This is a guest post written by my pal Steve Bullerwell. Steve started working with me about a decade back and made a real impression with his work ethic, desire to learn and positive attitude. We became fast friends. At the outset of the Great Recession, Steve summoned all his resourcefulness and set out to work for himself. He has successfully run his own show since. As tough as things may get sometimes, I admire how Steve uses his agency to leverage time in his life for the pursuit of a passion. A passion that helps him deal with stresses of running a business and refuel his soul. I invited him write an article for MicroContractor Blog. TO THE WATER Whether your a Painting contractor, a Landscaping contractor, a self employed Accountant, or you're punching your timecard signalling the beginning of your shift at the local big box superstore; one thing is for certain. The office can be a cruel and unusual place to be at times... A myriad of issues and pressures can arise through out the work week. You might have just sprayed out a flat ceiling in a high lit area, and upon returning from your coffee break found that it had alligatored. Perhaps you've just finished a large job for a high paying client, and upon snapping down the lid on that last third of a gallon of paint left over, you've succesfully added cosmopolitan grey to their overly expensive japanese area rug. It could be that your gas powered weed whacker may have refused to start half way through your lawn circuit, forcing you to run your mower into tight spaces, leaving a rash of sprinkler head deaths throughout the remainder of the day. Your 10 hour shift might have just taken a turn for the worse, while dealing with an aggressive customer that insists they get the sale price on a deluxe vaccuum long after the sale is over. Only because you, as department head, somehow forgot to change the pricing on the shelf, and you know all to well that your superiors will be silently questioning your abilitys in leadership. Whatever the case may be revitalization is required. Some folks turn to the comfort of the closest Starbucks to reset over a Grande' Caramel Machiatto, while thumbing through the pages of a free newspaper. Others head over to their favorite public park to meditate, or with club in hand to practice their putting skills. Some do a crossword, some Face Book, some read a magazine........What do you do? One pastime you may have not yet considered is fishing. Thats right fishing. But doesn't that require preperation? Many folks when they think of fishing, think of packing food, clothes, matches, flashlights, getting firewood, filling up the car with gas, driving for miles, and yauddy yauddy yauddy. Fishing though can be simple, easily accessable, and close enough that the pumpkin spice latte you've been craving for the last hour and a half will still be hot when you get there. Whether you work and live in a small town or a bustling city, a plethora of angling oppurtunity awaits. There are ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers within many and most centers in BC that are home to a variety of fish. Bass, Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, and Perch just to name a few. A lot of time is not needed to enjoy fishing, for instance when I used to live in the Bowness community of northwest Calgary, I would wet a line on the Bow river nearly every day for a half hour on my way to work. I found that this would hallmark my day. It was a time I used to become alert, as well as a time of hope, that I may be lucky enough to coax a nice rainbow from the drink. There is nothing quite like being connected to the struggle of a healthy fish through line, reel, and rod, and when in net gives you an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. In turn this will leave you feeling confident, and energized whether going to work in the morning, returning to work after lunch, or after work in the evening. Urban fishing does not have to be expensive. A spinning rod, and reel combo at Canadian Tire can be purchased for no more than fifty dollars. Wanna try your hand at fly fishing? No problem, they sell rod and reel combos all loaded up with backing and line for around the ninety dollar mark at Wal Mart. Tackle or flies can be picked up at an affordable price as well, and you can only tie one on at once so no need to fill your new tackle box or sandwich container in one sitting. There are several methods you may use to fool an unsuspecting fish. You might try with bait which can be as simple as suspending a single hook underneath a bobber, and tipping it with worms, maggots or artificial power baits that can be likely purchased at the same place you've gotten your rod from. Another method is the artificial lure, or fly, which can be cast, and retrieved. If you don't have alot of fishing experience, my reccomendation is to use attractor patterns, such as the famouse Doc Spratley, or Carey Special. These two flys were designed to catch fish easily and depending on how you wiggle your worm, so to speak, can suggest a great many natural food items fish devour, such as Mayfly nymphs or Dragonfly nymphs. Additionally flies can be successfully presented with both fly rod, and spinning rod. If you want to chuck some lures, a Wedding Band, or a Panther Martin would be good to start with as they are simple to use, and have proven themselves as staple Kokanee and Trout lures. With a little research of your outlying area you will be able to attain to good fishing, maybe even world class water as I found with the Bow river. You may think that some areas of a river or lake in town or close to town are not fishable due to human and industrial biological pollutants in the water, but often this is a false reasoning. Instead of causing harm, these extra fertalizers increase plant life, adding oxygen to the water, and encouraging insects (which the fish eat) prolifically. Oxygen plus food equals large, healthy fish. The Bow river again for example becomes a world class fishery, as, and after it passes through the city. Don't let the office zap your joy. Go to the water, gain back energy, and maybe even earn yourself some fresh table fare. Tight lines to you! - Steve Bullerwell Steve writes, er, waxes poetic about his love for fishin' and all things related on his blog Hook Line and Indicator If you appreciate the free content on MicroContractor Blog, please share with a link and click the article sponsor's ad:
4 Comments
Kevin Binksma
5/1/2016 07:24:11
This a good fact to remember in all things, Balance.
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1/28/2019 05:44:34
I must say that you are really a good catcher! I read in an article that it's quite hard to catch sailfish and wahoo in the middle of a deep sea, that's why you really have the talent in catching fishes. Since you are offering your services for a good price, I might try to ask for your assistance if ever I will have the interest to try this. Well, I am still waiting for the proper timing to have time for a stuff like this, but I am hoping that it's going to take place anytime soon! Life is boring sometimes, so I need to make my time and myself even more productive!
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10/22/2018 00:28:17
Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what they are talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe you are not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
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