Jul 30, 2016 4 min read

The United States is loaded with many organizations representing a wide variety of people. AARP is made up of elderly folk and AKC is for dog owners.

While most clubs receive little notice by nonmembers, there is one group that seems to live under a cloud of criticism and that is the National Rifle Association. Often vilified by media and passed off as a dangerous creature living in a cave ready to pounce on innocent nongun loving passerbys, it is, in reality, nothing more than a group of citizens.

NRA is a very large group of citizens who believe in the right for an honest person to own firearms, along with the protection of the Second aAmendment. I am often baffled by the criticism of the NRA by the media, for it is this Second Amendment that protects the first amendment, which is freedom of speech.

An example of this would be James Madison’s’ insistence on the Second Amendment before he would sign the document at all.

As an interesting sidebar, I bet some of the anti-gun people want the limits and bans on firearms be put in place. But I bet they are not in favor of disarming of their personal bodyguards.

While looking at the present attack on the NRA, it must also be remembered freedom comes with a cost. Complete protection can only be gained by living in a cocoon or a cell.

Going back to the founding fathers – and they were an extraordinary group – one of them said, ‘you have your freedom now, see if you can keep it.’ So when I see an attack on the second amendment and the NRA, I can’t help but wonder if we do have the fortitude to keep it?

These are critical times for the millions of law-abiding gun owners and a time to look carefully at where the country is going.

I once heard someone say a certain firearm was not needed. My answer would be it is a bill of rights not a bill of needs.

• Ever hook a 20-pound channel cat on 6-pound line?

I have and I watched as my daughter, Kathy Ward, played one on similar tackle that pushed the scale over the 15-pound mark. The light action seven-foot rod she was holding was almost doubled over as she fought to keep the big fish out of the dock posts where he would no doubt escape.

After about 15 minutes of hanging on and letting the cat tire itself out by taking line she brought the fish to net and she could rest her aching arm. The elderly gentleman that graciously invited us to fish couldn’t believe such a big fish could be landed with such light equipment. Kathy was feeling smug, so I looked over at him with a smart smile and said it only takes skill and finesse.

While I was joking there is a bit of truth to that statement. Perhaps if I was being honest, I would add luck to the recipe. Kathy’s bait was a previously caught bluegill prepared by our host, but of greater importance was she had carefully set her drag on the reel to about five pounds and there were no nearby snags in the water except for the dock.

Long ago, while Coho salmon fishing in Elk Creek, she learned not to rush the task of landing big fish but instead allow it to wear itself out.

She also knew to keep the rod tip up even when the impulse is to lower it. Let the rod do the work not the line.

You don’t land a big fish that weighs three or four times the breaking point of your line by making mistakes or hurrying the job.

Lastly, she knew never try to net a fish that is not worn down. Many a trophy fish was lost while being netted.

Years ago, again at the Erie tributaries, I wouldn’t allow anyone but my late wife, Eileen, to net fish for me. She knew what she was doing and some stranger may not have the faintest idea how to net a large fish.

We had a lot of fun and made some more great fishing memories so thanks to our friend who allow us to fish that great pond.

George H. Block writes a Sunday Outdoors column for the Observer-Reporter.