The Perfect Day

   In my library of favorite fishing memories, only one comes to the forefront as the perfect day.  It was a chilly late April morning as I headed out from the boat ramp.  I knew I had a long run to my favorite fishing spot, so I brought the boat slowly up on a plane, made a quick check to make sure everything was secure, settled back in my seat and put the hammer down.  Checking my GPS speed, I leveled it off at 40 mph.  The wind had a stinging affect on my face, but I knew if I was going to catch the tide just right I better not slow down.  I had a good 45 minute ride ahead of me and my teeth were already starting to chatter.  To keep my mind off the cold, I began to take in the beauty of the moment.  The water was flat, not one ripple.  It had a mirror effect on the early morning sun and clouds.  "This is awsome" I thought to myself as I eased down on the throttle a little more.  A quick glance at my GPS - 45 mph.  The sound of the wind rushing by my ears drowned out the motor.  I ducked my head down behind my windshield to try to keep the chilling wind off my face.  "This just isn't going to work" I told myself, so I eased back down to 40 mph.  The wind and cold didn't seem to be so bad now.  After another 20 minutes of riding, I arrived at my fishing spot.  I shifted the boat into neutral, stood up, and started rubing my face to warm it up.  I nudge the boat back into gear and slowly made my way over to the fishing drop. 
   I eased the anchor down into the water until it hit bottom.  While holding the rope, I bumped the boat in reverse letting out the line till it drew tight.  I tied it off, shut the motor off, sat back and just let everything settle.  Eveything went quiet.  I watched my breath drift on a cloud of fog.  "What a perfect time to talk to the Lord.  It's amazing when you are alone how talking to the Lord just seems to not only satisfy your mind, but give you a since of joy knowing that He is there with you.
   After checking the baitwell, I dipped out the perfect size shrimp.  I walked to the front of the boat, and dropped him.  "You're not getting away" I told him.  I grabbed him and quickly placed him on my hook.  I knew the fish were deep so I set my depth of my cork for 25 feet.  I made a long cast to the just to the right of an overhanging tree.  The cork laid on its side for a few moments, then slowly stood upright in the water.  The tide was almost high, so the current had slowed to a perfect crawl.  The water was like glass.  I waited patiently for the bite.  I flicked my cork a few times, but not so much as to mess up the look of the water.  It drifted out  from the tree a little, and I got myself ready.  Sometimes you just get a sense that you're going to get a bite.  Wham!  The cork shot out of sight, making what seemed to be a hole in the water.  I reeled down to get the slack out of my line, pointed my rod down, and set the hook hard.  The rod bent almost double.  "Wow!" I yelled as my drag screamed to the point of almost melting its washers.  I knew I had a fight on my hands.  I eased back off the drag, letting him make a long run.  The water came to a boil on the surface about a hundred feet away.  My adrenaline rushed through me.   I tighted down on my drag and started to slowly fight him.  This old boy had been around awhile though.   He started swiming slowly back towards the boat.  I kept my line tight; reeling in my slack just enough to keep him pulling.  Suddenly he turned and made his run.  I eased back off my drag just in time.  It screamed back out.  The water boiled again.  My adrenaline coupled with the with the fear that he might get away was almost overwhelming.  After fighting him for a good 20 minutes, he slowly began to tire.  I reeled up on my line as he approached the boat.  I caught the first glimpse of my cork.  My mind raced as to what species of  fish this might be.  After a few more hard runs back to deeper water, he finally gave up.  I reeled up on my line as he swam towards the boat again, grabbed the net, and quickly placed it under him.  I dropped my rod, grabbed the handle of the net with both hands and pulled him in the boat.  Wow!  It was a trout.  I hastily measured him.  Twenty-eight inches!  I gently placed him in the cooler and immediately closed the lid.  It exploded with a loud hammering on the ice. I collapsed on the deck of the boat.  My arms were like rubber.  I sat back looked to heaven and thanked the Lord for a perfect day!
   Sometimes I often wonder if I am praying the right prayer.  As you grow with the Lord, your prayers also grow.  Jesus hears all our prayers.  It's just on his time table when he answers them.  If you are passionate when you pray, you will benefit from an abundance of Gods love.  I found in praying, I always try to put myself last.  Jesus knows my needs and my struggles already.  Therefore there is no need to emphasize myself to Him.  Keep in mind that Jesus said in Ephesians 6:18  "And pray in the Spirit on all occacasions with all kinds of prayers and request.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lords people."  He knows everything, therefore keeping his Word will always give you a helping hand in all you do.  Stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit and love everyone for who they are.  Remember He calls us to humillity, humbleness, and fellowship.  May God bless you all!