Chloe gets a ton of exercise when I’m fishing with a friend. She likes to be there for every cast, so she’ll sidle up to me as I cast, then bolt the 17-and-a-half feet to the other end of the boat for my fishing partner’s cast. This goes on all day. I suspect she has put in several miles in a day’s fishing, - 17-and-a-half feet at a time. She knows before I do if my fishing partner has a fish, and I know when my partner has one just by the way she takes off from my side.
She even has a preference for what species of fish we target. Northern pike and muskie top the list. Pike and muskie get a long kiss before they are released, while bass – which I prefer - often get a little bite along with a short kiss.
As a puppy, there was a learning curve. I had to be extra careful with lures as they drew her interest. She would get so excited that she would sometimes dive into the lake after a fish, mostly if one struck at the side of the boat, but that stopped years ago.
No matter what I do with fishing or fishing gear, she watches intently, even if it’s just tying a knot. I swear she could do it herself if she had opposable digits.
At 10 years old, Chloe has just started to slow down, but her passion for fishing is as strong as ever. She’s also showing the way for the newest member of our family, Riley. Riley is also a mutt, and though he is twice Chloe’s size, she keeps him in line, and he is now, at nearly a year old, often eager to copy her behaviour. So, while he doesn’t show a ton of interest in the casting part, the second a fish is on, he’s right there doing what she does, hanging over the gunnels, a front row seat to the battle on hand.
I can only hope Riley will be half the fishing dog Chloe is. She is no question this fisherman’s best friend, and has many times been my only fishing partner for the day. She is thrilled no matter how big the fish is, but it’s nice to have someone to share your catch with.