For a freshwater fisherman, there is perhaps no more sought-after destination than the Amazon River Basin of Brazil. A place full of all things beautiful and dangerous, we were recently blessed to spend time there thanks to the generosity of my Mom and Dad. What follows here chronicles the events of one specific day in a lifetime of memories made.

We had agreed in advance: Our prized catches would be those in excess of 10LBS. At that weight, we would take the appropriate measurements and photos needed to create replicas of the highly prized Peacock Bass that would stay with us forever. My Dad and I hooked up early with fish at 11LBS and 14LBS respectively. Aiden was feeling the pressure to produce as the days of our time there were crossed off the calendar, one by one. For the accomplished novice, landing one of these coveted and aggressive animals is no easy task. The impact of two days of air travel destroys your sleep and compromises your countenance. Intense equator sun and heat deprives your body of vital fluids. Fishing on a fixed timetable in unfamiliar waters with new gear demands a rapid learning curve. Not to mention…the pink dolphins of the area are quite skilled at making a meal of your would-be quarry. This is not a weekend trip to your local hatchery or stocked pond.

Determined, Aiden elected to go with an unconventional approach. He informed us he would fish with a Woodchopper. All. Day. Long. Even our professional guides rarely, if ever, go with such a bold choice. Fishing with this lure requires laser focus on every cast. It’s heavy, requires accuracy not often possessed by fishermen who make their living in the outdoors, much less a thirteen-year-old from Lancaster Pennsylvania. True to his stated decision, he began at 6:30am with his audacious plan and pursuit. Hour after hour ticked away. The more typical 4-5Lb fish were clearly not interested in taking a chance on something as loud and large as the Woodchopper. This persistent rejection makes for a long, exhausting, and downright depressing day on the water. Aiden was hunting, while fishing. I was proud and humbled to be watching him make each painful and fruitless cast. All. Day. Long.

Then, amid the relentless afternoon heat, it happened! As if a bowling ball had been dropped into the water, an intense explosion on the surface erupted perhaps 35ft from the boat. Aiden violently and purposefully swung to set his hook. We stood to shout with excitement and encouragement. All this commotion also served to ring the dinner bell for the aforementioned predatory dolphins who were now, like Aiden, in pursuit of the large fish on the end of his line. As quickly as the fight had begun, it ended. As is often the case with the Woodchopper, the slightest misalignment of so many variables provides the opportunity for the fish to escape, and avoid being photographed and remembered for all time. The proverbial…”one that got away.'‘ Dejected, angry, and beaten, Aiden put forth a few (appropriate) colorful metaphors and collapsed in physical and mental exhaustion. Opportunities like that don’t come along again. A place as beautiful as the Amazon does not easily or often give up its treasures. After a brief respite, Aiden collected himself and carried on. Same Woodchopper. Same heat. Same weight. He committed to this unique method, and he was determined to be true to his word. All. Day. Long.

Sometime later, BOOM! Once more, the landing of Aiden’s perfectly placed lure was instantly met with a grenade-like explosion of sight and sound. Aiden reacted with measured focus and intent, executing a textbook hook set. As the seconds that seemed like minutes ticked on, it became clear success was in fact going to be his. He had persevered and proved to be landing a 12LB Peacock Bass against all odds. We celebrated with hugs, high fives and unbridled laughter. Had I witnessed an amazing fish story? Perhaps. More than that, I had witnessed character development happening in real time on creation’s perfect stage. Aiden, as you turn 14 this week, I want you to remember what is attainable when you choose to struggle, when you choose to be unconventional. Never take the easy way out. Never fall victim to the habits of the masses. I will forever remain immensely proud of who you are.

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