Page 44 - ODUMar-Apr2019

Lessons

From

Lincoln!

By Mike Frisch

Good fortune has allowed me to
have two careers involving
education. Twenty years as a
physical education teacher and
coach and now several more as a
fishing educator have allowed me The author and Lincoln with a smallmouth bass that fell for an anchovy!
the opportunity to educate, and
learn from, others, particularly kids.

When discussing “today’s kids,” I sometimes hear comments like “kids sure have changed” or “they
spend too much time on their phones!” Interesting comments, but more on that later.

I met a young man named Lincoln, a first grader at the time, a couple springs ago. Lincoln attended a
Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s School of Fish (SOF) class I taught at his school in Grand Forks (ND). Later
that fall Lincoln was drawn as the lucky winner of the annual “fish on tv” drawing we do from SOF
graduates.

Lincoln showed up to a small lake near my western Minnesota home one day in September for his TV
shoot and immediately I could tell that this moment wouldn’t be “too big” for him! Some people, adults
included, are intimidated by cameras and get very nervous when wearing a microphone for the first
time. Not Lincoln, as he inquisitively looked at the producer’s gear, not showing any signs of
nervousness.

Lincoln proved to be pretty good with a rod and reel too, landing good-sized smallmouth bass on several
of his first casts. The show came together quickly and easily and was highlighted by Lincoln’s reference
to the “the anchovies” he was using for baits that day. Hence the show became known as “the Anchovy
Kid” segment.

Lincoln did such a good job that we invited him back for an encore appearance. The fishing wasn’t
nearly as good this past September, but Lincoln stayed patient and determined, changed “anchovies”
several times, and eventually put the fish in the boat needed for the show. He also showed viewers his
rendition of “the floss” dance that has become popular. On the way back to the landing, Lincoln
asked if “we get to fish together again next year?”