Java with "Joe Bag of Doughnuts"

Out On The Town With the Guys Part Two: Fishing

This entry was posted on September 17, 2007 12:15 PM and is filed under Out on the Town.

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While I was in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" also known as Minnesota, I came across a TV News story that featured a fully stocked fishing pond on wheels with a Bass boat on top, used by some Sporting Goods store to hold fishing demonstrations at various locations. I thought it was really cool, I just wish I could find a picture of it because no amount of words would truly do this contraption justice. I wish I could remember the name of the outfit that owned it, but I can't so that's that.

Beside the "Bass Bus" though (as I came to refer to it), the other thing that struck me as rather odd as I watched the piece was the fact that all these so called expert "fishermen" who were doing the demonstrating were dressed in camouflage gear from head to toe. I am talking hats, scarves, waders, shirts, jackets; you name it, and not a lick of "safety orange". Everything but the pole itself was done up in full "Camo". So naturally this begs the question; does camouflage attire really help you catch more fish when you consider that your butt is parked in a bass boat sucking beer between casts and the hull of said boat is made of shiney stainless steel or white fiberglass? Maybe some avid fisherman would care to field that particular question, I just found the concept of camo-fishing somewhat bizarre.

Now I am the first to admit that I am not what some would call a "Sportsman" or "Outdoorsman" in the sense that I don't fish, or hunt, or trap, or do anything for fun that results in a corpse of some kind. While I have indeed gone fishing before, and I might like to try big game fishing one day, I don't eat fish of any kind so it seems rather pointless for me to engage in that activity. It's safe to say I am not apt to plan a weekend much less a vacation around fishing. That being said though, it does seem to be an activity that is extremely popular among other single men, and I am curious as to why. I do love the great outdoors myself, but I would rather be kayaking or canoeing on a lake or river, as opposed to sitting in a boat that spends most of its time unmoving and quiet, or standing motionless waist deep in a stream for hours on end. And my God, the notion of being trapped in a boat for several hours with a bunch of guys discussing bait and tackle is only made to seem less frightful by the thought of what there might be to do once the beer has run out. I literally shiver at the thought of that.

So I suppose if you eat fish regularly and you enjoy a good "fish tale" about the one that got away, I could see where the appeal might lie for a single guy, but other than that, I really don't get the attraction. You are rarely if ever are gonna meet an attractive single woman while fishing (although I suppose it is a remote possibility in some areas), as it would seem that for the most part this activity resembles a sausage convention with bait, and not the kind of bait apt to attract most women. I have likewise seen women in the past query why Men seem to enjoy posing with dead fish as a means to attract a female in their internet dating profiles. I confess I have wondered about this as well. Is it a "Look me catch fish me good provider" kinda thing, or just overcompensation or misdirection for other "shortcomings"? So enlighten me guys, where is the appeal? By all means ladies I would love to know if you find Men holding dead or soon to be dead fish appealing? Is cleaning and gutting your Man's catch something you look forward to with bated breath? I am sincerely curious about all of this.

Have fun ;)!