Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus)

Species #1

**The picture depicted here may not necessarily represent my first catch of this species. It is simply the clearest and most beautiful picture I've taken of this species. The picture of my first catch of some species may not exist.**

We immigrated to Canada in 1992 so my dad can further develop his career. Everything was a new challenge for the family and opportunities abound. Just a year prior to our move, my dad had taken us to Cheung Chau, an island in Hong Kong, where I experience fishing for the first time. I had no experience at all at the time and, not surprisingly, I did not even get a bite all day. I distinctly remember seeing a couple of "big fish" swimming by the jetty that got me extremely excited. Since that moment, a spark was ignited inside.

The first official summer in Canada, my dad's friend, Jeff, offered to take us fishing at Lake Simcoe. I can't recall what prompted this trip since Jeff isn't really a keen angler. In fact, I had not seen or heard him fished since that trip. Regardless, we went to a government pier at Jackson's Point on Lake Simcoe early in the morning. I was using a fishing rod that my uncle has passed to me. It was a Daiwa rod and reel that I can still picture today, with a clear fiberglass tip, black glossy blank, gold and red thread wraps and a Daiwa Black Gold reel. It was probably way over classed for the small fish that were available to catch, but holding onto a real fishing rod was fantastic. Most people fished with hand lines in Hong Kong.

We were fishing very simple - a small bobber, a splitshot, a small hook and worms. I might have suspended the bait halfway up in the water column to prevent snagging weeds and rocks. That is very typical of new anglers. I remember fishing on the right side of the pier and saw a "1lb bass" swimming near a rock ignoring my bait that was nearby.

As the day wore on, everyone in my party had all but given up on fishing. Not much action was had at the pier by any of the anglers. Perhaps a sunfish or two was caught. All of a sudden, the wind started to pick up and clouds darkened the sky. This daytime thunderstorm rushed up on us so quickly that it was pouring before we had decided our next step. I remember wearing a light jacket that was supposed to be waterproof, which was the enabling factor that prompted me to fish out in the rain while everyone retreated to the car. I remember saying "I'm not hiding in the car until I caught a fish!" as thunder and lightning filled the sky. Some might call it determined, but I think it was just a little naive and stubborn at that age. My mom was furious but the rain kept her from pulling me into the car.

As quickly as the storm rolled in, it dissolved into clear skies again. One of the boy that was fishing beside me earlier returned, dropped his line next to mine, and quickly caught a Yellow Perch. On his second try, he caught a sunfish! Intrigued by this sudden success, I looked to see where he had caught the fish. It was near one of the concrete pier support pylon! Even at that age, I knew it was not respectful to cast my line into someone's fishing spot, so I looked for the next best location - the concrete pylon to my left.

I remember seeing the boy's line was set much deeper than mine and adjusted my own bait deeper. Even at that age, I was a very observant person. I tried to drop my line as tight to the pylon as possible. The bobber had just settled into the water when it was pulled under. I can't remember whether I set the hook or if I fought the fish. All I could remember was seeing my first ever fish caught! I was so excited that I insisted on keeping the fish alive in our little net livewell (which I still have today) so I can bring it home. The fish was to small to eat, and we lacked an aquarium at home. But to an 11 year old boy with his first fish, it was all that he cared about.

I don't remember much else after that fish. We may have packed up shortly after as my pants were likely soaked. But I remember the first important lesson from that first fish.

Lesson 1: If you are not intending to use your catch, release it!

Upon returning home, my first little fish was dead. It simply had no chance against the hour long drive without any oxygen even though it was kept in a plastic bag with water. That's as naive as it gets with a young boy. I guess my parents were letting me make my own mistakes and learn my own lesson, as they simply allowed me to do what made sense in my head. I remember I held the dead sunfish in the backyard not knowing what I should do with its lifeless body - a fish that was too small to eat, too pretty to throw away, too dead to keep, but its value as my first fish was priceless. I honestly do not remember what I did with the fish; but the sadness is still as real today as it was in 1993.

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