Nearly 50 years ago I had my first experience being mentored in the outdoors. I was camping at Blue Lake Provincial Park with my family when a couple of “old Americans” asked me to join them on a fishing trip. They were “musky hunters” from Wisconsin. To a 12-year-old boy this would be akin to having Derek Jeter give you batting lessons. I remember the trip vividly. The anticipation, the excitement; the wide-eyed anticipation of a young boy going on an unimaginable adventure. I did hook one musky. It bent my Canadian-Tire-special rod in half as it hammered the lure and swam powerfully under the boat. Of course the line snapped with the twang of a taut guitar string. But I was unfazed. It was just another crossroad in my journey toward becoming an incurable outdoorsman.
Experiences like this have made me understand the value of mentoring others - especially youth - in the love of the outdoors.
For several years I guided fly anglers on the Nipigon River and other places. I noticed that when customers caught nice fish under my tutelage it almost brought more joy than if I’d caught it myself. I had one customer who landed a trophy brook trout pull a $30-dollar cigar out of his jacket, light it up and say “I don’t care if I ever catch another fish.” As he leaned satisfactorily against the bank of the river.
In the last few years I’ve been teaching a young fellow how to fly fish - specifically for steelhead, arguably one of the most dynamic fish you can catch on a fly rod. He’s 16-years-old now, all 6’4” of him. Alden is his name, he’s the son of some family friends. Several years ago I agreed to take him fly fishing and show him a few things. Eventually he hooked and landed his first steelhead. Since then his enthusiasm has grown to what I’d call “functional insanity.”
What I enjoy most about fishing with Alden is his enthusiasm. He’s totally absorbed with the program. Always trying new things, and totally accepting of advice and teaching. Nothing worse than a beginner who knows it all already. This is definitely the opposite of Alden.
I have a soft spot for young people desperate to catch fish. I once bumped into a boy on the McIntyre River who was in dire need of guidance. His pants were soaked to the waste and his rubber boots full of water, having just charged into the river in an unsuccessful attempt to land a large steelhead. I gave him a few flies, some split shot, and a quick lesson on how to tie a good knot. I gave him a few tips on how and where to fish. His wide smile seemed to say “There is hope!” and his demeanour changed from downcast to determined. I guess he reminded me of myself musky fishing when I was his age.
There are so many reasons to mentor young people in the outdoors. There are great benefits for them, of course, but also for the one doing the mentoring. Yes, that’s right. It shifts your focus from yourself to others. It gives us purpose, and self worth. It makes you feel that you’re contributing to the future of the next generation.
If you have a young person in your family or circle of influence that is looking for outdoor mentoring. Do it. You won’t be sorry.
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