Oh boy, God really came through again. I had another amazing day fishing Saturday with another great friend who God blessed me with.
It was my boss’ son, Michael Murray. He invited me to go fishing with him at the Okefenokee swamp. Yes, with all the alligators. We borrowed the boat that my best friend Lawson set up for me and we tore them up. Well, at least Mike tore them up, if I’m being totally honest. I only caught about five.
But Mike taught me it’s not about that. He asked how it would look if I caught more than him in his regular spot. It’s about spending time in God’s beautiful creation and spending time with friends to fellowship and learn new things. But a little friendly competition is fun and it teaches you to try harder and enjoy what is around you.
It started out even, three to three. Then Mike switched up from using a grub to using a Yellow Sally that he found at the swamp store. Let me tell you, it made a difference. I was using my lime green spinner bait, but with a swirl tail instead of my beetle spin. He just kept on catching all day. The bite slowed down, but he still managed to catch them.
But instead of just catching all the fish, he took the time and taught me how to use a break buster with the Yellow Sally. I tried a few times and then I went back to my white spinner because I wanted to watch him and I believed I was just getting in his way. I thought, “I will try to learn better when I get my own break buster and I’ll be by myself.”
It was awesome, unlike in the past with old friends who just want bragging rights that they caught more fish than you, even when you tell them you are a beginner freshwater fisherman. He took the time, just like his dad Paul and my friend Lawson did, and taught me how to do it.
It’s amazing how God can give you friends like these and how we can enjoy each other’s company over fishing. It was truly an exciting fishing trip. I even asked God to give me the chance to catch a Jack fish (pike). And he answered.
It took all the way until the end of our trip, but I think God was teaching me patience and showing me that you have to try for things you want in this life, even if it is fish. I caught it on a rootbeer-colored swirl tail soft plastic, rigged like you would an artificial worm. But instead of working it like a worm, I just cast it and slowly reeled it in.
So thank you, Mike, Paul, and Lawson, for taking the time to teach me what you know about fishing. I learned a different technique from each of you. It reminded me of the old saying, “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.” That never meant so much to me as it does now.
So until next week, later – this is Gator. Now get out there and catch some memories.