My Anticipatory Net

2026-04-02

Each time that I go fishing I bring my net. It sits in it's holster on my wading belt heavy and prepared. My net patiently waits for the fish that will never be caught.

I always seem to fish in the spots where the fish aren't. When I got fishing I have high hopes, but my net knows better. The net will stay dry, it won't cradle a beautiful rainbow or cutthroat trout in it's special rubber mesh. A mesh designed to do the least harm to these fragile creatures.

If it's lucky the handle that hangs below my waist may get dampened if happen to wade deep enough in my quest to land a fish. But never the basket. The basket is snug and dry against my back high above the water.

When I get home I hang my net on a hook in the closet. There it will wait in anticipation of the next time I take it out for a walk, but never for a swim.

Note: I wrote the above in my notepad two weeks ago after another fruitless fishing session. But on the Sunday just passed I hooked three rainbow trout and landed two of them. For my net it was a good day, as it was for me as well.