Aldo Leopold opens A Sand County Almanac with the thought: “There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot. These essays are the delights and dilemmas of one who cannot.” That sentiment really resonates with me.
This week, my season is starting to wind down as we head toward November. The past week or so has been full of action—pike and bass fishing trips, with plenty of pickerel mixed in. Monday was especially memorable. I had a group of high school students and one of their moms join me. The fishing was better than it had been in a while—lots of fish made it to the boat, and a few big ones gave us a good chance before slipping away.
At one point, the mom and I talked about how great it was to see these teens so engaged in fishing. That led us to talk about how important it is for young people to connect with nature. Fishing, we agreed, can be the gateway to a deeper appreciation of our natural resources—and maybe even a lifelong commitment to conservation, just like Leopold described.
All in all, it was a heartening morning—great company, good fishing, and a reminder of why this work matters.
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