Patricia Cole...
aka TrishaDaFisha, mother of six (all grown and gone thankfully) has found a new venture and hobby in life, the Joys of Fishing. Currently working as receptionist for ten years and after work has been a “whatever” in my life. But since friends introduced me to fishing last May 2005, “whatever” has become sheer joy, excitement and great expectation.
What’s in the deep blue sea for me? Living on the lakefront with Lake Michigan from my bedroom window, I hear the call of the waves beckon me.
My friends introduced me to Bass Fishing, and we traveled on weekends to Missouri on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, and to the Great Waters of Kentucky Lakes Barkley Dam. Here we fished for Largemouth Bass, White Bass, and Crappie. Texas and Carolina rigging for Bass kept me busy. Crank baits, Spinner bait and jigging techniques was incorporated into my vocabulary. As well as live bait, no problem. Asking others to tie knots for me was annoying to me, as well as to them. So, during the week, I took a shoestring and a safety pin and practiced tying on the bus on the way to work and at work at my desk. I employed the internet to learn various knots. Not waiting for the weekends, I took to Lake Michigan’s boat harbors to fish for Rock Bass. Practice! Practice. I got the “feel” of the bite and mastering my casting techniques.
I took advantage of Chicagoland’s Great Lake Michigan, Yellow Perch. After a few hours I reached my 15 limit with 4 jumbo in the bunch. My hunger for fishing grew quickly. “I gotta’ get the smell of Victory on my hands!”
I quickly converted my children and grandchildren to my newfound joy. After persuading my 3 of 5 daughters, to join my new found love, they and my grandchildren joined me at Jackson Park Lagoon where they experienced the joys of angling for Bluegill and occasional Crappie here and there. My daughters Rebekah, Rachel and Jennifer all in their twenties and never gave a second thought to fishing, had the time of their life. Each one purchased their fishing license and they caught a few Bluegill from the Lagoon, which put those smiles of “look what I got” on their faces right away. My granddaughter Alexis age 6, mimics my saying , “I’m gonna fish! Fish! Fish! until I diieeeeeeeeeeeee!” I bought all my grandchildren fishing rods and gave the safety tips and rules and each one has been an eager listener and happy angler. Taylor age 6, caught several bluegill with her Barbie rod. And lil’ Luke age 3, I let him reel mine in. Everybody has to handle their own waxworm/worm and fish, no gloves permitted. Be a REAL Fisherman!
The buzz among the shore fisherman was, “SALMON”. Searching the internet for information on Salmon fishing, a new rod was in view to purchase and other artillery. Looks like expensive perfume and such frills are gonna take back seat to my new love. So! To the bait store I go ready to buy whatever is necessary. Being boatless and yet hungry for the sea and what it holds, I took up shore fishing with some of Chicago’s finest Shore Fisherman and they took me under their wing with my brand new Shakespeare Ugly Stick (which they jokingly called 𠇊 pipe”. The shore fishermen set me up with info on Salmon fishing. Goodbye Bluegill! Hello Salmon! What thrills lie before me! My first Salmon weighed in at 7lbs on my first time out. But from there it was slow going! “TrishaDaFisha!....what you doin’?” I asked myself. Not catching a fish in about 5 days or more was exasperating. And I go e’ry day. What a downer! Very quickly I learned Salmon fishing is not like fishing for Bluegill! I thought Bass Fishing was tough! A trillion casts for Salmon. My day came and I began to catch and catch (8 under by belt so far) – but only after hour- after- hour and well into the night. I’ve paid my dues. Night fishing requires more equipment, headlight, flashlight, and a flasher to make the spoons/wobblers glo at night. 
During one of my many trips to the bait shop, the owner invited me to become a contestant for the 2nd Annual Salmon Derby Classic.
As Paul Harvey says, “And you know the rest of the story.”
Keep a wet line kids,
TrishaDaFisha
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