Fishing Guide service.

Some of you know that I was planning to open a fishing guide service for Balsam Lake and Sturgeon Lake exclusively. After the last 40 years of working too much and being away from family and friends my priorities have changed. Missing birthdays and holidays and many other special days year after year became habitual. So the fishing guide service will not open this year as planned because I know it would consume me. I need to be available for family from now on. Not off day and night catering to people just to catch some fish. It's a big family and extended family, so the focus will be on that for the next few decades for as long as God lets me live. "I am too busy, or too tired." These words are no excuse for missing out on the things in life that matter the most.

God bless you, CM. I think you've hit the nail on the head there. We should all make time for our family.

The logic goes: I work in order to live, but I do not live to work. At the end of the day, if I earn a whole bunch of money, but I don't have my family, then why did I even earn that money in the first place? How am I going to spend that money? By myself?

However on the flip side, I'd love to hire you for a few hours and learn from you, and hope you can pass down your knowledge to us younger generation. If you're ever fishing by yourself and want some company, I'd be open to jump in and share some of your gas bills / pay you for your time and knowledge.

That's very generous thank you. Also, Saw what you posted on the Simcoe board. If you can be any assistance to the Sandy Cove Creek post that would be amazing. Maybe you joining the Fishing Forum had a purpose greater than fishing. I always say, you never know who is out there reading all these posts. There is some good people on here that are more than willing to help others and the fishery.

I'd be glad to help that case along. Simcoe is near and dear to me. I remember being a young kid, renting a boat in Keswick and just fishing at the river mouth. And then ice fishing on a yearly basis. A few decades later and now my dad's living in Keswick full-time, I bring my kids to those same places, and I help owners develop businesses, cottages, septic systems, storm ponds, etc, all along the entire shoreline of Simcoe.

That proposal is very very aggressive, pushed by an extremely senior developer, Mattamy Homes. Their consultant is also very senior, and it's sad / funny to see them skirt the rules. Southern Ontario mostly goes for development in agricultural fields next to major city centres. This is NOT one of those targets. The Town's Official Plan directly prohibits development in significant forests / close proximity, and it gets on my nerves a bit.

Nothing that says a consultant can't support both sides of the game.

CM that would be the right choice. 25 years ago I had a career choice to make, one would have been extremely interesting and lots of money, but travelling to other countries for extended times the other was a so so job but at home. I was leaning to the exciting job, the night before I had to make the decision my 4 year old called me in to his room really late when he should have been sleeping. I asked what was wrong, he said to me that he was glad I wasn't a doctor because they were never at home to be with their kids. I have no idea where he got that idea, but it struck home. In the morning I took the boring job. Family first.

That's a great story sabmgb. Life is one big teaching lesson. If we don't pay attention, we can fail.

Yup I passed on a big job opportunity when my kids were much younger. Job was amazing with all the bells and whistles and we would have been in an amazing spot financially, but would have missed out on most things with the kids and I wasn’t willing to do that. Who knows maybe one day you can do it part time or something, but sounds to me like you’ve made the right decision.

Another great comment Jay. One thing about making choices. If you you don't second guess yourself and the tension goes away, you made the right decision.

Nice to hear others making such decisions (your kids are going to be some of the quality humans we need many, many, many more of on this planet). I pushed aside most of my work to be with my young one almost 24/7. No regrets. Everything I want to do now is related to him and how it will help him experience the world, etc. I've had plenty of interesting experiences already and now it's for him and with him (and with his mom of course too . None of it requires much money and without as much work as before, there won't be that money to spend on him but there will be much more time...much, much better IMO. There is never the guilt or need to buy him something to "make up" for lost time.

Right on Flukes, you hit it. This world spins way too fast for the young ones. Good parents equals happy children.

All the above are wonderful and very thoughtful comments. Congrats to all who made the correct "family first" decision. Sometimes the tree will bend, but it doesn't break. Second chances are rare.

Cheers,

For sure. Both parents and kids should be and will be happier in the long run.

CM, I’d like you to have your own stickie at the top of the page where you could give information on the weather, fishing patterns etc.?

Well the forecast for Thursday is not good. And the pattern is, the fish will be taking the day off. LOL.

Was thinking about Balsam for Pike Saturday, not so sure now. Not as tough as JB.