The StarTribune asked their new bloggers to submit a couple of favorite fishing photos.As I looked through my photos, wonderful memories came flooding back and notall related to the size of the fish in the picture.

I grew upshore fishing for bullheads during family camping trips at the lake with basic polesand worms or corn for bait. I didn't get "serious" about fishing until I movedto Minnesota and got a job in the outdoor field. All of a sudden, I needed tofish for work. (For many that would be a dream job!) I've hadthe opportunity to fish with professional fishermen and I definitely learned a lot, but thetrips that remain at the forefront are the ones that include good friends and family, lots of laughter and sometimes, just the quiet time spent in beautifulsurroundings repeatedly casting and retrieving a lure.

Throughmy affiliation with the MN Becoming an Outdoors Woman, I've meet women from allwalks of life and through our shared love of the outdoors, a group of us havestarted taking an annual Canadian fishing trip. We spend all day on the water, catchand eat lots of walleyes; but the time away from the demands of work and beinga mom and wife, with these friends in the pristine surroundings is morerestorative than any massage. We start planning the next year's trip on the wayhome!

But thebest trip was the leisurely day on a small lake near Brainerd when mydaughter caught her first fish. She had been sharing the boat since she was aninfant. In those early years, she did lots of sleeping on the deck, "freeing"minnows, and holding the net. But this trip was special, after weeks ofpracticing with a plug in the back yard, she was finally big enough to cast onher own. She would cast and patiently watch her bobber learning that perfectmoment to set the hook. Her excitement with that first small bluegill hastranslated into a love of fishing. She'sdone the Mpls. Park district summer fishing club on Lake Nokomis and if shehears someone mention fishing – she has her pole and tackle box ready!

With herenthusiasm, I'm looking at outdoors sports through new eyes and taking the timeto enjoy spending time together, teaching her skills that some day she will passon to her own children.

(You'llfind my postings will have a definite child and family focus and I hope theywill inspire you to shut off the phone and TV and step outside to explore thewater and woods together.)