Fishing isn't always about the catch

Fishing isn't always just about fishing.

It was a mid-70s kind of day at Priest Lake, with calm water. Terry's friend's boat was in its slip, waiting for us to take it out and knock off those fish. We had two 11-year-old grandsons with us — the reason we were even on the lake.

We'd taken them last year — with great success — and they couldn't wait to go again. Terry's three-month surgery restrictions were finally lifted, in time for a fall fishing day. He and his friend had discussed the best fishing spots, which were all over the water map.

One by one we tried them. Terry taught the boys the intricacies of using a down-rigger. Off the tip of a particular island was a shelf that dropped suddenly. We might find some macks in there. Nothing. But a bald eagle landed in a tree overhead.

Maybe there were still kokanee that hadn't swum upstream yet. We trolled around that bay at the creek entrance. Whoa! One fishing rod showed some action. The grandboy reeled in a weed. The other rod bent double. Terry had the net ready. That grandson hauled in a much bigger green weed. Definitely catch and release. We tried a bit longer. Nothing.

We boated north to another island's waters, known to be a fish hangout. The grands got to take a turn at the wheel. We fished there for macks. Nothing. Another bald eagle flew along the trees. I wished I'd brought binoculars. We took time to snack on more of our picnic.

Last chance — we cruised the shoreline back to the boat slip, trying for bass. That was after untangling lines that snarled in the turn. The boys practiced their casting. A lure was lost, snagged on a rock. Shadows lengthened. We'd been out six hours; it was now time to head in. Fish count was zero.

This is when I chastised God. I had asked Him for fishing favor. What happened? I actually thought, “This whole big lake, and all these fish in it — couldn't you have sent a few our way for the boys to catch?”

The next morning I read in my Bible how the word of God is able to “judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” So it hadn't been enough to have the use of a beautiful boat on a beautiful autumn day on a beautiful lake — and my husband feeling able to be out there, which had made the whole thing possible. Add to that, quality time with two healthy and wonderful grandsons. No fish, so I was diving into “God-failure” disappointment because casting my prayer had come up empty.

Oh yeah, the thoughts and intentions of the heart. First action — feel sorry, say sorry, and mean it before God. When I told the boys about it at breakfast they were startled. They'd had a superior day! They weren't at all disappointed to not catch any fish.

Their hearts were in the right place. It was their grandmother who needed to untangle her line.