For ten years, between 1997 and 2007 our waterfront home on Trout Lake provided a wonderful environment for raising our son Douglas. The obvious advantages of living on the water are the accessibility to swimming and other water sports in the summer, and, if your father cares to expend the necessary energy, a neighbourhood skating rink in the winter. But then one mustn't forget about fishing. Though it takes a bit more patience and is often overshadowed by the instant
gratification of swimming, Douglas and I periodically tested our luck with the rod and reel. We were lucky that smallmouth bass were there for the taking right off our dock so we didn't have far to go. Catching your first fish is a big moment, and it happened for Douglas on August 10th, 2000. The shear pleasure of the occasion is written all over his face as he proudly displays his first smallmouth.
