Sinker Fishing . . .

The ground was sunning itself after the last thaws of winter, and in the field next to our house, the tall grasses and weeds had blossomed and begun to reach for the sky. That afternoon, Daddy asked me to come out to the garage. I always liked going there with him, as such wonderful and handy creations came out of his work shop. Everything was exactly in it's place, as if it were ready for a "white glove" inspection. Daddy began to get a few things out of his tackle box, and then he reached down a small white rod and reel. "Are we going to go fishing Daddy?" I asked. "No, but while I am gone visiting today you are going to go "Sinker Fishing". . . After a few more twists of his hands, Daddy put his tools away, picked up the fishing rod, and taking me by the hand, he lead me out to the field.
The rod didn't have a fish hook on the end, in it’s place Daddy had put a big sinker. He explained how the fishing would be just right today, as the mowers would be coming tomorrow, and I had to fish while the weeds were high. Being only 6, the weeds were almost eye level for me, but I could see over the tops of them just enough to try and cast where Daddy pointed to. It took a few tries, but I finally hit the right spot for "Sinker Fish". As I reeled my line in, something tugged on it. Leaning over me, with his arms around me and his hands over mine, he helped me to feel the tugs and the right speed to reel in my catch. At the edge of our lawn, my line and sinker drug out a long green and yellow weed. I held it up like I saw the fishermen do with their fish, and asked Daddy what he thought? He smiled the smile that started in his eyes and ended in my heart, and said, "Why that's a Dandy Sinker Fish! I'd say that's a 14" stripped sinker fish!" And he gave me a wink. He then pointed to a different spot for me to try for, and it wasn't long before I hit the spot. Then he told me to look for a spot where I thought the biggest sinker fish would be hiding, and to try for that spot. With my Mom watching me from the window, all afternoon I fished.
Just before supper time, she called me inside, and was about to ask me what on earth I was bringing in the back door with my rod, when Daddy came around the corner and said, "MY! I think you caught your limit of sinker fish today! Did you have to throw any back?" We laughed and laughed till our sides ached.
The next day the mowers had come, and there were no weeds in the field. Daddy told me that patience was a big part of fishing no matter what you are fishing for, and that he happened to know that the field had been stocked with enough sinker fish to last us all the way till fall. Each day after school, I came home eager to see if it was a good "fishing" day. When it was I'd find my little white fishing rod and reel, and head out to the edge of the field and fish. Some afternoons, my brother would come and fish with me and we would make a contest to see who could catch the most. Those were the best sinker fishing days, but he was 7 years older and had many other chores and tasks to do, so most days I would sinker fish alone.
Then one Saturday, Mom woke me up early and told me that Daddy was taking me out for the day. When I asked where, she just smiled and said it was a surprise. Mom helped me get on my best play pants, my white blouse with the little ruffle sleeves, my favorite, my jacket, and white Gilligan Hat, my frilly socks and brown buckle shoes. Daddy's eyes just twinkled as I bounced up and down with excitement in the car seat as we drove up into the mountains.
Daddy parked the car alongside a dirt road and told me to wait for him to come around and open my door. As he lead me around to the back of the car, I noticed that several of the Grown-ups from our church were gathering beside the lake across the road. Daddy got out his tackle box and fishing pole and handed me my little white rod, then hand in hand we walked across the road to the others. Daddy was taking me fishing with the Men's prayer group. When the men first saw me they smiled an uneasy smile and began to whisper. "Don't worry fellas, I promise she won't spoil your fishing or get in the way . . . "
Daddy picked out a rock for me to sit on a little way from everyone else, and as he baited my hook, he whispered, "Ok Debbie, now, just like in the field by our house . . . " I wriggled up my shoulders and covered my giggles with my hand. Daddy looked out over the water and pointed to a spot. Standing over me with his arms around me and his hands on mine, he helped me cast my first cast, it came close, but wasn't just right. As the men's eyes watched me, I began to doubt myself, and almost felt a tear begin to roll out of my eye, but Daddy whispered again, don't pay attention to the others, you can do it, and he stood back. Sure enough the next cast went right where Daddy had pointed. My eyes got big and I looked at Daddy, who just looked back with that special twinkle, neither one of us said a word. I slowly reeled in my line waiting to feel a tug like I felt fishing in the field. My line came up empty, except for the bait. I remembered what Daddy had said about patience and how important it was no matter what you are fishing for, so while he was talking with the men a few yards away, I stood up straight and cast again, this time, I felt the tug, so I reeled in my line just like Daddy had taught me, and out of the water came my hook with a fish big as my Daddy's hand. I remembered to pose how the "fishermen" always did, and then I said in the proudest voice a little girl could muster, "You were right Daddy! This is just as easy as catching Sinker Fish!" Daddy smiled bigger than I had ever seen, as he told everyone that I had caught the first fish of the day!
All morning and afternoon, everyone fished and visited, ate and prayed having a wonderful time together. Some men caught a lot, some just a few, I didn't catch the biggest or the most, but I didn't care. I was fishing with my Daddy and that was all that mattered. Many of the men asked Daddy what exactly "sinker fish" were, but he never told, he would just look my way and give me a wink, and on the drive home we laughed and laughed till our sides ached. . .