The Passion, The Legacy

It was May 2011 and my boys, ages 7 and 6 at the time, had been asking me to take them fishing. They'd been out with me before, but this was the first time they wanted to wake up early and go. The way I looked at it, this would be a good opportunity for them to see if waking up at the crack of dawn was worth it.

I woke around 5:00 to get ready, so all I had to do was wake them up to get in the truck. Before I knew it my oldest son was downstairs all dressed and asking, "Is it time to go?" I had no idea how important the day was going to be.

We hit the water around 6:30 and within minutes the rods started firing. My boys were immediately fighting fish. A few times as we doubled up, the boys were side-by-side and actually laughing and getting along. (A minor miracle, as any parent of year-apart boys would know!)

After some nice fish came aboard, my boys were telling me to change lures and calling them by name. At that moment I realized they were actually paying attention to our lure selections. I thought, Could I have two future first mates on my hands?

We ended the day with a boatload of fish and two very tired children. As we were driving home, I asked them if they had fun. They both replied, "Can we go fishing again tomorrow?"

When I was young, fishing with my grandfather in his old wooden boat, I had no idea of the legacy he was passing on to me. If it wasn't for my Gramps, I probably wouldn't have been able to experience that awesome spring day with my boys.

People ask why there's such a passion for fishing. I can cite many reasons, but the most important is being able to share your experiences and knowledge with the young. Fishing teaches patience, skill and helps build relationships. The bond that I've shared with my grandfather will never be broken. Even though he passed many years ago, I still think of him every time I'm on the water. I hope that some day my children will be able to remember the days they've spent with me and continue this great passion and sport with their children. It's truly what fishing is all about.

The next time you have an opportunity to take a child fishing, don't pass it up. You may create a memory and legacy that'll last a lifetime.

Good Fishing!

Capt. Lou Borrelli learned to fish with his grandfather and now owns and operates Get The Net Charters out of Rochester, N.Y. Capt. Lou runs trips along the south shore of Lake Ontario from Wilson to Fair Haven, N.Y. Visit GTNFishing.com or send him an email at captainlou@gtnfishing.com.