjoyed playing golf with the other grown-ups many days, he always had time to take my brother and I out for a round or two, and we always got more than enough ice fishing time in.  I've had more than one nightmare about frozen fingers to prove that.

 

When Father's Day rolls around each year, I remember that the best gift he gave me wasn't the addiction to bass fishing I suffer from, but the understanding that time spent with our children creates lifetime memories.  It sounds like many of us learned that same lesson.

[blongfishing]

I can relate to this. My grandpa died when I was 6. He was the best guide ever on lake Hartwell. He was the best man I ever met. I never got to fish with him too much but one of my favorite memories was when I was 3 me and him went down to the lake and we were carp fishing I believe and I fell in the lake. From then on we had a rope across the front of the dock. If could have one day with him we would go striper fishing. I bet he would be so proud if me and how I have picked up fishing as my hobby and passion. Although he did hated "them green fish" and "bass fishermen especially from North Carolina cause they couldn't drive". I miss him so much.

[bighed]

Thanks for that Scott F!  For the young cats out there, it was hard on dad (or uncle, or grandad, or...) when you grew up and left the nest.  After years spent getting you trained, he lost his fishing partner.  There is no better way to love your fishing father than to spend a day on the water with him.  For me, the countless days spent hanging with buddies long forgotten or chasing the girls I rarely caught all add up to less than one day fishing with my late dad.    

[Big Fish Rice]

Great story, absolutely! I realize not all guys and gals have the opportunity that you and I had when it comes to being introduced to the sport by our fathers, but these are the types of memories (and parents) that really deserve a whole lot of recognition. I hope you find peace this Father's Day...because it sure sounds like you had a great one...and many happy memories with him.

[Mike L]

Growing up on the streets of the Southside of Chicago there weren't any places to go fishing.

My Dad worked at a factory while my Ma stayed home with us kids.

I wish we had the opportunity to make the memories you guys have with your Dad, but it was another place and time.

What I did learn from him was Honor, Respect and an appreciation for the traditions of my family and heritage.

Even tho we really didnt have a chance to spend a lot of one and one time with each other, looking back on it now I wouldn't change a thing.

I have to stop now, it's getting hard to see the screen.

Happy Fathers Day Papa

Rest in Peace

Michael

[HeavyFisher]

May Dad may not have taught me many useful things in life but one thing he sure did was teach me how to be a fisherman, a true man of the water. 

[Fishes in trees]

I got along ok with my dad, but it had nothing to do with fishing.  I honestly am not sure where my obsession with fishing came from.  My dad's idea of a good time was sitting in air conditioning with some decent scotch.  If decent scotch wasn't available, cheap scotch would do.

 

In a sense I miss my dad, BUT, I am very aware that he had "feet of clay"  Primarily, he had a very deep seated fear of getting old, and therefore he didn't take real good care of himself, he frequently self-medicated using alcohol as his pain killer of choice.  He died at 59, with many health issues generally associated with guys much older than he was.

 

I probably have unresolved issues concerning my dad.  The only time I examine these issues is this time of year, around father's day.  After due consideration I've realized I have a dillygaf attitude on this subject.

 

In a way I feel that I am lucky.   For the most part, my relationship with my dad was cordial, even though I was aware of his faults (and he was aware of mine)   I have several good friends that had genuinely  rotten relationships with their dads, for a variety of reasons.  

 

For instance, I have a good fishing buddy whose dad left home when he was 15.   Gone, so long, didn't hear a peep out of him for several decades.  No clue where he was - out of sight, out of mind.

 

Then one day, 5 years ago, the old man shows up on his door step.   Hi - how are you?  I'm dying of cancer.  I'd like to get back into your life and get to know you now, during the last stages of my life.

 

My  bud thought about it, for about 5 minutes and came up with the answer -  Pops, hit the road - go away - you've obviously had several chances over the past few decades to contact me and you've waited until now, when you're dying to contact me.  Here's the story.  I put myself through college without you.  Earned a decent living without you.  Raised kids without you.  Buried your former wife without you.  Buried a sister without you. 

 

Too late bub  -  hit the road.  and he closed the door on that chapter of his life.

 

I understand that Fathers Day is a good time for recollecting and cherishing memories.   For a lot of us, those memories are mixed and for some of us, those memories are toxic.

 

Just an FYI, there are many of us boomers out there who had a decidedly mixed and complicated relationship with their fathers.

 

And I'm sure that there are many guys of my generation who put their children through several different kinds of torment.

 

Thanks for reading this rant.

[MemphisFF]

Sorry for you and your friends trails and tribulations with your fathers but I'm considered lucky to have mine as short as I did, I'm sorry you got that pinned up anger and really do think it's sad that you do, may god bless and help with your forgiveness with your father as the same with your buddy..

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Taught myself how to be a fisherman. Now I teach my 7 year old daughter. She started when she was 4. Being a dad rocks! We are fishing tomorrow. :-)

[Suspendingjerk]

My paternal father taught me to fish and my step father taught me how to hunt. I feel very blessed. I will never forget the great times in the field and streams with either of them.

Happy father's day bass resource.

[*Hootie]

I hope he appreciates the time he gets to spend with you. Happy Father's Day!!

Happy Father's Day to you Scott, and all you other Dads on this forum.

Hootie

[SirSnookalot]

As many here my dad taught me how to fish when I was little shaver.  We went every weekend, even the the times when he went with some of his buddies on charter I always went along.  He actually is the person that taught me to saltwater fish, irony was he never fished saltwater except on vacation on charter.  He just knew how to catch fish. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of him when I'm fishing.  When I have a fish on the line I keep hearing the same words he used to say " that one gave ya great fight", at the time it was probably a bluegill, lol.

He passed away in 1992, @77 years old.

[thehooligan]

Happy Fathers Day to all you guys !!

[randy moore]

Ah what memories these posts bring back. My Dad loved to fish and hunt. Taught me Bobwhite Quail, dove and pheasant hunting. I don't hunt anymore. In '72 he built a small house on Table Rock Lake. When he retired he almost doubled the size of that home to have room for all of their belongings. Him and Mom moved there from KC Mo in '78. Dad could always find fish, LMB & crappie. He loved to fish. He passed in '03 and Mom in '11. Dad would call me and tell what kind of day he had. I think about him all the time. And Mom too.

Love ya Dad andI miss ya.