I talked to my neighbor across the street yesterday, and learned

[MineralMan]

something I didn't know about him. He's an avid angler, and he often heads out early in the morning to go fishing. I used to fish a lot myself, but sold my boat a few years ago, and found other things to do. Anyhow, since we're moving at the end of June, I went across the street to see if he might be interested in buying all of my fishing tackle for a very low price. I have maybe 20 rod and reel combos, a bunch of tackle and other stuff related to that hobby.

What I learned was that, yes, he wants the stuff. What I didn't know is that he is heavily involved in a group that works with disadvantaged children to teach them about fishing. They teach kids how to fish. Even better, they supply kids with a rod, reel, and fishing tackle, so they can fish the many waters available here in Minnesota on their own after learning the basics. Since kids under 16 don't need a fishing license, it costs them nothing to go fishing, if they have the tackle.

So, I told him to come over and take it all for nothing and spread it around. He still offered to pay for the stuff, but the amount I was asking was so little, I just said, "No way! You're doing something special, so if I can help, I'll be happy to." I'm not using it, after all, and have no reason to take it with me when we move, anyhow.

I thought I knew the guy pretty well, but I didn't know that detail about what he's up to. It just goes to show you that people are out there doing good things without telling people they know about it. Good for him!

[MissB]

1. Very nice!

Seems like a win-win for a bunch of people!

[MineralMan]

5. Yes. I've taught many children of my friends how to fish,

and have given away fishing tackle to them. I used to take my friends' kids out on the boat and teach them to catch their first fish. I always had extra tackle, so it was easy enough to give them what they needed to fish on their own.

Here in the Minneapolis St. Paul area, there are places to fish within walking or bicycling distance from almost everywhere. I see kids in my neighborhood all the time riding their bikes, carrying fishing poles, and heading to the nearby small lake, where a fishing dock is in the city park there.

Some of them are bringing what they catch home, too, and eating it for supper that evening.

Anyhow, I was glad to learn that my stuff can go to a good cause.

[gab13by13]

17. You and your neighbor have something special,

that people like MF45 will never understand. The only way to get anything out of life is by giving. The feeling one gets from giving can't be duplicated with anything else.

[spanone]

2. ⭐️⭐️⭐️K&R ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[HipChick]

3. Good Deeds....beats

posting things on Ebay for sale...

Moving myself...

[Wounded Bear]

4. Truly good people don't brag about helping others...

because they don't think it is anything special. They tend to think that helping others is just the right thing to do.

[MineralMan]

6. that's very true!

[blm]

8. ✔️

[pazzyanne]

7. Fishing-

one of the best ways to get back to your roots - and maintain your sanity! Besides fish straight out of the lake (or river) are great eating. Picnics when I was a kid involved side dishes with everyone fishing for the main entree. Umm umm.

[Tikki]

11. And the Ocean...Living near a beach town...

Pier fishing with your grandchild, just talking and reminiscing, is amazing time spent.

Get out there really early to catch the best.

Tikki

[pazzyanne]

34. Sounds wonderful!

Living in Minnesota, we don't have oceans, but I have gone smelting in Lake Superior with my Grandpa.

[Raven]

9. My mother was a fly fisher. She learned from her father who would let her skip school

as a kid to go fishing with him. She tied her own flies. Fishing was like meditation to her. She would take us kids out on the lake fishing for hours and when we asked her to take us in because we had to pee, she'd say "Just one more cast." None of us ever took up the hobby.

[panader0]

10. Kudos to you and your neighbor.

[dawg day]

12. fishing will also teach kids patience--

and appreciation for quiet.

[Mickju]

13. That's a heartwarming story.

Good for him and good for you, MineralMan

[LisaL]

14. Nice.

NT

[Boomerproud]

15. Folks who do good for others rarely ask for or receive recognition.

Unlike the loudmouths who will remain nameless. Great story Mineral Man.

[Diamond_Dog]

16. What a nice story.

Who wouldn’t want to help out such a good cause?

Well except before the former dude and his ilk.

[friend of m and j]

18. your posts are always good Mineral Man

your posts are always good Mineral Man. I told you before you are one of my favorites here on DU.

[Maine Abu El Banat]

19. Good for you!

Good for him!

[MyOwnPeace]

20. What a contrast........

Think of the comments and actions that IQ45 said and did when somebody didn't "THANK HIM" because of something that he did.

Let me make up for one of those times that he did something for us:

"Thank you for losing, Donald!"


PS: That was a good thing you did, Mineral Man - thank you too!

[badhair77]

21. Thanks for this inspiration on a rainy cold morning in PA.

How kind of him to help so many kids and how nice of you to help him continue. Everyone’s a winner, especially the kids.

[pandr32]

22. It helps restore hope

I've had little faith in people for quite a while now. The fact that so many stuck it out (in spite of all manners of road blocks) and voted for Democrats lifted that faith quite a bit. Since then with all the vaccine and mask madness and the continued belief in the what should be unbelievable (Trump won)--not to mention the storming of our Capital, hope has diminished again.
Thanks for sharing this story of a good person, and being one yourself.

[MineralMan]

23. There are always many good, helpful people around.

They just don't make the news. So, it's easy to get discouraged. That's why I shared the story.

[pandr32]

35. Making a difference

[CaptainTruth]

24. That's awesome! It brings back a lot of good memories.

When I was a kid I loved going fishing with my dad. We spent a lot of weekends taking his boat out on Lake Erie, fishing for perch, sometimes hitting a school of smelt, & occasionally getting a walleye or two. We ate a lot of fresh fish in those days.

I remember the first few times we went so far out on the lake that we couldn't see land anywhere around us & for me as a young kid that was a bit unsettling, but also exciting. All we had to navigate with was a compass but I quickly learned that if you keep track of headings & time/speed you can reverse course & get back to roughly where you started. There were a lot of trips where by the time we reached our limit it was dark & we just had to steer toward a compass heading & go until lights appeared on the shore & we could figure out where we were & adjust course to get back to the marina. Those are the happiest memories I have of my dad.

It was all those fishing trips that made me feel like I grew up on the water, & ever since I've lived near the water, on the west coast & now on the east coast. The ocean is calming, soothing, & comforting to me, & I believe it's because of all that time spent fishing with my dad, out in his boat. It literally shaped my choices for the rest of my life. And now I can sit on the dock in my back yard & catch fish any time I want to.

I'm not a dad, but I feel like there's a lesson for dads in there. The things you do with your children can have profound & beneficial effects for their entire lives. Never forget that.

[AllaN01Bear]

25. all i can really say is eggscllent and a good thing to do.

[Traildogbob]

26. Great heartwarming story MM

I fish a lot. That stuff is expensive. Both of you are super stars. What an uplifting story to begin Memorial Day. We should have a one day event with no tr—-p mentions, no shooting news, no bad people stuff. Just great stories about good people.
Spent my career as Natural Resources college faculty on weekends with kids. I had students spend many hours with kids, Leave No Trace, Kids in the Creek. Project Learning Tree, Project Wild, and created an Earth Rangers Certification for kids. What your neighbor does and all, that spend time with kids teaching them about the Wild World and how important it all is to our own survival is how we can turn new generations to love and understand how we are all connected. Science is how there will be a future. Get em outside in the wild, leave the tech toys alone for a day. Good on your neighbor and your generous support.
I love Mineral Man Post’s. This is a favorite. This old salty sailor salutes you and your neighbor on this important weekend.
Cheers Sir🍺🍸🍷🥃🌍🌏🌎🤜🤛

[PhylliPretzel]

29. How wonderful

that you found a good home for possessions you can no longer use. . . and just by a chat with a neighbor!
When clearing out after the passing of relatives, I found that finding places for still useful items to be the most challenging, but most rewarding task, if a good home was found. Two good places I found were safe houses for women and children escaping abusive relationships and warehouses accepting housewares for new homes for the formerly homeless.

[Botany]

27. You don't have an extra northen pike rig do you?

Shimano Sedona Spinning Reel, Ugly Stik Rod, Daredevile Spoons, and or Meips "Husky Musky" Spinners
just asking.

[MineralMan]

32. No, sorry. I've caught a helluva lot of northerns, though.

I never specifically fished for them, but always had a 6" stainless braided leader on when I was bass fishing. Didn't bother the bass any, but kept me from losing expensive crankbaits to pike.

One day, though, I was fishing around some lily pads for bass, and maybe a small pike or two. I was using a light spinning rod with 6-lb. mono. As usual, though, I had that stainless braided leader on. I saw something disturb the water surface and cast the 3/16 oz. spinnerbait I was using just past that rise. BAM! It was a Muskie! Somehow, I managed to get it to the boat and scooped it up in the big net I always had in the boat.

It wasn't a huge one, but it measured out at 36".

In Minnesota lakes, you just never know what's going to bite what you toss out there. Nope.

[Botany]

36. A friend got a smallmouth bass in the French River in Ontario ... and a Musky took it.

He must have played that fish for 15 minutes until the musky spit the mangled up bass
back into the canoe from about 5 feet away.

[RussellCattle]

28. What a nice story. Good for you.

[dlk]

30. Thanks for sharing your uplifting story

It’s nice to be reassured there still are caring and decent Americans. The daily news with those who are not can be overwhelming. Your gift will make a positive difference in these children’s lives.

[aggiesal]

31. You and your neighbor are good people ...

There is so much we don't know about each other.

About 10 years ago I started buying scientific calculators and donating them to students that couldn't afford them.
Every year I purchase between 50-100 scientific calculators to try and push students on a STEM track.
I donate with the instructions that they be given to students that show STEM promise, can't afford to buy one themselves and that it is used for homework purposes, not to just take it home for the parents to calculate their budget.

I donate them anonymously with instructions included.

I don't know how affective this has been, but I'm probably approaching somewhere around 500 calculators and will continue to donate them every year at the start of the school year.

[MineralMan]

33. Yay You! Excellent!

I buy winter parkas at garage sales during the summer. I just stuff them into big black trash bags. Then, as winter approaches I haul the trash bags full of parkas down to the homeless shelter and drop them off.

Often, when I tell the people at the garage sale why I'm buying them, they just refuse any payment.

[aggiesal]

38. I might try that with scientific calculators. ...

Live well and prosper

[malaise]

37. A beautiful post

Rec

[The Jungle 1]

39. You can take a kid fishing or you can go fishing. Can't do both.

[SWBTATTReg]

40. Nice! I have tons of fishing equipment, tied my own flies, made my own fly rods, etc.

An art to really enjoy, tying a copy of a bug you see on while on the water and then trying your copy later (dry flying for trout). It was always a treat when you caught something that you saw in the water, duplicated, and then caught later.

Thanks so much for letting me know about such a program (donated fishing equipment), I have tons of equipment too, have loads of fly rods, lures, fishing poles/rods, and other misc. equipment that could enable others to learn and enjoy the hobby too. I always wondered what to do w/ the materials/equipment and so now I have more options in disposing of such stuff. I think that the City of STLMO has a program for kids to learn the fine art of fishing too, a bonus to boot!.

[Bayard]

41. You're one of the good guys, MM!

I used to love going fishing with my Dad.

[bluboid]

42. I'm so glad to know there are people like you, Mineral Man!

I always look for your posts - now I know why!

[tblue37]

43. My brother helps kids fish in Texas--blind kids, handicapped kids.

[GeoWilliam750]

44. Indeed, the world is full of good people

[BobTheSubgenius]

45. Good for both of you!

You're both making a contribution, and you both deserve some props for that.

[Evolve Dammit]

46. What a great encounter and gift, to many. Nice job and big tribute to you both!

[Iggo]

47. You did what i thought you were gonna do.

Halfway through, I’m thinking, “He’s gonna tell him, ‘Fuck it. Take it.’”

Good on ya!

[denbot]

48. K&R n/t

[Demovictory9]

49. great story

[crickets]

50. What a wonderful thing your neighbor is doing for those kids,

and good on you for helping him. Fishing is a great way to get kids outside to connect with nature and learn a skill that builds patience and confidence. I think of it as a quiet, contemplative hobby for the most part. My best efforts at fishing as a child involved cane poles and tiny bream that had to be thrown back every time, but I still loved the time spent with my dad, the songs of all the insects and frogs, the smell of the water, and the joy of the beauty all around. Thanks for a great trip down memory lane.

[GulfCoast66]

51. What a great experience. As you might know fishing is a huge part of my life.

Kids were unfortunately not in the cards for the wife and me but we have Godkids and all but one took to fishing. But they are now pretty much adults and will fish all their life.

Mind asking your neighbor if his group is nation wide and if so sending me a personal message with the info? I miss teaching those kids to fish well. I enjoy to hell out of watching them catch fish but my role is now limited to netting duties. They know what to do.

Actually I will google gulf coast opportunities to help kids learn to fish.

Than you MM. This has excited me. There is nothing like seeing a kid catching his or her first fish. Then eating it!

And you should keep fishing. It’s good for the soul.

You ever get to central Florida and want to experience gulf fishing let me know.

I’ve caught so many fish in my life I get more joy out of watching others do so. Not saying the thrill is gone. It never will be. But seeing others do it is a rush. We just finished training a new friend in fishing. After 2 years she now has it down. 44 years old and had never done it before. Of course seeing the dolphins, manatees and sea turtles is a rush as well.

Thanks for an uplifting post. And have a meaningful Memorial Day. My flag goes up tomorrow. In memory of those who died.

[BadGimp]

52. Awesome!

[yourmovemonkey]

53. And this is how the world changes

quietly, one person at a time with people caring for others and not seeking a reward.

[Roy Rolling]

54. Well Done

When life tossed you the ball you grabbed it and scored. Right place at the right time? Sure. The “right place/right time” is wherever we are if we want to take the time to make it that way. You did that. 😂😂

[PJMcK]

55. Good deeds

When I was a Boy Scout and followed the Christian faith, we were taught an important point about doing good works. Simply put, you diminish the quality of the good deed if you brag about it.

I admire your neighbor for his selflessness. And I admire you, MM, for your generosity. Thanks for sharing the story!

[samnsara]

56. good for both of you!

[Joinfortmill]

57. Love this.