Greg Olson hooked on fishing and never
letting go
Scott Baker
As obsessions, er, as hobbies go, fishing is no stranger than any other. That’s not to say it isn’t littered with routines, rituals, and just plain weirdness, but then what hobby isn’t? There is, however, security in numbers, and fishing is still the most widely practiced sport, hobby, distraction, time-waster in the world. It fulfills man’s primal instincts to challenge nature, secure food, and get things tangled up beyond hope.
While we don’t want to exclude women from anything, least of all fishing, at its very soul, fishing is a guy thing. Anything that involves that much pointless sitting around waiting for something to happen is, by definition, a guy thing. We think women would agree with that.
Some people believe fishing is a metaphor for life. They aren’t fishermen; they’re philosophers. Fishermen, on the other hand, believe life IS a metaphor for fishing. Any body of water filled with even the hope of a promise of fish, is sure to excite us and draw us in. Just like our two day trip to Cedar Creek Lake in Gun Barrel City in the dead of winter.
Braving the frigid weather, the Robson Ranch Fishing Club, with our experienced guides, bundled up against temperatures barely above freezing and set out in search of blue catfish, black crappie, and hybrid white bass. The wait wasn’t long before the thrill of catching fish after fish became an adrenaline-fueled experience characterized by the intense physical tug of a strike, the singing of the reel’s drag, and the satisfaction of landing a catch. Then another. Then another. Then another.
At the end of our two half-days, we reeled in over 200 fish (not counting those that were released). We were obsessed, possessed, and literally, hooked on this hobby called fishing. It’s a combination of surprise, challenge, and direct connection with nature. A blend of mastering skill, experiencing the anticipation of the bite, and the satisfaction of finding success, that can only be described as the “tug is the drug”.
Whether it is the “song” of the fishing line drag or the high-intensity shock of a fish taking the bait, the experience is definitely addicting for anyone pursuing the sport. Sound familiar? Then come join the Robson Ranch Fishing Club on the second Wednesday of each month at the Wildhorse Grill Boardroom at 4 p.m., where “Fishing isn’t just a sport—it’s therapy with bait.” Need more information? Contact RobsonFishing@gmail.com or Scott Baker at 214-334-7664.