You might recognize my byline from the many fishing 101 articles that I have contributed to this website. This article will be a little more personal and revealing than most of the content that I write, but I feel that sharing how fishing became my career could potentially help others. For me, fishing started as a necessary outlet for self-preservation which led to the thriving career that I love.
Let’s start at the beginning. When I was a pre-teen, I was diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and ADHD. I always had a hard time focusing on just one thing at a time and could easily get caught up in a mood swing just from worrying about something else in my mind. That was a lot for a young kid to deal with. I tried therapy, counseling, medication, and more. Nothing seemed to help. Nothing seemed to calm it all down.
When I turned 14, my family moved onto a lake. The water was just steps away, and I was now in a whole new school district, city, and atmosphere. Being in a new environment at that time was very tough, but it provided the best opportunity I have ever had. When I needed a break from homework, being home, or just life, I could walk out the back door and be fishing off the dock in a matter of minutes.
Fishing As An Outlet
Until then, fishing was something I did when the opportunity presented itself.Iit was never something I purposely sought out. It took too much effort to get to a lake and fish often enough to make it a daily activity. Within my first summer on the lake, I quickly learned that fishing was much more than a hobby to pass the time. Fishing became a tool I could use to distract my thoughts long enough to clear my head. It became a reset button.
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When I was depressed, fishing helped me enjoy life again. The anticipation of the catch would overtake my thoughts. Before I knew it, I was fishing every day after school. It was no longer just about catching fish. It was about spending time on the water.
As I got older, the stressors only grew, and my depression evolved with the situations adulthood brings. I still had the same struggles I did when I was younger, but I had better tools to manage them. Being outdoors allows someone to step into the unknown. You can be on the same lake every day and still have a completely different experience. That unpredictability was grounding for me, especially when everyday life felt overwhelming.
A Place to Return To
At my toughest times, the water was there. I could launch the boat or kayak, drift around with the occasional cast, and my troubles would slowly turn into questions like which bait to throw or where to cast next. Time on the water became so valuable that I would rush home from school, immediately change my clothes, grab my fishing gear, and head straight to the lake.
Later in life, as I entered my 30s, I decided to make fishing my career. Before, I was rushing out of school or work to get on the water whenever I had time. Now, my time could be spent finding adventure every day. It put me in a near-constant state of tranquility on the water. There is still the hectic and stressful work portion that takes up about 90% of my time. It’s the 10% of freedom to be on the water makes it all worth it.
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One of the first steps I took after deciding to fish for a living was working with a local veterans charity that introduces military veterans to kayak fishing. The organization focuses on showing veterans that there is peace, therapy, and excitement on the water that cannot be found anywhere else. Meeting these brave men and women and sharing my passion for the sport was a full-circle moment. I started fishing to save my own life, and now I can share it with others as a form of therapy and healing.
Healing On The Water
Some of my darkest moments led to the most epic fishing experiences. When I talk with people after introducing them to the sport, I often ask how they felt about the trip. Very often, I hear that it was peaceful and relaxing. One of my favorite responses — and one I hear frequently — is that kayak fishing feels like organized, planned chaos, yet it allows them to completely forget about the time that has passed and the hectic life they left on shore.
Many stories in the fishing community begin with how fishing and the adventures that follow have saved lives and offered mental clarity and stability. The world can be complex and unpredictable, but the unknown adventure waiting on the water is guaranteed to engage your senses and, hopefully, replace stress with wonder. They say that not all who wander are lost, and that sometimes you find yourself while searching for adventure. In that case, get outside, grab a fishing pole, and check in for your outdoor therapy session.
