When you are contemplating a career change, many things come to light. It may be your desire to fish more. Did that! It may be your desire to get control of your life. Working on that! It may be a readjustment that takes you down paths that you could have never imagined.

My process has encompassed all and more. While running a twenty-four hour service business, I realized that it takes more than good service to be successful. It takes good communication, good trouble shooting and good questions.

While fishing Sabattus Pond this year, on a particularly hot day, hot for fishing that it is, I ran into another fisherman that gave me a few insights into the management of fishing and the management of life. I’ll call him Jacque to protect the innocent.

Jacque and I had been fishing the far end of Sabattus when the clouds began barking at us. Jacque was in his boat and I in mine; we did not know each other. And, we were catching fish in record numbers, mostly Pike, but a few good Bass. The approaching storm made the bite particularly good. There had been no predictions of thunderstorms for that day, but the sky and clouds begged to differ with us. As we all headed for the dock, a small pile-up of boats lined up waiting to load.

When my turn came up, I pulled up and noticed Jacque waiting behind me. I grabbed his boat and tied him off on the end of the dock and was off to retrieve my truck and trailer so that I could load the boat. Life can be so competitive at times; it is one of the reasons I do not fish competitively. I find that between my work, and other obligations, my cup is full in this area.

As I approached the dock, Jacque insisted on giving me a hand loading. I’m fairly independent and wanted to do the job myself, I hate to impose on an other's time. But then I thought to myself, “What am I doing?” I am always ready to lend a helping hand when the need presents itself, but I rarely accept the offer when it is presented to me. I looked at Jacque, and said “Sure, just hold on to the boat and I’ll back up the trailer." Jacque helped me load it and I, in turn, helped him.

After the boats where on their respective trailers, we started up a conversation that ended up being very enlightening for me. Jacque had been self employed for most of his life and had worked through slow and busy times. When he worked, he worked hard; and, when his business slowed, he played hard. I found the concept interesting. My business had never presented itself with a slow time, so I had to make it happen.

Jacque looked at me and asked a question I had never considered before. I grew up in family business, and the business always came first. When I took it over, it was the same. Other friends would go to Florida, take mid-winter vacations and structure their time around various desires and expectations. I tended to my customer's needs, turning back from a night of leisure activities or a day of fishing/hunting to tend to their needs.

Jacque's question was an eye opener for me. “How much do you need to work?” Jacque asked me. I had never asked myself the question before and took everything that walked through the door for business. It is a very interesting question.

Several years ago, I hired an apprentice that had been living in his mother’s basement for most of his life. He was forty-two at the time. I believe he had asked himself the question before. He made time for himself and was comfortable with his lifestyle. So what does this have to do with fishing? It has a great deal to do with fishing. It’s called programming quality time into your schedule. My quality time includes the outdoors.

Many of my friends have good intentions when it comes to fishing. They intend to go; they really want to go; but I have a sneaking suspicion that they, like me, have never really asked the question that Jacque proposed.

If you are the type of person that has always put his job first, it may be time to ask yourself “How much do I need to work?” Be Frank with the answer, because Frank is a very pragmatic and objective person. If you can find the Frank in yourself, you may be surprised at what the answer is.

Be safe and make time to fish!

PS Many lakes and rivers in Maine are open to fishing with artificials until the end of November!

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