Blog 1 – This I believe…by Eric Yarnell
I believe in going fishing.
Fishing has always been a major part of my life. From being three years old and fishing at a farm pond for bluegill with my grandpa, to going deep-sea fishing off the coast of Washington state, going walleye fishing in the middle of Lake Erie, and everything in between. To me, fishing isn’t just a hobby. It’s a way of life, a stress reliever, and a way to get to know myself better.
I remember vaguely the first time I went fishing, as I was only three years old. Most of the accounts were from my parents and other relatives who were there at the time, and there is even a picture of me standing there with my grandpa as he is taking the hook out of a fish’s mouth, and I was standing there looking on.
When I was four, five, and even six years old, my dad and I would only occasionally go out on the weekends, either to the local state park, which was Canoe Creek State Park, only 15 minutes from where I lived in Altoona, PA, or a small pond in the area. I remember not being very patient and complaining to my dad that we were not catching very many fish, thus we would not be out for very long. It wasn’t until I was about seven that the obsession started.
As I got older, I would always be watching fishing shows on TV, always asking my mom if we could go look at the fishing equipment at whichever we were at, and begging my dad to go fishing every weekend in the summer and early fall, and always daydreaming about fishing. It’s when I got into my early teens is when it would become my way of life. I would always be asking or getting gift cards from various sporting goods stores, and any money I received from working or as a gift I would buy bait or other types of tackle.
Throughout my fishing career, I have had many memorable catches over the years. One of my first was an 18-inch golden rainbow trout, caught while fishing a derby for kids my age at the time. For years I would constantly be talking about that fish and showing everyone the picture of it. I was very proud of it indeed. Then, it was a four-pound, 18-inch largemouth bass, which actually is still my biggest largemouth bass to date, out of a small pond by my grandparents house when I was 13. The biggest fish I have ever caught, was a 17-pound, 37- inch lingcod off of the coast of the state of Washington when I was 14. I’ve also caught carp in and walleye in the 30-inch range. But perhaps my favorite and most memorable catches, are the five-pound, 21-inch smallmouth bass I caught four years ago and the four-pound, 20-inch smallmouth two years ago, and the 18-inch wild brown trout that I caught this past spring out a tiny stream just five minutes from my house.
As I got later into my teens and now my 20s, I realized what fishing was all about. While I was in my early teens I treated like a sport and was heartbroken every time I didn’t have a good day or lost a big fish. Now, if I don’t catch any fish or have a bad day, I’m still a little disappointed, but I realize that I was able to escape from reality for a little bit, and indulge in God’s creation for a few hours. But I still get heartbroken whenever I lose a big fish, because that’s one of the worst feelings in the world. I’ve also come to realize that it’s also not about how many fish you catch or how big the fish is, it’s about where you catch fish, what you catch, and how you catch fish. I just simply love fishing, no matter what the circumstances are.
It has also taught me many life lessons. One of the most important lessons I’ve gained from it is don’t be afraid to try new things and venture out of your comfort zone. This past spring and summer we received a lot of rain in Central Pa, more than I can ever remember, and that caused my favorite rivers to be high and muddy most of the time, and I wasn’t able to fish them that often. But, I discovered that small trout streams clear up much faster than the bigger rivers, I began to trout fish quite often. I explored places around Altoona I never even knew existed, and caught some pretty awesome fish while doing so. It has also taught me to know my limits, especially when I’m by myself. I don’t cross water that I think is too fast, I don’t slide down a bank I know I can’t get back up, and I don’t go anywhere where I think I’ll be at risk for any type of danger, such as a bear attack or rattlesnake bit. And realizing that has really allowed me to get to know myself better.
Fish was, is, and always will be my favorite hobby and pastime. I hope down the road I am able to have many more amazing experiences, have many memorable catches, learn even more about myself, and pass on my passion to my kids and grandkids. So if you ever call/text/email/snap/DM me, and I don’t answer, there’s a significant chance I will be fishing.