The First Fish

These are not the first fish I have caught, nor are they the first Rainbow Trout I have caught. They are, however, the first fish I have caught in the United States of America. The story behind the catch is what makes this catch stand out. By no means was it perfect, yet somehow, that made it perfect.

This was my second trip and attempt of catching fish at Sunset Park, Las Vegas. The first trip was filled with the excitement of fishing a new spot, in a new country, with some brand-new gear. Not knowing what to expect, and getting to grips with the gear, the first bass fishing session turned up no results.

While sitting on a bench, contemplating my failure and strategy. Thinking about what type of fish to target, what baits to use. I noticed a small figure not too far away from me. This person had a small almost child-like rod and reel and a small container of “powerbaits”. More importantly, a stringer with some fish on it.

As I sat there like a creep, observing this individual, paying attention to what’s being used to catch the fish, the penny dropped. Not only was I stuck in my summertime fishing habits, but I was over complicating the situation with a million thoughts. Keep it simple, target the right fish at the right time.

For the second trip, I was armed with what I needed. A very basic setup, Carolina rig with powerbait. Thirty minutes later my first fish. The excitement of the catch was soon spoiled, as I realized that the fish had swallowed the hook. This means that the fish had internal bleeding and was going to die. Rainbow trout are good eating fish, so what’s the problem?

The problem dear reader, having only just arrived in the US, is that the hotel we stayed in did not have any facilities for cleaning or storing fish. I opened the packaging and placed the fish on my new stringer. A short time later, my second fish, also gut hooked. It was at this point I decided to stop.

I then walked around the pond asking people if they wanted the fish. The first two fishermen replied with: “I already have my daily limit”. The third was an elderly couple. They truly seemed happy excepting the fish from me. The elderly gentleman then said to me: “I wish I knew how to catch them”

I do not know this man, nor do I know his life story. But here we had the “give a man a fish VS teach a man to fish” scenario. I am by no means an expert, but if my position of privilege can help someone, is it not my duty to at least try? On this day, I only gave a fish. That is what makes this fish so special to me. It is a symbol of the difference I can make.