Fear No Fisherman?

The other day I wrote an article on the bold bravado of a middle aged SUV driving slayer of fish.

Fear no fish.

Well, today I picked up our local newspaper and the outdoor article du jour was featuring a local fisherman who while Salmon fishing was struck in the eye by a two ounce lead weight. The story is quite sad and the fisherman has lost the vision in his left eye.

Purely an accident, the event took place while bank fishing on the Rogue River here in Southern Oregon. Another fisherman had a salmon hooked and was embroiled in a mighty battle complete with full tension being exerted by both parties-- that being fish and fisherman. In this case the hook was not set well, and when a mighty tug came from the fisherman the lead came barreling out of the water like a 45 caliber bullet. In "matrix" like fashion the injured fisherman saw the lead hurtling right at him--but unlike the matrix he was unable to react and dodge the lead.

Broken eye socket, blood pouring free, and iris exploded, the man was able to stagger to the parking area where a little while later he was rushed to the hospital and then later airlifted to Portland to try and save his vision.

His story is still in progress and while on the mend- he has yet to regain the vision in his eye.

While most folks don't consider fishing an extreme or dangerous activity, the article goes on to reveal that over 60,000 visits a year to the emergency room are directly related to the activity of fishing.

WOW.

It may be presumptuous for me to assume that all these injuries have come at the hands of other fisherman, but I feel relatively safe in assuming that a minimal number of accidents were caused by the fish. Although, with the newly emerging popularity of "noodling" for Catfish on the rise, I am sure many fishermen will soon be checking into emergency rooms to have the "jaws of life" extract tightly clamped Catfish from miscellaneous appendages.

But that's a different story for a different day.

Perhaps we should be boldly proclaiming "FEAR NO FISHERMAN", from our rear windows and bumpers. This would be a far greater act of bravado than fearing the fish-since fisherman can put a far greater hurt on you than Mr. Trout!!

I have witnessed fist fights over tangled lines and lost fish, hooks impaled in various body parts of fishing partners,and watched men flail like giant Blue Herons before being knocked off boats into frigid waters.Then there are the self induced injuries from slipping on rocks, torn rotator cuffs, and the always popular "line burn" or "fishing line cut".

Not to mention high blood pressure inducing "high water line" property feuds, fish camp related injuries, and occasional drunken fisherman falling into campfires.

Yes "FEAR THE FISHERMAN".

In related news, fish all over Oregon will be "fearing the fishermen"-as this is "free fishing weekend" in our state. This event is akin to opening up the seafood section at Albertson's and letting shoppers grab some free seafood, or Friday night Seafest at the all you can eat buffet.

Watch out.

In reality, the theory behind the event is good, and one I believe in wholeheartedly-getting kids and people interested in the sport of fishing.

Just try not to poke somebody's eye out...