A few here know I'm an assistant coach for a local high school fishing team. 

 

At our first meeting last year this one particular young man came in with a hoodie, long pants, longish hair, and kept his head down a lot. 

 

I thought a lot about this that night.  I was fairly certain he wasn't involved in traditional  sports and for whatever reason it thought there was a chance of bullying. Yes, a lot of supposition on my part.

 

Fast forward to November of last year. We fished together as i do with each team member. His daddy was there too. He talked about school, a little about his social life, but generally about fishing. He is glad to be a part of a team. He plainly told me he's glad to find a place he fits. While there was some joy with in me, my heart also ached; I wondered about his life at school. He's shy, quiet, and respectful. 

 

We have fished several times and to say I'm glad he's part of the team would be an understatement.  

 

Many times being a volunteer is thankless, especially in a school system. But this young man has made every minute of this worth more than he will ever know.

 

The point of all this and what led me to write it,  is this: your impact on young people is more rewarding than any fish you catch. 

 

Here's a fish from November. 

Well said, @whitwolf. Well said.

Not all fishing rewards have scales. Congrats on your mutual success.

That’s awesome! Keep up the good deeds @whitwolf  

Great stuff!  ❤️

I wish my high school would have had a fishing team with a coach like you. It’s clear from your post that you care about this young man. 

Fishing can be so therapeutic and most don’t realize it.  It’s what kept me guiding for so long.  Helping a kid catch their first bass, helping an angler catch their personal best, volunteering to take wounded warriors and combat vets out for a day on the water have all given me much more than I could ever give them.  

Thanks for helping the next generation! Hopefully you are rewarded with many lunkers!