Once in a while I will decide that it is time to look through my tackle box and check to see what I am getting low on in terms of terminal tackle like hooks, sinkers, jigs and plastics. In all reality, I probably will not be needing anything and I feel that, like so many fishermen, I buy fishing tackle knowing full well none of it is totally needed. If you are a fisherman, I’m sure that you can relate to this.
I have already bought a couple of “must have” musky lures that will be in my tackle box along with the other “necessary” lures. I have purchased lures in the past and gone weeks or even a couple of years before I discovered a lure or two, still in the package in the bottom of my tackle box. When that happened, it was almost like Christmas to me.
I think back to my days growing up in a house where lights, heat and food were the necessities and all other things came secondary. I am not complaining because I thought that my childhood was pretty darned good. I was too young to know of all of the hardships that folks faced back then so food and clothes were enough. I usually made my own entertainment with the help of the neighborhood kids. Our imaginations would take us to places that we only envisioned in our minds.
Whenever I am looking through my tackle boxes I will come across an old lure that reminds me of those days long gone. I have lures that I have not used much. Some of them are pretty faded and full of teeth marks. I can close my eyes and put myself back into a certain time and on a certain lake and remember what I caught on a particular lure.
It’s kind of funny how a person would use certain lures or baits and then you find yourself letting that lure sit on the back burner, so to speak, in order to go to a “new and improved” version. I will catch myself wondering why I quit using a certain lure and then make a mental note to myself, reminding me to take “old faithful” out of the box, shake off the dust and try using it the next time I am fishing.
I know a couple of guys in my age bracket who have gone to rummage sales and gotten some real deals on fishing equipment. Twenty-plus years ago, I would have been a little envious, but now I look inside one of my numerous boxes and wonder when I will be able to use all of that tackle. When my sons were getting interested in fishing, I would let them go through my tackle and pick out a few lures. This made me feel good and I was excited to see how interested they were in the sport of fishing. There were times when I’d buy a lure for myself and the same one (maybe in a different color) for each of them.
Once my grandsons came along, I did the same thing with them. I’d make sure that they had a few essentials like the usual bobbers, hooks, line and sinkers, but also I let them look through my tackle to pick out a lure or two. I was happy to do this because those boys were so good and always happy to get a lure or two from Grandpa’s box of treasures. Two of my grandsons still fish a lot and the other two like to fish, but aren’t as intense when it comes to filling the tackle box. I was more than glad to share my lures with the boys and, more importantly, they enjoy the sport of fishing.
Two of my grandsons, Trevor and Dylan, have taken the sport seriously and are always adding to their fishing arsenal whenever they get the chance. Taylor and Grant also like to fish ,but they do so many other things that fishing isn’t all consuming.
I grew up idolizing my Uncle Ben because he took me fishing quite a bit when I was young and he knew a lot about fishing. He and Aunt Marcie took me up north with them a few times. I can still remember the mornings of our trip. I would be up early and be sitting on the front steps with my fishing pole and tackle box along with my suitcase just watching for the headlights of their car. I remember how my heart fluttered with excitement every time a pair of headlights came into view. Those are some of the fond memories of my childhood that I like to revisit from time to time.
Until next time: I have faith that the weather will straighten out soon and let us enjoy some outdoors time without having to wear the winter duds.
Please show your support for the troops that are serving our country. These servicemen and women are making that sacrifice, so that we may enjoy the many freedoms that we have today.