Meet Jordan, a high school senior that just turned eighteen
years old, plays varsity soccer, and will be headed off to college in a
year. While all of that seems
commendable, it is merely scratching the surface in terms of the type of person
Jordan is. Jordan is the next generation
of fisherman. He fishes as much as his
busy schedule will allow, and has knowledge about largemouth beyond his
years. Without an ounce of hyperbole, I
honestly believe that he knows more about bass fishing at eighteen than I do at
thirty six. By now means am I staking a
claim to be a Bassmaster Classic qualifier, but honestly, Jordan has a
shot. This young man spends his free time
watching videos and reading about the most current bass fishing trends and
techniques. To understand him a little
better though, let’s go back six years.
Stay with me here.
As I have mentioned before, I am fortunate enough to work in
public education. I was blessed enough
to have Jordan’s path cross mine six years ago when he was in my homeroom
class. We quickly bonded and found out
that we had a lot in common. Jordan was
recognized as an outstanding student during that year by his teachers, and
garnered respect of his fellow classmates.
Toward the end of the school year, I was lucky enough to go fishing with
Jordan and his dad at North Lake near Harrisonville, Missouri. We caught a few but the day didn’t seem
especially prolific in terms of catch numbers or fish size. Don’t get me wrong, it was a beautiful day
with an exceptionally nice father and son and a day that I am reminded of every
time I think of this particular lake.
Fast forward to a week ago when I received an email from Jordan’s
dad, Lee, which contained a simple request.
He was wondering if I might be able to surprise Jordan, during the week
of his eighteenth birthday, and meet him at North Lake one morning to do a
little fishing. To say I was flattered
would be a gross understatement, and we quickly worked out the details. We decided that we would allow Jordan to
think that he would be fishing with his dad for the morning when in fact, I
would be meeting them at the boat ramp where we would inform him that he and I
would be in the boat instead. Now if
being a part of a young man’s birthday present isn’t enough to make you feel
appreciated and have an overwhelming sense of purpose, then you better check
your pulse.
When I approached Jordan as he got out of his folk’s minivan
about an hour before sunrise, I think he either thought I was a vagrant asking
for a stick and red handkerchief or possibly an old acquaintance. The scruffy beard did nothing to help me out
on either account. Lee and I quickly let
him know about the ruse and he seemed to be on board with the idea. Jordan and Lee got their boat on the water
pretty quick and we were making casts before the sun started to peek over the
horizon.
I felt a little apprehension since I hadn’t really spoken to
Jordan in six years and I wasn’t sure if we would be able to strike up
conversation. Jordan behaved like an
atypical teenager. He was polite,
respectful, and able to easily carry a conversation. He showed his fishing knowledge without
showing off and posed some fishing questions that showed that he was informed
but still thirsting for knowledge. He
was what you probably hope your kids grow up to be, and definitely what I hope
my sons grow up to emulate.
While I might have schooled him for a year on the finer
points of sixth grade science and social studies, Mr. Jordan proceeded to
school me on the art of fishing.
The student had become the teacher…and I could not have been
happier because after all, isn’t that what we want? Don’t we hope that our kids (students or recipients
of our bloodline) to grow up to be better than us? Anyway, enough with the philosophical jargon,
he rolled me.
Jordan, somewhere along the line, has learned to work a
hollow-bodied frog like some sort of second degree zen master. That is not to say that he is some sort of
one trick pony. He showed me that he can
catch pass in the heat of summer on a spinner bait while at the same time
asking questions about how to differ the retrieve of a crank bait. Add to that the fact that he has enough
fishing rods to make him look like Kevin Van Dam, and I think it is safe to say
that he has the fishing bug in a bad way.
Since you are reading this, you have probably had the affliction. The one that got you out on the water early
after a previous late night. The illness
that made you obsess about a single fish.
The disease that made you call in sick to work when there was a full
moon and the wind was out of the south.
The final totals were Jordan, 7 and me, 2. Some fishermen believe that keeping track
takes away from the fishing experience, but I think when men are involved in
pretty much anything, a competition will eventually ensue. And what is wrong with that? Our economy is based on the idea that
competition breeds an advantage for the consumer. And if you are going to sit here and badmouth
the United States of America, then I wish you a good day sir! I said good day.
The fishing was fun and the morning was beautiful but that
all takes a back seat to the bigger picture.
Jordan is one of the finest young men that I have ever had the privilege
to know. Again, this is not hyperbole,
but rather impassioned praise for a fine young man that is the next generation
of fisherman. He is the future of our
beloved sport, and the future is bright.
Young men like Jordan continue to restore my faith in humanity. I read a quote not too long ago that said
that there should be more tackle boxes in the world and fewer Xboxes. Heck, I even saw him ignore his cell phone a
few times while fishing! I’ve also heard
that if you take your kids fishing, then you will not have to fish for your
kids. Jordan is a success story and a
story that will only become more successful and a story that I look forward to
following. Jordan, if you are reading
this, I could not be more proud of you and the young man that you have
become. Continue your education, work
towards reaching your goals, and continue to love all of the joys that fishing
can provide.
