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 AS SEEN IN THE JAN/FEB 2006 ISSUE
Looking back, I guess I never really put a great deal of thought into
what my life would become once I took on the title of Mrs. Fishing
Guide. Sure, considering I love fishing and the outdoors myself, I
thought about how wonderful it would be to have a personal captain and
how exciting it would be to have a fishing boat at my fingertips. What
I failed to think about was that it would cost me dearly to live in my
own paradise.
For starters, the freezer in our kitchen which should be filled with frozen waffles and pizza, is actually a storage facility full of dead, smelly baitfish, old frozen shrimp dating back years, oh, and frozen sand fleas. The fun part is determining what’s what seeing as though none of it is labeled. Digging in the freezer to pick out scarce food items suitable for human consumption is challenging at best.
Did you know that Gatorade bottles filled with ice take priority over anything else in the freezer? I quickly learned I was forbidden to throw away any of those plastic bottles. When I did, they were quickly fetched from the trash and put back in their proper place. It never fails. Every time I open the freezer door one of those heavy bottles always seems to roll out and land directly on my foot. Ouch! Even though we do have several bait freezers, all over time have become ‘his’. I’ve given up on that battle.
Now that I was living with a professional fishing guide, I quickly came to the realization that he thought it was acceptable to decorate the entire house with fishing lures. Now this can be dangerous to say the least. After each trip the captain hangs the day’s gear while he prepares new tackle for tomorrow’s trip. It was sort of cute at first, until my nephew’s and niece came to visit. They thought the lures were toys. I tried to convince them they were hung there just to admire and shouldn’t be touched. That didn’t go over too well with the little kids. Needless to say, I am now a professional at childproofing.
Thank goodness they never found the sabiki rigs. Talk about an accident looking for a place to happen. I simply have reached a point where I just take the sabiki rigs down as quick as they get hung up. If you’ve never experienced getting entangled with a sibiki, consider yourself fortunate. Those small hooks are razor sharp and get your attention in a real hurry. Like the day I opened the washing machine and a sabiki rig was wrapped around each and every piece of clothing in the entire load. Talk about testing a person’s patience.
By now, you’ve probably been able to tell living with a full-time fishing guide is never boring. Tidying up takes on a new meaning in a house full of fishing tackle, over 27 years worth to be exact. My faithful Hoover always finds that one leader and sharp hook hanging just a little too close to the carpet. Do you have any idea how many times I’ve had to turn off the vacuum and figure out how to get the fishing line untangled off the roller?
Another dilemma I am constantly encountering is trying to find my favorite piece of Tupperware only to learn it has once again made its way to the boat as some sort of tackle storage system. We go through more plastic food containers then one could ever imagine. Ziplock bags are another hot commodity. I am convinced that over the years we single handedly have kept both companies in business. Mr. Fishing Guide has found more uses for a simple plastic baggie then I ever thought were possible. They make great cell phone bags while out on the water, make great wallets, and evidentially are perfect for storing countless kingfish rigs. If I’m lucky, I’m even allowed to use them to put snacks in to take on the boat. That is if there are even any left when I reach for one.
When I first moved in with my husband I often wondered if the only channels he got were The Weather Channel and the fishing shows. My family members quickly nicknamed him the “Weatherman” a name he wears proudly. A fishing guide’s livelihood revolves around the weather so it is imperative to be on top of what Mother Nature has to offer on any given day but it seemed like that was all we ever watched. I have since found a cure. We now have several televisions scattered throughout the house so I can escape to watch a show every now and then that never mentions the direction of the wind or stars Roland Martin.
When it comes to traveling, the first thing we pack is of course our fishing rods and as much tackle as space allows, regardless of where we are off to. I’ve been taught that it is always better to have the rods with us in case we can wet a line verses the alternative. We do throw in the occasional change of clothes as well. Thank goodness we have a huge extended van to carry it all with us. I call it our Bass Pro Shop on wheels. We also have the means to open a mini tackle shop at the house but we would need to build a separate barn out back verses taking over the last guest room I’ve been guarding with my life.
To say the least, living with a fishing guide is a challenge each and every day. But it is a challenge I’m obviously up for. I wouldn’t trade my life for the world. I’ve got the greatest husband who enjoys the greatest sport. Fishing is such a serene and rewarding activity, I know I for one won’t be giving it up anytime soon. Granted, having my own Dorado fishing boat may not be as glamorous as Cinderella’s private carriage, but I will choose a plastic white boot over a glass slipper on any day of the week.
Above all else, this relationship has taught me to have patience and patience was always something I had trouble with. I’ve also learned to let the little things slide and it’s often better to turn the other way. I had to; I mean who in their right mind would want to argue with a fisherman.
Bio:
Merry Beth Ryan was born and raised in upstate NY and has always loved the outdoors. She is currently a columnist for the local Waterline fishing and boating publication in the Englewood Sun Herald. Her column is titled Ladies Choice and provides a woman’s perspective. Growing up, when she wasn’t on the basketball court playing point guard for Syracuse, she was spending her time fishing. Merry Beth can be seen fishing the beautiful waters of Charlotte Harbor almost every opportunity she gets. Living with a full time fishing guide definitely helps feed her passion. You can reach Merry Beth at MBR10@ewol.com.
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