Article by Capt. Mark Sampson
Doing a weekly outdoor column always keeps me on the lookout for ideas that can be translated into next week’s piece. Sometimes content is easily dictated by current events, like when an outstanding fishing opportunity opens up, or perhaps an upcoming tournament, a new product hits the market or when new and controversial fishery regulations are proposed. Other times, coming up with something that’s “new and interesting” to pass along that week can be a mind-racking nightmare!
Fortunately for those of us who do “hook and bullet” type writing, we always have “how-to” articles to fall back on when we hit one of the inevitable voids in our fresh idea files. In the thirty-some years that I've dabbled in the “not all that it’s cracked up to be” profession of outdoor writing, I can honestly say that I’ve hammered out more than my share of how-to articles.
How to catch a fish, cast a line, choose a boat, winterize an outboard, set-up a tree stand, prepare for a storm, make chum, catch bait, freeze fish, mount shark jaws, anchor in deep water, butcher a deer, tan a hide, cook a bluefish, avoid mosquitoes and a whole bunch of other topics I can’t even think of right now.
But I don't consider writing a how-to article as a cop out. Such material is most often welcomed and eagerly devoured by sportsman of all experience. That’s why we subscribe to outdoor magazines, watch videos, visit sport shows and attend lectures. It’s exciting to read someone’s story about shooting a monster buck or catching a record fish, but we will always want to hear how we can enhance our own outdoor adventures as well. I guess it’s that “quest for knowledge thing” that we just never grow out of.
While pondering what to write about this week, I was struck by the question of what the ultimate how-to article would be. Could there be a concept, an idea, a tip, a tool or some technique that would be most useful to both hunter and fisherman? After all, both are in pursuit of wild game and both do so while at the mercy of Mother Nature and at the schedules and seasons of the quarry she may or may not send their way.
The more I thought about it, the clearer it all became. We can possess the latest in fish finding electronics, but we cannot make the fish arrive sooner or stay longer then their natural migrations allow. We can have the best camouflage clothing, but we cannot make a deer walk within our effective shooting range. We can have the freshest bait on our hooks, but we cannot make a fish eat it. We can have the best hand painted decoys money can buy, but we still cannot make a flock of ducks fly into them.
For all these things to happen, sportsmen must posses one more thing – patience. We can have all the toys and do everything right under the best of conditions, and we still will not be successful in taking fish or game unless we’re patient.
Unfortunately, if it’s true that “patience is a virtue” then it’s an asset that must be depreciating. Our society has certainly embraced the premise that time is money and faster is better. It’s the new millennium, and from highway speed limits to home computers we’re all moving along at warp speed. At the same time, those at the controls keep telling us we’re only creeping along in first gear! No wonder some folks are not happy that their fishing boats will "only" do 30 knots in six-foot seas and it takes "two whole minutes" to heat a cup of tea in the microwave!
But when we walk into the woods or to the edge of the water, we no longer have control over the progression of how and when the natural events will unfold around us. We can travel a thousand miles to the best places in the world to hunt or fish and then, by wind or tide, choose our spot and set about our task with the liveliest bait, the best shotgun, fanciest lures, most high-tech bows, precision reels or whatever else we deem necessary to fill our tag or catch our limit - but no matter what we do there’s still no getting around the eventual waiting game. We can only set the stage, then be patient and wait for nature to send in the actors and start the show. Patience is truly a virtue that, over time, all dedicated outdoorsmen come to know, understand and most importantly accept.
Every season, through my charter and guide service, I have the opportunity to fish with hundreds of different anglers of all ages and skill levels, and during our time on the water I get to know a little about their mindset and attitudes about fishing. I have learned that, while all are out for a fun day, just how a “fun day of fishing” is defined and how long each individual is willing to wait for it to unfold varies considerably. It's become obvious that, while the definition of a fun or productive day outdoors may vary even among sportsmen with the same skill level, the attribute of "patience" is most common in those with more overall experience. It seems that veteran sportsmen, as long as they know they’re giving the pursuit their best effort, are willing to hunt or fish for hours or even days with no action at all and still maintain an optimistic and enthusiastic attitude, knowing that the “big one” is just a moment or two away.
On occasion, I also share my boat with anglers who can’t go more than an hour between fish before they get antsy and start asking me questions like: “Are you sure we’re using the right bait? Should we move to another place? How are the other boats doing?”
It would only make sense that after spending enough time in the woods or on the water that sportsmen would eventually just accept and live with the fact that good things are worth waiting for and nature cannot be rushed. It’s the old “if they’re not biting now they’ll surely be hungry later” attitude. Or, as long-term optimists might put it, “if we don’t get’em today, we’ll get’em tomorrow.”
Patience, it’s the best all-round hunting and fishing how-to advice I can possibly imagine. Sit tight, hold on, be still, take it easy for a while and let things happen. Then just relax and enjoy Mother Nature’s show!
Capt. Mark Sampson is an outdoor writer and captain of the charter boat, “Fish Finder”, docked at the Ocean City Fishing Center. During the winter months, Capt. Mark runs charters in the Lower Keys.
