First Time Fishing!

Géraldine Renouard, a French national, was as unlikely a prospect as any. She was a 31-year-old whom lived on the outskirts of Paris. She had recently spent a number of months in the Red China controlled country of Nepal. Though she had seen and done many things, the outdoor blood sports were not among them.

That’s what we discovered while she recently stayed a week with my in-laws (our next door neighbors). Geri was here in the U.S.A. to assist a travelling evangelist, expecting to eventually begin her own ministry.

Though she sometimes pulled when she should have sunk the hook and then slammed back to sink the hook when she should have been fighting the fish in, Geri definitely put some backbone into her efforts.

As a person who values the outdoors, I am always anxious spread that gospel. Any visitors whom have never watched songbirds, called in a fox, spotted a deer, or felt a fish on the end of a bouncing rod, are likely targets. Geri was our most recent convert.
She saw the mounts in our office when she borrowed our fax and internet connection. She began asking questions. We found out that she had never fished ­ never.
There was plenty of time in her schedule, so my wife Kris and I planned on taking her out on a Saturday morning.

My main concern was were to go. Because of time restraints, I knew putting in the boat would take up too much fishing time. I also knew that the recent hot weather and lack of cloud cover would put many fish scenarios into a low yield situation.

When you take a person out for the first time, you want them to have action. You want and need for them to catch a fish, to feel like the experience was definitely worthwhile. In other words, you want to get them hooked for a lifetime of fishing.

I briefly considered bullhead fishing as the most dependable. But, we were not going to be night fishing.

I was mulling over the local fishing hotspots in light of the weather, number and size of fish, ease of catching, distance from home, and ease of access. I finally homed in on the Conneaut Marsh for bowfins. This is a dependable fishery for good-sized fish. The weather wouldn’t be a factor. We’d be bridge fishing, so fitting Geri with boots and seeing if she’d fight through brush and mud wasn’t a factor.

Saturday morning, we picked her up and swung by a bait shop for bait and her license. Amazingly, we discovered that a 1-day and a 3-day tourist license both cost the same amount. My thought is why does the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission spend for the extra printing, distribution and accounting for the 1-day license? Why not just offer the 3-day version?

That new puzzle left unanswered, we arrived at the marsh about 9 a.m. The sun was already bright. The bluebird sky was totally unblemished by a single cloud. It was going to get hot.

Geri’s home is a suburb of Paris, France. She has travelled well, including several months in Nepal, yet a swamp in western Pennsylvania was her introduction to the sport of fishing.

I started to rig up rods and bait them up. Geri was a bit squeamish on baiting the golden shiners on the hooks, so we didn’t force the issue. This was supposed to be a fun experience.

We lost count after a while, but Geri hooked and landed at least 10 fish. All were bowfins in the 16" to 21" range. All were returned as quickly as possible to the water.
Geri also lost a number by having unset hooks pop out, lines breaking from wrapping on snags, and lines breaking by rambunctious hook setting while the fish was already halfway reeled in. It was a real experience for all three of us. I know I was beginning to work up a sweat while re-rigging rods, rebaiting and casting. I also did most of the netting and most the photography. I didn’t mind, as I knew the trip would be short-lived. I’d have plenty of other opportunities to do my own fishing.

The main thing for me was the trip was a total success. Geri was enthusiastic and really seemed to enjoy every aspect of the fishing (except the baiting).

Will she fish when back in France? Will she ever again pick up a fishing rod? I can’t say. I may never see her again to know if the planted seed ever spawns a full-fledged fisherman.

The point is we must constantly be ready to expand the numbers of fishermen and hunters. Sharing the experience with non-outdoorsmen is the best way to do so. I’ve taken visitors fox calling, owl calling, fishing, and hunting. It has always been enjoyable for all of us.

Swell the ranks of outdoorsmen. Add to our allies when legislation (state, national or international) and public opinion are in the balance.

Take someone fishing.