The Dog Who Fishes - and What He Teaches Me About Dedication

You know how some people get up at dawn to go fishing? They sit there in their boats, patiently waiting, casting, reeling, hoping for a big catch. Well, let me tell you about the real fisherman in our family. Spoiler alert: he doesn’t own a tackle box, and his fishing license would never hold up under scrutiny.

I’m talking about our dog.

Yes, you read that right. One of our dogs is a fisherman, though “fisherman” is maybe too generous a word. “Lake stander and occasional snapper” might be more accurate. But for the sake of his dignity, we call it fishing. And believe me, he takes it very, very seriously.

Happens every time when we’re at the cabin (or the cottage, for those of us Canucks who know that’s the proper word). It’s early morning, the kind of crisp fall day where the mist is still rolling off the water, and most sane beings are wrapped in blankets with hot coffee in hand. But not him. Nope. Six o’clock sharp, he’s up, tail wagging, trotting down to the water like it’s his nine-to-five job.

And there he goes. Belly deep in the lake. Standing there like some stoic fisherman of the north, eyes locked on the ripples, waiting. Waiting. Waiting.

Every so often, he snaps at the water. Sometimes he gets lucky. Once, I swear he actually caught a minnow or two, but that’s about the extent of his record. Still, in his mind, he’s basically the king of the lake. And who am I to argue? I mean, the sheer dedication is impressive.

Because here’s the thing. This isn’t just a summer hobby. Oh no. He does it in the fall too. When the wind is cutting across the lake, when the water is so cold I wouldn’t dip a toe in it even for a dare, there he is. Belly deep. Fishing.

Now, you might be thinking, “That’s ridiculous. Why does he do it if he doesn’t catch much?” But my friend, that’s where the wisdom lies.

This dog doesn’t care if he catches one fish or one hundred. He shows up every single morning because that’s what he does. That’s what he loves. That’s his thing. And honestly? I admire the heck out of it.

We could all use a little of that kind of dedication. Whether it’s writing books, chasing dreams, or just showing up for ourselves, sometimes it’s less about the results and more about the commitment. The steady, daily “I’m here, let’s do this” kind of energy.

So next time I’m grumbling about getting up early to write, or questioning whether I can finish a project, I think about my dog, standing belly deep in freezing lake water, snapping at minnows like his life depends on it. That’s commitment. That’s focus. That’s passion.

And who knows? Maybe that’s what it takes to write a book too. Show up. Do the work. Even if you only “catch” a minnow some days.

Besides, if he can fish in the icy lake at dawn, the least I can do is pour another cup of coffee and get back to the keyboard.