Allan’s Advice: You Ought to Go Fishing at Least Once in Your Life
Last Updated on January 27, 2025 by Boatsetter Team
Growing up in the country side of Texas, on-water exploration has always been a way for Allan Jones to connect with family, friends, and oneself. He believes that lessons learned from fishing could be applied to many of the obstacles life throws our way.
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Simplicity creates joy
In my earliest memories, I spent a lot of time catching small frogs along the lake shores. It didn’t take long to learn if you didn’t approach them slowly and carefully, they would jump before you could reach them. With the help of my older brother, I learned. When I was 7, my parents bought a beautiful mahogany wooden 14-foot boat. A whole new world opened for us. Instead of only fishing from shore, the entire lake was ours. We found beautiful beaches shaded by big oak trees to picnic and swim.
Friendship deepens waterside
Once my brother and I learned to water-ski, my parents had no peace. There was always something to do. Of course, my brother and I got old enough to take the boat out without our parents. Friends joined us on many of these trips.
Family traditions endure
In 1966, I got married to my best friend, and she joined me at the lakes, camping, fishing, swimming and skiing. Seven years later, we moved to Washington state with two children. Things changed some. There were a few years we didn’t have a boat, but as soon as the kids were old enough, we got a small fishing boat. It was fun watching my wife cheering the kids on and the kids playing with the worms, baiting their hooks and catching fish. They were always so excited when a fish took their bait. Wonderful memories.
When fishing with grandchildren, joy multiplies
Soon our grandkids came along. We got them started young just as we had with our kids. We took our grandsons to a private lake near the Canadian border. We caught so many fish, including beautiful brook trout. There were eagles in the trees around the lake, and we had a bull moose hanging around. The boys were having a ball, casting small spinners and using fly rods with streamers, wet flies and dry flies and catching fish. Our granddaughters joined us on fly-fishing trips on mountain streams for cutthroat and rainbow trout. These were always great fishing trips.
Careful with who you fish with
A friend and I went fishing on a small lake in early spring. The ice was off the lake, but it was still quite cold. After loading the fishing rods, tackle boxes and connecting the battery cables to the electric motor, I told him to push us out and get in. He did as I asked; however, rather than step into the bottom of the boat, he put his foot up on the gunwale to get in. I wasn’t looking; as he stepped up on the gunwale, the boat flipped. I was instantly sitting on the bottom of the lake with the battery and all of the tackle floating around me. I jumped to my feet as quickly as possible, and my friend asked, “Did I do that?” There were two fellows launching their boat next to us; I don’t know how, but they remained quiet as mice. I don’t think I could have held it back if I were in their place.
A lifelong outdoorsmen with over 75 years of experience fishing all around the U.S and Canada., from Idaho to Florida and British Colombia.
