The sun is beginning to rise over the mountains as I set my gear down on the shore.  There is a chill in the air and I can see my breath like short bursts of fog.  The only sounds are the birds singing their morning song to the sun, the light rippling of the water, and the singing of fishing line as others cast out their bait and lures in the hopes of catching the ever elusive “big one”.  I open my tackle box and prepare my own line.  What will the fish be biting on this time? I wonder. I choose a simple lure, add a little power bait, and attach it to my line.  Now I am ready.  I chose a spot a little ways up the shore from the rest of the fishermen and I prepare to cast out.  As my first cast of the morning sings it way out into the lake, a peace washes over me.  Nothing is quite as relaxing as watching the wildlife wake up around the lake and the music of the fishing line as it carries its bait out to the depths.   

As others arrive to try their luck we greet each other with a silent wave and a whispered good morning.  I reel my line back in and cast out again with the rythm learned over years of fishing with my grandpa and my dad.  After a few tries with this lure and no luck I take a moment to sip hot coffee from my thermos before choosing another lure.  The sun is slowly rising, a magestic heron swoops low over the water, fishing for his own breakfast before landing in the shallows.  A few yards down from us a family of deer gather at the water’s edge for a drink, ignoring the fishermen along the shore. 

They are used to us by now and know we won’t bother them.  The first of the fishing boats have left the marina and are making their way to the other side of the lake, maybe the fish are biting over there.  A few of the others have decided they are done for the day and pack up.  Time to go get breakfast in town and get the rest of their day started.  They will return tomorrow though for another try.  I am enjoying the steady rythm of casting out and slowly reeling back in, but the sun is higher in the sky and is reflecting off the surface of the lake.  The fish are heading for deeper waters now so I will pack up too.  I have just enough time to stop by the marina and find out how everyone alse has fared today.  I toss a few bread crumbs for the ducks before heading out.  I didn’t catch anything today, but there’s always next time. For now I am ready to enjoy the rest of this beautiful day.