A Lame Excuse for a Fisherman

I still remember the story about the father and son who always went fishing together opening day. They would stay up all night and be out on the water at midnight just when the season opened. One year, when the boy was about twelve, the father told the son to go ahead and cast his rod a few times before midnight just to get the kinks out and make sure everything was functioning properly. He flipped his line out with a nymph upon it and the strike sounded like an alligator hitting the water.

The boy reeled in the line with much struggle and with great determination. Pulling the fish up to the boat his father grabbed the net and helped him land "Ole Blue"--a famous trout in those waters that had often been pursued, broken many lines--but had never been caught. Looking at it up close they figured he must weigh at least 8 pounds. This was the mother-load of trout fishing...and they had caught him. There had never been a young boy any prouder, the look of accomplishment on his face was priceless.

But then the boy looked into his dad's eyes and saw a tear begin to fall. He looked at his son, looked at his watch and said, "We have to toss him back son, it's not fishing season yet." It was just ten minutes until midnight--but the fish had to go back in the water. Who cried more as they tossed it back we will never know, but the memories forged at that moment made a difference for a lifetime.

That young boy grew up to be a successful businessman. And every time he was tempted to take a short cut or fudge on a deal he remembered his father--and the lessons he learned that day about more than fishing...but about life.

Compare that boy to Robby Rose--who recently admitted to shoving a 1-pound weight down his fish in hopes of winning a fishing contest and a $55,000 boat. He admits now that he cheated, but it is the excuses that will sink him and any children following after him as well. He claims he wasn't cheating to win the prize, "Second place was mine already to do with as I pleased." He says he wanted to embarrass the sport for being skeptical of him--it seems he has been accused of cheating before. Are you surprised?

Tournament officials wanted to assign an observer to his boat, to make sure he was not cheating. He found that request unfair, the treatment of him and his fish "inhumane." Seems everyone is out to get him--and that is why he cheated, "I snapped. I lost my mind."

The good news is he also lost his privilege to fish for the next five years...as well as spending 15 days in jail, paying a $3,000 fine and knowing his name is chum around fishing circles.

The lesson--do the right thing the first time...and teach your children to do the same. The wise man Solomon once said, "A good name is like fine perfume...." and the only person who can stink it up is you (that last part is mine).

Scott