In the past couple years, I’ve had the great honour of guiding and fishing with some dear old friends who were colleagues during our working days.
Career moves created some disconnects and distance between us through the years, but that eternal camaraderie always prevailed.
There are times that a social media platform like Facebook can be a blessing – and a curse – but it’s an amazing tool that allows friends to reconnect.
One fall while I was sitting in my tree stand hunting, I was scanning posts and saw a friend suggestion for a former work mate – Mark… someone I hadn’t seen or talked to in more than a decade after I’d transferred up to the Northwest Territories with my work.
Within minutes of sending the friend request, we reconnected and the conversations started flowing like they had never taken a decade-long vacation. It was wonderful… and before long we were discussing a fishing adventure and visit for the following spring.
It’s so great when a group of friends gather… there’s nothing quite like a day on the water fishing; sharing stories & a lot of laughs; and then enjoying the great eats that come from a good catch of Walleyes!!
The following year, Mark made a trip north in September to see and fish Lake Nipigon and the Nipigon River, and it was nothing short of amazing… he got to experience the north in the fall… catching his new Personal Best 20” Brook Trout, as well as Northern Pike & Salmon. And, as a photographer, he got to see an array of wildlife including Eagles fishing for Pink Salmon, along with various waterfowl.
That reconnection led to yet another one after seeing a comment on a post about Mark’s trip from another old friend & colleague – Terry.
Distance and time (in this case almost 30 years) meant really nothing… we picked up almost like we’d never left off, and another fishing trip to chase Nipigon Brookies got planned!!
Terry came with a goal to up his Personal Best Brook Trout, and he did just that with a beauty 21” / 4.25 lb. fish, and we even had some time for a Lake Trout fish as well.
Does it get any better when you can share time ‘On the Water’ with some of your best friends? I don’t think so… I hope you get that chance to reconnect and enjoy some fishing with old friends too!!
