Late Summer Fishing

I’m sorry to bring it up, but more summer – the season, not the calendar dates – is now behind us than in front of us. We’re just weeks away from the first day of school and not too many days from fall practice for high school and college activities.

But there's still time to wet a line, and that’s something I haven’t done enough of … yet. Even though I don’t play softball or golf, I’m sure I’m not the only one who can’t figure out where the summer went.

While I haven’t fished enough, I'm not sure I know anyone who would actually admit he or she actually did fish “enough.” To my friends and family who don't fish or wonder how much is enough, I'll offer up some insight.

Fishing is what you make it. Softball is on scheduled days, nights and places. Golf is, according to golfers, never the same, but I'd argue that even if I tried to make two days of fishing the same, I couldn’t.

For me and my family, fishing meets a couple of criteraia. Mainly, it's all in the family. My three kids all landed their first fish before turning 3, and accompanied the older ones on trips in carseats and strollers. We have many family memories pivoting around fishing excursons and none of them are about limits, whoppers or full buckets of fish. They are about places, each other and little things like chucking stones, playing with minnows, nightcrawlers and dozens of other happenigngs that would never occur indoors.

Which brings me to another point about why fishing can top other activities. Since golf, softball and many other summer activities are scheduled, that means they must sometimes be played in inclement weather, which can reduce the fun factor. The games play on despite cold winds or intermittent rains.

Fishing is different. A walleye chop or wind blowing baitfish into the bays is welcome for many anglers and can improve the fishing. And if you’re on a serious fishing trip – something scheduled and limited in time – you’re also more inclined to tolerate weather that might otherwise postpone an outing until conditions are more favorable.

Most times, I appreciate the ability to call the shots when it comes to fishing. If I start on a round of golf, last I remember I've got at least nine holes and a couple of hours to finish up. Softball is seven innings, give or take a few for high scores or tied scores.

Fishing can be meaningful with as few as a couple of casts, or an outing can last hours. By the end of summer it all adds up to days or even weeks of outdoor fun. How can you argue with that? It's like a chef in his or her own kitchen making breakfast. What you want is what you get, and if you don't like it, there's no one to blame but yourself.

If the fish aren't biting, the wind isn’t cooperating or I'm just yearning for a change, it's pretty simple to oblige.

In the past I've played golf and softball, and my kids are in the usual summer kid activities, from baseball and riding horse to soccer and swimming. That’s a lot, but there’s always time for fishing.

My challenge is to those who haven’t yet found time to fish. Give it a cast and you just might find another way to enjoy your summer ... what's left of it.

Leier is a biologist with the Game and Fish Department. He can be reached by email:dleier@nd.gov