Gone Fishin'.....................

Grace's latest sport is fishing.   For all you men out there who want to have a pal to take along who does not talk while you are waiting for them to bite,  here is your girl.     One morning I had just fed the fish in the 44 flat back hex tank when Grace leaped up on the arm of the chair and stared into the tank.   She was fascinated to see those tiny creatures swimming so close , yet so far.   Wet nose pressed to the glass, she waited, when one swam up to her she tried to bite them though the glass and was delighted to see them swim quickly away.   She found this to be a much better vantage point than when she was on the floor, two front paws pushing against the tank and me yelling  "Oh No Grace !"  as she nearly pushed it over.
Like all other creatures she encounters, the fish like her.   They come right up to the glass , teasing her.   The Mollys are the worst.  They like to play in the bubble stream and it drives Grace wild.
Of course, I have to clean nose prints off the glass every day now that she has her new sport and I am thankful she likes to be involved in the fish feeding.
Thinking she might like bigger fish, I took her to the lake.   Well, no one told her one has to get into the water... like taking a bath... to find real fish.   So that game was out.   However when the boats went by and the waves made the wake upon the shore she delighted in the sounds and I encouraged her to catch the "creature"  that lurked beneath the water.  Of course there are so many new smells at the lake for a dog whose true business is with her nose. 
For as many years as I have had dogs I have taken them to lakes and rivers.   A peaceful place, usually quiet with any people there trying to escape the hustle of life.   When Trigger would go fishing on private lakes, I would let him off lead and he would go visit each person on the bank.   Early on he had discovered that often people carry wonderful smelling liver as bait and when he sat quietly and stared at them they would smile and offer it to him.   He acted as a patrol dog when we would camp on the rivers edge all night.   The coyotes would often visit and he was ever the one to alert with barking and growling of any intruder to the camp site.
You like boats?   Well so do dogs.   From the John boat to the cabin cruiser, my "kids" have ridden many.   Willingly jumping in and staring over the edge into the vast nothingness as one drove along.  My Doberman, Echo used to love to stand on the bow, the water splashing her face and the wind blowing her ears back as the boat drove across the lake.
From the back woods rivers to the big lakes, taking your pup with you can make the experience much nicer.  A dog tends to lighten the mood, give you a pal to chat with while you sit, someone to confide all your secrets to, and a constant guard of you and your valuables.    Fishing and dogs is a natural combination bringing delight to both dog and human.


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