What Characteristics Determines a Good Fishing Partner?

This is a follow-up post from my “To Fish With or Without Someone” post. Today I thought I would discuss the following characteristics that I think make a good fishing partner. I realize this may not be that important to some of you guys, but for me, as I get older it is something that I tend to focus on when I am fishing with someone else. So I will start with the one I consider the most important for me:

 I really enjoy fishing with someone who loves the sport as much as I do.

 I prefer to fish with fly fishermen, this is especially true if I am fishing from my boat or fishing from the boat of another individual. It really makes it difficult if the individual in the boat with you is baitcasting and you are trying to fly fish. The speed difference is tremendous between the baitcasting reel versus the fly reel.

 A fishing partner with a good personality can go a long way in determining whether or not you have an enjoyable trip.

 Someone who is very knowledgeable of the sport and is willing to share information about the sport as well.

 Fishing etiquette, by that I mean someone who is not selfless in sharing fishing space on a stream or fishing from a boat; if you are fishing in the front of the boat leave water for your partner to land fish as well. I always try to share any productive spot I am fishing with my fishing partner, especially if that individual isn’t landing fish; an example of what I am referring to is my last fishing trip on Walker County Lake this year:

 Ivan one of my fishing buddies was fishing with me that morning. He decided to fish the west side of the lake in his little aluminum boat and I decided to fish the east side of the lake in my Pelican. We both knew that the spawn was coming to a close, so we needed all the advantage we could muster. I found spawning bluegill first and wanted to share my find with him, especially after learning he had not landed any big bull bluegills. I pulled his aluminum boat to the spot and he was able to land some super size gills from the spot as well.

 Over the years I have fished with lots of individuals who I consider great fishing partners, but there are a few I would have left behind. 

Ticks The Silent Insect

For all of us who have encounter the Tick weather on a stream fishing or just hiking outdoors, the bite can be punishing. This post is a follow up to the hiking trip my Grandson and I took the other day in Tennessee. We were hiking a trail near a stream when somewhere along the trail I got bite by a tick. I didn’t know it until the next day when I discovered some red spots on both hips and both legs below the knee. I have been bitten by ticks before and been able to find it on my body; this tick was nowhere to be seen. What puzzled me about this bite were the multiple reds spots that showed up the next day and the day after. Usually a tick will attach itself to your skin to suck blood and one can see the tick if they look closer enough, but this tick was something completely new to me.

I went to the doctor Wednesday evening and the doctor had blood work done and prescribed a powerful antibiotic with some medication for itching. He told me that some ticks can leave multiple red spots, beside the traditional one bite mark. He ruled out Lyme Disease, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, because I didn’t have any symptoms related to either disease, which are: Fever, Joint Pain, vomiting, muscle aches, or severe headaches. I did go back to the doctor on Friday and he gave me a shot for further infection, which has helped I believe more than the medication I am taking. After five days of dealing with I can see signs of healing taking place, because the red spots are not as pronounced as they were Tuesday and Wednesday. I hope all you guys will take heed to this post and be extremely cautious when you are in the woods, whether you are fishing or just hiking as I was doing. I am including a link that I found extremely helpful in explaining the in results of tick bites.   

Hiking With My Grandson Bryson

On Monday my grandson Bryson and I did a short hike down a trail that runs parallel to a scenic creek in the Springhill area. The creek is located near a park that Bryson and I visit quite often when my wife and I are in town.

The trail we were following is man-made over some years of traveling up and down the creek. I told Bryson to lead the way and Pops follow along.

This is a beautiful little creek with some signs of small fish swimming mainly in the shaded areas.

Bryson found a number of these vines that he tried to climb without much success.

We were both fascinated with the way this tree was laying over the trail; it was not only rooted in the ground at the stump but at the top as well. I recently got my camera back after a so call overhaul, so my images should improve with future posts.

Laelyn, Cash, and Bryson with Pops and Meme