I Have a Guide Trip

I keep "retiring" from teaching or guiding outdoor survival and, primarily fishing. But eventually some persistent one comes along and wears me down. "OK...". Last one clearly stated she was a student. Fishing-the last class to round out her outdoor skills. She married an outdoorsy one that goes to the mountains of Colorado or Arkansas' Boston Mountains, for fishing. Someone did the right thing. This one...I don't know what her goal is! For one thing, I don't ask questions. Tell me you fell onto a lumberyard saw and I usually won't ask any questions. A little self observation answers questions that most people ask. You have all your limbs. You're alive...

This one-since I haven't asked questions-causes just a little angst. I'm aware of a recent traumatic event. And she uses the phrase, "...get back out there." Maybe I find she could be guiding me! Doesn't seem to be a lightweight. In fact, she didn't seem to get excited much about what I was explaining until I would explain the dark side of certain days and outings, with me. She interrupting me and I don't recall her ever letting me finish a dark side revelation with, "Oh! That doesn't bother me! I can do that! I'd love that!" Star athlete in Illinois before graduating. Competitive-obviously. Where the real angst comes from, is time of year and as result...I'm barely on "guidable fish"!

This isn't unusual for July-August. But it's a little different when the one I may disappoint, is only me. Preparing for a guide trip or a lesson is usually a one day...or half day...prep on the water. Tomorrow, I'm entering day three prepping for this girl. I'm either quickly racking up fish beyond the "guidable numbers per hour", only to end about one short of the hours combined. Or, I'm struggling for 2-3 hours and then smoking them the last hour or so...but still ending a few short for total hours what I consider guidable or teachable numbers.

I'm off my game for the week, not fishing at all like I'd otherwise be fishing, and where. Not complaining. I've gotten lazy this year and do the "easy fishing" thinking to myself, "Oh, I've caught them doing the hard fishing, or going there in July-of course I could do it. So I won't." Well, reality check.

Yeh, maybe one day I'll learn to ask more questions. I don't know if she wants to go out early. Late. Early and fish to late. Heat be damned. Hey...I'm 70 years old now. I just named three things that were insignificant as few as five years ago but can be a kind of a big deal, now!

Well, I have to ask questions by Sunday-the trip is Monday. Update later next week. If I survive.