Magical Smiles
I have a wall in my basement plastered with 100’s of fishing photos. They are mostly awkward selfies of just me and whatever fish I caught that day; and honestly I’m not sure why I feel so compelled to take a picture every time I catch a fish, but alas, I do. Interestingly, I can tell you exactly where I was, and what rig I used in just about every picture. But that’s not what I notice most in all of these photos.
This wall has photos of me and my kids, my kids and their friends and their dads, some of my dearest friends, neighborhood kids, even grandpa has his picture up there. And while there is a fish in every photo, that’s not what draws the eye. It’s the smiles. The huge smiles. They are beautiful – and that’s why I put the photos up. It seems that something magical happens when a person catches a fish. And I simply cannot wait to see the smiles that will be created through Go Fish Academy!
Now get out there and Go Fish!
Catch Anything?
I used to get somewhat bothered when people would walk by, see me fishing, and ask, “Catch Anything?” Or… “Any Luck?”
I’m not sure why it was bothersome. Perhaps it was because if I hadn’t caught anything I would have to admit it, and of course, I want everyone to think I am an expert fisherman.
But over time, I’ve learned to let the question roll off my back. Because as the old saying goes, “Fishing is not always about catching.”
When I’m out fishing, I’m taking in all that nature has to offer. Fresh air, wildlife, and beautiful scenery. And I love being by the water. Any water. It soothes my soul.
Sure, I love to catch fish. It is the primary goal afterall… but simply spending time outside is equally enjoyable. So now when people ask me if I’m having any luck, and I haven’t caught a thing…I say what I hear all the old-timers say, “Nah…not today…but today I’m just practicing.”
Now get out there and Go Fish!
Welcome to Go Fish!
This is a business idea that was formed during the Coronavirus pandemic. It has been such a challenging time for me, my family, and my businesses; and I needed something positive to focus on. Since I love fishing and teaching people how to fish, I decided I would create a beginner fishing class and offer it to folks in my community. My goal was to put a couple classes together and if I could get enough people interested, I would have something positive to look forward to in the spring of 2021.
So I created a simple website, wrote some curriculum and decided to call it Go Fish Academy. I took a deep breath and posted the concept on a local FaceBook page not really expecting much to come of it, but certainly hoping that I’d at least get a few people to fill out the form indicating they were interested in learning how to fish.
Well, I have to say, I was quite surprised (and elated) with the response. Within an hour of that first Facebook post, 10 families went to my website and filled out the online form. Within a couple more hours, I was over 20 families!
Clearly I struck a nerve. During the weeks that followed I put a few more posts on FaceBook, and as I am writing this, I have about 100 families in my community who are interested in the classes!
With all this excitement I decided to take it to the next level and I added an online fishing store as well. I’ve branded the whole concept Go Fish Tackle Box, and between offering fishing supplies through this site and teaching classes through the Academy, I think I’ve got a viable business! In fact, one day, I’d even like to franchise the Academy so that people can be introduced to fishing all over the U.S.! Dream big right?
Whether you found this site because you need some fishing tackle or because you were looking for a place to learn more about fishing, I’m glad you’re here! If you should decide to purchase something, I’d like to thank you from the bottom of my heart – it helps not only my family, but it also supports the Academy and will help it grow beyond my local community!
Now get out there and Go Fish!