Fishing in the Central Valley: No regrets. Take someone special fishing.

I recently had a conversation with a friend who told me that he really wanted to take a special older relative fishing soon. He felt that the clock was ticking and he didn’t want to regret never doing it while both of them were still healthy enough to go.

Yep, I could completely understand his concern, that if he missed the window to share a fishing trip with someone special to him, it would haunt him forever. I have to admit that I carry around a bag full of that type of fishing regret.

It hurts because I knew better and just didn’t pull the trigger. I had all the usual good intentions to reach out and make a special connection and create a legacy memory- but the opportunity slipped by due to my negligence.

Living a life of no regrets is a tough thing to do but I’ve found that things like taking someone on their last fishing trip, or just having a day on the water where you get to share the best you with their best self can be transcending events that last beyond a lifetime.

Let us consider the situation where it’s a son or daughter, and a parent had wanted to have a special fishing trip with them but it never happened. It’s like they missed something critical and of great value, and that they would give anything to be able to get it back.

Seeing grown men cry- telling me how hard it is for them because they never got to fish with their dad- tells you just how deep this issue can be for many people. It’s a huge hole in their life that can’t be easily made up in other ways. I got to take my father fishing on his last trip and I netted the very last fish he ever caught. The very thought of that incredible trip still tears me up. It was a blessing I wouldn’t trade for the world.

I’ve become much more conscientious and proactive about taking people I really need to touch and who might actually be waiting for the opportunity to be asked. Many are health challenged or just lonely.

Getting stuck in our own little worlds, attending to our responsibilities and procrastinating are the things that seem to keep me and others from doing the things that we know we should.

I’ve pondered the reasons why something as ordinary as a fishing trip can take on such a huge significance in many of our lives but all I know is that even if the reasons are unexplainable, they are very real and lasting.

I would suggest that you call that someone who needs a shot of life as well as your company and ask them to go fishing.

I bet you know someone that you need to reach out to, soon. You’ll never regret it if you do. Do it now. Never give up.

Also, if you love fishing, please join us for The Fresno Bee Fishing Expo on Saturday, Nov. 9. The free event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the South Stadium building at 700 Van Ness Ave., Fresno.

Here’s what we have planned:

Byron Stickler, who earlier this year caught a 33-inch, 18 pound, 5-ounce brown trout at Shaver Lake.

Lake fishing guide Dick Nichols, who runs Dicks Mountain Tackle. He will talk about catching kokanee.

Brian Klassen and Jim Tartagilia, two longtime anglers, who will discuss catching King salmon.

And me, who along with Dave Hurley, write about fishing and compile the Bee’s weekly fishing report. I will talk about stripers.

There also will be display booths and plenty of your fellow anglers to enjoy a hardy discussion.

RSVP to this free event by clicking this link.