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Full-Time Dads;

The Magazine for Caregiver Fathers

Issue 23

Why I Drove 500 Miles to Drown Worms

By Hogan Hilling

My stepfather turned down an invitation to go fishing in the High Sierra's this past summer with my son and me. His emphatic "no" was followed by this comment: "Why drive 500 miles just to drown worms?" Unfortunately, my stepfather never heard this expression: "Fishing is not just about catching fish, it's also about building relationships."

And never was that more evident to me than on my first fishing trip with my oldest son. My seven-year-old never left his fishing line in the water for more than a minute. Due to his excessive casting, most of my time was spent baiting his hook and untangling his fishing line from my shoe, my hat, several trees, bushes, and believe it or not, two moored boats. he found more ways to tangle a fishing line than I ever imagined. While I became proficient at untangling fishing line, my son improved his fishing skills and won our fishing contest.

Despite all the clumsy episodes, our fishing escapade turned into quite a successful, fun-filled and enlightening adventure.

Ironically, I didn't catch any fish. I spent most of my time drowning worms. But that's okay! Along the way I learned how to be a better father.

Copyright 1996 Hogan Hilling