The Evolution of Fishing on Lake Enterprise

He came north to fish
before I was born,
built a cabin lakeside,
burned kerosene lamps.
In green fisherman’s hat,
canvas and mesh vest festooned with lures,
my grandfather rowed a heavy wooden boat,
caught forty-inch muskie, stringers of northerns.

Boats changed from wooden to aluminum.
As a child I heard the early morning chug of their motors.
Afternoons the old couple next door
would emerge from their cabin,
putter out to panfish beds, catch dinner.

Now glossy trucks pull slick boats
on mechanized trailers. Streamlined,
each races from the public landing
to one weed patch after another.
Alone they cast, rarely catch,
release if they do.
Once around the lake,
then full-throttle
race back to their trailers,
load and go.