omething they chose, just like nobody chooses the color of their eyes, the color of their skin or what year they were born n although some fudge here a little. My motto: a little fudge is good for your soul. These are just born fishermen and there is nothing they can do about it. Whether it's the sovereignty of God or predesI said something last week I haven't said in years. Where it came from, I really don't know. It's funny, you're tooling along minding your own business for weeks, maybe months at a time, and then something you haven't thought about for years pops into your noodle.

I don't remember what brought it on, but I blurted out, "I think I'll just quit everything and go fishin'."

Where the phrase came from is a mystery because I can't remember the last time I went fishing. It's tragic when a person gets so busy he forgets about the truly essential things of life. There is nothing, in my mind (at least that's my wife's opinion) more essential in life than fishing.

In the heart of my tackle box, I am a true-blue fisherman, especially if it's a cold morning and I am waste deep in frigid water.

Two types of people indulge in this business of fishing.

Some take up fishing as a hobby to get away from the rat race of life. And there is nothing like fishing to do just that.

When at work they think of fishing, and when fishing, they think of work. These are not real fishermen, they just play one on their holidays and no self-respecting sporting goods store should be allowed selling them any fishing tackle.

Then there are those who are born fishermen. It's not something they chose, just like nobody chooses the color of their eyes, the color of their skin or what year they were born n although some fudge here a little. My motto: a little fudge is good for your soul. These are just born fishermen and there is nothing they can do about it. Whether it's the sovereignty of God or predest

"I think I'll just quit everything and go fishin'."

Where the phrase came from is a mystery because I can't remember the last time I went fishing. It's tragic when a person gets so busy he forgets about the truly essential things of life. There is nothing, in my mind (at least that's my wife's opinion) more essential in life than fishing.

In the heart of my tackle box, I am a true-blue fisherman, especially if it's a cold morning and I am waste deep in frigid water.

Two types of people indulge in this business of fishing.

Some take up fishing as a hobby to get away from the rat race of life. And there is nothing like fishing to do just that.

When at work they think of fishing, and when fishing, they think of work. These are not real fishermen, they just play one on their holidays and no self-respecting sporting goods store should be allowed selling them any fishing tackle.

Then there are those who are born fishermen. It's not something they chose, just like nobody chooses the color of their eyes, the color of their skin or what year they were born n although some fudge here a little. My motto: a little fudge is good for your soul. These are just born fishermen and there is nothing they can do about it. Whether it's the sovereignty of God or predes

in life than fishing.

In the heart of my tackle box, I am a true-blue fisherman, especially if it's a cold morning and I am waste deep in frigid water.

Two types of people indulge in this business of fishing.

Some take up fishing as a hobby to get away from the rat race of life. And there is nothing like fishing to do just that.

When at work they think of fishing, and when fishing, they think of work. These are not real fishermen, they just play one on their holidays and no self-respecting sporting goods store should be allowed selling them any fishing tackle.

Then there are those who are born fishermen. It's not something they chose, just like nobody chooses the color of their eyes, the color of their skin or what year they were born n although some fudge here a little. My motto: a little fudge is good for your soul. These are just born fishermen and there is nothing they can do about it. Whether it's the sovereignty of God or predes

shing to do just that.

When at work they think of fishing, and when fishing, they think of work. These are not real fishermen, they just play one on their holidays and no self-respecting sporting goods store should be allowed selling them any fishing tackle.

Then there are those who are born fishermen. It's not something they chose, just like nobody chooses the color of their eyes, the color of their skin or what year they were born n although some fudge here a little. My motto: a little fudge is good for your soul. These are just born fishermen and there is nothing they can do about it. Whether it's the sovereignty of God or predes

omething they chose, just like nobody chooses the color of their eyes, the color of their skin or what year they were born n although some fudge here a little. My motto: a little fudge is good for your soul. These are just born fishermen and there is nothing they can do about it. Whether it's the sovereignty of God or predestination I'm not sure, I just know it happens.

Sometimes the best thing a person can do is drop everything and just go fishing. If more people did this, it might cut down on the war and violence in our world.

People need to know several things about "going fishin'" and fishermen in general. Fishermen are an abused minority and grossly misunderstood by the general population. As far as I know there is no voice standing up for these poor souls. Maybe its because voices can't stand and then there are some voices I can't stand.

In the first place, fishing has everything to do with the equipment n and not just any equipment will do. In some regards, it takes a lifetime to acquire the proper equipment to go fishing. This is where the true-blue fishermen are greatly misunderstood.

No true-blue fisherman would ever think of going fishing without his lucky hat. Going fishing without your lucky hat is like going to a restaurant without your appetite; what's the point?

This essential part of his fishing equipment is lucky because it hosts several lucky fishing lures and flies, all meticulously arranged around the hat, representing some story associated with his fishing adventures. Some stories may be true, but not all, and in time the owner of the hat can't remember