Fishing is more than just catching fish

The scene above draws you to the White River, but fishing and boating anywhere can give a satisfying experience with a friend or family member.

A few weeks ago, I floated alongside a riverbank, casting a variety of baits for an hour or so on a warm summer evening. I didn't see a fish or even a ripple in the water.

Not until the sun fell below the tree line. Then, in just few minutes, I caught two smallmouth bass, and I was eager for more.

Just ahead, a thunderous splash caught my attention. A flick of the trolling motor propelled me in that direction.

Another huge flop and even in this low light I could tell this wasn't a fish. One of the chubbiest beavers I have ever seen was moving away in the distance, leaving a wake that even the most nearsighted angler could follow.

I had seen this guy before and I would see him again. Always the intruder, I would disturb either his mealtime or twig gathering. And he would always let me know with the slap of his tail that this was his territory, not mine.

That's the way it is when you go fishing. It isn't just about catching fish. It's about all the things you experience when you go fishing. Often, those experiences produce memories that will last a lifetime.

My parents and I still laugh about some of the fishing trips we took when I was a kid. Usually, it isn't the fishing we reminisce about, but about something goofy that happened along the way.

Like when the family dog leaned a little too far over the edge of the fishing boat while we were running at full throttle. We had to perform a Baywatch-style rescue, minus the pretty people in skintight swimsuits.

When you're out on the water, a lot of interesting things can happen. A few years ago, my friend Mary Beth and I rescued a young great blue heron that was entangled in a discarded trot line. And there was the time my dad and I saw a fox come out of the woods and down to the river for a drink -- in Marion County, of all places.

The stories could go on and on. I'll bet you have some pretty good fishing stories, too.

In this issue of Outdoor Indiana, we feature the Wabash River, the mother of all Hoosier fishing stories.

Running through the heart of Indiana, the Wabash has provided people with a home for more than 10,000 years. Join us in exploring some recent history and present day attractions.

Again this year, the July/August issue includes the Outdoor Indiana Calendar. Magazine subscriptions and 2004 calendars may be purchased by calling 1-877-463-6367. Both make excellent birthday and holiday gifts.

Stephen Sellers, editor