Gone Fishin'

When I married Bill six short years ago, I knew very little about being a sportsman. I thought being a "sportsman" was playing basketball, softball and any other sport in between. My dad was a "sportsman" in my sense of the definition, but he never hunted or fished.

Then Bill Cato enters the picture and my life forever. I remember our first Christmas together. We went to my home for Thanksgiving for him to meet my parents. While there, I tried to "impress" him by taking him to some real sportsmen's stores with guns, camo, bows, arrows and the like. My mother had already hinted that she wanted me to be on the look-out for him a Christmas present from them (I think they knew that when I brought a boy home, it was the real deal). So, as he looked around, I drew a diagram of the store and labeled everything that he liked because I knew just the names of the items would be as foreign to my mom as they were to me. Oh, how I wish I had that store diagram today! I have since lost my zeal for the occasional trip to the outdoors store...in 6 short years!

All that to preface, I have become quite the wife of a sportsmen...in 6 short years. I can spot a turkey and a deer long before he can. I know several different patterns of camo and why there has to be so many different patterns. I know that neoprene matters in duck hunting. I have learned a little bit about crank baits, jigs and other fishing lures. I know that the way to my husband's heart on a Christmas morning after a year of him caring for a sickly wife and their 3 year old little girl is to have a rifle, bow and muzzle loader all three under the tree for him. I've learned quite a bit in six short years.

Two weekends ago, we loaded up the fishing boat and headed to the nearest body of water...all three of us. I would have to say that Claire was only second to Bill by a short distance in their excitement level. I was excited too, but nothing like those two. It was a beautiful Saturday and we decided to go after Claire's afternoon nap, so it was such a peaceful time on the water after most everyone else was gone.

Claire had her Barbie fishing pole ready to go. Bill baited it with a minnow. With his help, she cast her line out in the water and she must have cast it right into the mouth of a fish because immediately she had a catch pulling at her line. We were all ecstatic. (I'll post the picture when I get home!). Bill caught several but only one big enough to keep, so he gave that fish a pardon from the fish fryer. Me...I caught none. Claire kind of looked down her nose at me, she apparently believes she's the better fisherman!!! I'll let her believe it!!!

So, if you can't find us on Knottingham Drive, we'll be on the "big ole water" catching our dinner!!! Come join us!