I was raised in a fishing family, but when my dad changed jobs and started farming, the fishing abruptly stopped and I lost interest. Happy memories of boating, bank poles, and bobbers were lost as I buried my nose in books. The only present I requested for my 34th birthday was a fishing pole, and with that gift, I ventured back to angling with a gusto, this time learning the world of lures and baits that were so far from the livers and worms I used on Crooked Creek as a kid. Every cast is a chance to fail, but every bite offers that sweet shot at landing something special.

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