Growing up, I would occasionally fish for bass in my grandfather’s pond. I admit, I was usually interested in small minnows, especially bluegill minnows, since the later were usually much harder to catch. I generally enjoying looking for tadpoles of various sizes. But occasionally, I’d actually pick up a pole and fish properly.

On one occasion, I lost a lure, and stated that I’d get it back. The next cast I made went into the water, something snagged it, and my hook and the old lure came flying back, from what I can only assume was a second failed attempt at the same greedy bass.

The pond also had beavers, and I think my Dad hooked one by accident as well. Someone in the family (I think it was my sister) hooked an alligator, and several of us, on varying occasions, hooked branches. It often led to annoying tangles. Sometimes, you cast you’re lure, and you have no idea what you’ll catch.

Still, it’s worth casting, and I think there may be a lesson in that. Sometimes, even if all you think you’ve got back is your old lure, you still reel in a story.