Fishing The Mississippi River
By webeishere
@webeishere (36313)
United States
June 28, 2007 2:12pm CST
I have been clean and sober for over 16 years now. One huge tie in to my drinking, or red lights if you must, is and was fishing. I used to sit along the banks of the Mississippi River just like the people in this photo are doing. I could catch,Northern Pike, gars, crappies, smallmouth bass, walleyes, striped bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish and many other species. I quit fishing when I quit drinking as it was not a good idea. Whenvere I fished I drank. Whenever I drank I fished. So anyhow downtown last night at Boom Island I saw this couple along with a few others fishing. I sat and talked to this couple for about 15 minutes after taking this photo. They were there to kill the day and enjoy the coolness finally we got in the weather. I love meeting and talking with new people so much. I just wanted to share this stroy about my fishing and drinking tie in was all. Go sit alongside a riverbank or waterfront be it a lake a pond or even the ocean. Sit and enjoy the water splashing against the shoreline. It's such a soothing and relaxing sound.
HAPPY FISHING FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
11 people like this
15 responses
@Beertjie (976)
• South Africa
28 Jun 07
Congrats on being clean and sober for over 16 years, I'm going for 9 years. It's a pity you stopped fishing but in your case it seemed the right thing to do. You are very wise. I absolutely love fishing. Even in my drunken years I would go fishing and not drink a sip. My friends going fishing with me knew that no drinking is alowed. I would drink anywhere, anytime, even at work, but not when fishing. I do not drink anymore and I live for my sport, fishing. I do not compete anymore due to health but I do fish whenever I get the oppertunity. Any type of fishing but my favourate is rock and surf angling (sea) and fly-fishing. Maybe you should try it again but take the grand children end teach them about the beauty of fishing and nature. There is nothing better than fresh air and spending time in nature. Blessings
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
28 Jun 07
Thank you very much also. It wasn't easy as I gave up a lot of thimgs including friends and family that were red flags for my drinking when I sobered up. I and a friend had enetered a couple smallmouth and largemouth Bass tournaments here in Minnesota during my drinking times. We never placed in the money but meeting some celebs was great.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
2 people like this
@rusty2rusty (6763)
• Defiance, Ohio
29 Jun 07
I enjoy sitting along a river bank, shoreline, or water ever and enjoy the sites and weather. But since I live in Florida. I have to be careful of where I am at before I go sticking my feet in the water and splashing. otherwise I might have none later. yesterday I did take my kids out to the Locks...we got to see the local wildlife and the two younger kids got to play at the park. It is fun watching the boats go through the locks.
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
29 Jun 07
When I lived in Jupiter I had seen Gators on the gold courses. Too funny. They had no fear what so ever and strolled around like a 4some playing a round. HAHAHA!!
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
1 person likes this
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
29 Jun 07
That was so nasty fihing by the river as kids dad that water was dirty and it smelled ewwwww.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
29 Jun 07
yeah it was downtown. But your brother loved it. Hahahaha!!
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM DADDY!!~
1 person likes this
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
10 Jul 07
Yeah well look the way my brother lives.....the smell is the least of his problems lol.
2 people like this
@wrdsofwisdm (1069)
• United States
30 Jun 07
My ex-fiance took me fishing on St. Croix River in Stillwater. It was fun and we met a lot of people hanging out on the banks...they were pretty smashed, lol. He even had a screen on his crappy boat that showed where the crappies were and how deep. Out of the areas I got to see in that 3 1/2 year relationship, I liked the charm of Stillwater the best.
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
30 Jun 07
The St Croix is a great smallmouth river. Crappies are tsaty little fish also. That screen is callded a sonar fish finder. Hahaha!! Stillwater, the aNTIQUES tOWN. gREAT STORES FOR ANTUQUES AND ARTSY STUFF.
@wrdsofwisdm (1069)
• United States
30 Jun 07
I forgot the name of that restaurant bar...something like pappy's but they had blues bands and Harley folk. It was fun to listen to good music and check out rows and rows of beautiful Harley hogs..the bikes of course ;)
1 person likes this
@sjohnson628 (3197)
• United States
29 Jun 07
I did not realize the Mississippi River ran that far! Wow. I always thought it just ran in Mississippi. LOL! See how much I know about geography? I do not fish but my son and brother love it and yes it does go hand and hand with drinking. I also love the water especially going to the ocean. that is one thing on my agenda for this summer is a trip to the ocean.
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
30 Jun 07
It starts in Northern Minesota and empties into
the Gulf of mexico in New Orlaeans Louisiana.
1 person likes this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
10 Jul 07
Yes.. I love sitting near the water.. any water.. Usually try to take in the ocean once a year when I go home to New England to visit.. I've never (thus far) picked up the fishing bug.. but will go with my husband just to sit there in the quietness..
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
29 Jun 07
It's good that saw the association between fishing & drinking. I guess for different people, there are different associations.
What about taking a thermos of hot coffee instead? It would be good if you could enjoy your fishing again.
Hubby loves fishing too, although he doesn't very often hget the chance. When we go to the River Murray, mostly the only fish he catches are carp, which are crap fish.
In just over one week, we hope to be gong on a holiday at Penneshaw. There are no rivers there, but we will be right by the sea. So hubby will be fishing there. He hopes to cath Whiting or Garfish.
I rated your photo & wrote a comment.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Nahhhh. I gave all my fishing gear to my son. And of course he lost it and or sold it. It's an exspensive hobby so I prefer my gardening right now. Hahaha!! Carp is actually great if cooked right. We have a Carp Festival and I've tried some cooked carp that was delicious. They are a fun fish to catch also. Thanks for everything also.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
1 person likes this
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
29 Jun 07
I used to fish alot as a child- My daughter loves to fish- Her dad takes her alot- I'm taking her for the first time in ages on saturday- My aunt owns 2 cottages on a Lake- We are going to spend the day there and fish- we're even going to take a row boat out- Wish me luck! I have to get a license first- She is safe- she in under 16--
Glad to hear you've been sober for that long- Congrats!!
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
10 Jul 07
Congratson your 16 years Grandpa! That is an awesome achievement. After reading this thread I realize you have made some tremendous sacrifices in order to maintain your sobriety. I admire you. As for the fishing, would you believe that I have never fished a day in my life? Everyone tells me how relaxing and wonderful it is. It seems to me like it would be boring to sit there and hold a rod...but maybe I should try it before I knock it huh? The more I read the more afraid I am to eat fish ...due to the pollutants in the waters. However, I suppose one could catch and release. I might have to find a friend who fishes and ask if I can tag along...
1 person likes this
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
3 Jul 07
That sounds absolutely heavenly. I haven't gotten my fishing license yet this year, but I intend to very soon. We usually go where the two main rivers in the area converge and do our fishing there when we can find available space. I have seen the Mississippi river, but only from the bridge crossing over into Memphis. And it was raining so hard that we actually thought we were IN the river instead of on the bridge. I couldn't believe how WIDE it looked. Awesome!
1 person likes this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
29 Jun 07
That's why I want to find my hammock to put up between 2 trees out back by the creek. It's so quiet here that I could almost hear the creek out back from in the house. Just the wind sighing thru the trees and an occasional rooster crowing.
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Sheesh took a bit for me to get this page loaded with mylot being so slow and me having dial up internet service. Grrrr. Anyhow my guture son-in-law mentioned fixing my deck. I thought, hell build me a 3 season porch out in back add a 3 tier water fountain pond with a nice stone trail leading to it add some water lilies etc and I'll sit out back listening to the water in the comfort of my own back yard. HAHAHA!
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
1 person likes this
@mizrae (587)
• United States
10 Jul 07
I hate fishing, no offense. One of my brothers loves to get out on his small (and I mean small) aluminum boat and just fish and drink. I've gone with him a couple of times just to be out on the water. Now that I love. Anyway, the best part is when we take this little boat off the lake and idle down the river thru town. Everyone waves, it is relaxing, and I just love it. The sun is dappling thru the trees overgrown on the shore, the breeze is gently stirring the heat away from your body, gosh it's heaven. I don't know what it is about boaters and people who live on water, but they are some of the friendliest and most helpful individuals I have ever met. (Except myLotters, of course)
@Inky261 (2520)
• Germany
29 Jun 07
This is great to read that you are sober for sixteen long years grandpa Bob! I am sure there were many good and bad events in these sixteen years that you otherwise would have had "a couple of drinks", but you might not have survived it. I hope you will have many more sober years. It is much more fun to lead ones life with a clear thinking head.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Yeah these 16 years have been rough yet easy going at the same time. When get that stininking feeling I turn to my Higher Power for guidance and he helps me through it. Thanks a lot also.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@AhsetBoy (93)
• Indonesia
29 Jun 07
The missisippi is one the greatest rivers in the world. Drainage of this river and its tributaries embraces nearly one-third of the land surface of the United States. Congratulation. I envy, i want to fish at missisippi river.
Happy Fishing
