The group of young men were gathered around the angler fighting a fish he had caught in a private lake on the Pennsylvania-Ohio border.

I was intrigued by the group that I had just met by chance due to a working relationship with the young 19-year-old battling a nice fish from a fishing dock. He had asked me to visit his school for a few hours and check it out as he was transitioning from high school to a creative day program for adults with disabilities.

This was an eye-opening opportunity for me to share a common interest with this great group of young men.

The typical comments started to come out of our mouths as we all gave the angler our advice on how to land the fish and then on what we thought the fish might be at the end of his line.

I guessed catfish or bass as it was able to bend his rod rather easily. When I asked him what he was using for bait, he replied a piece of hotdog! I changed my vote to catfish as a plump catfish broke the water and rolled about giving him more of a battle.

One of his buddies grabbed a net and another grabbed a set of pliers and a small towel to help him land the fish. Up on the dock came the landed fish and the fellows checked him out before safely slipping him back into the water.

The fellows explained to me that at this lake all the fishing was catch and release so that they could enjoy fishing every day as part of their activities.

They had a place for working on and borrowing fishing tackle called the Tackle Shop which naturally drew my attention. It was a section of a barn that was used for gathering tackle and fishing gear for all the people in the program.

The equipment looked well used and the supplies were a little thin. The fellows looked through the rods and reels and found me what they called a good one and invited me to join them on the dock. I was game for the challenge and just happened to have my tackle box in the trunk of my car, so I gathered it up for some extra supplies.

The fellows were very interested in my tackle and asked about everything with great interest, especially the plugs and plastics. I picked out a plastic worm set and gave it to one youth to use, he cast it out and was immediately rewarded with a hit from a bass. Then everyone wanted a plastic worm.

I had a few more and handed them out as well. I tried a hula popper and was rewarded with a nice crappie and then a large blue gill hit the plug. One of the boys looked over at me and said, “You must be a master fisherman!” which made me laugh as I responded, “I wish you guys were with me when I was fishing with my other friends!”

No doubt that these guys were good for the ego of an old angler.

I told all the guys that every fish likes different kinds of bait and different kinds of presentations to catch them. I asked the guys what kind of fish they generally liked to catch and as they sounded off with their choices, I gifted them a lure or plug or plastic that they might find success with in their fishing.

They were some happy campers … that is everyone but the cat fishermen. I told the guys don’t worry as I gave them some terminal tackle and had a plan to replenish their depleted hotdogs. I would take a ride down the road to a convenience store and round up some elusive hotdogs for them!

As I was leaving, I told the fellows that they really taught me a lot about good will and team work, that I was very honored to share a few hours with them fishing, and to keep an eye out for me and the hotdogs.

As I picked up the hotdogs, I thought of them giving me the fishing rod that they thought was the best that they had and I made a decision right there …some new rods and reels would find their way back to the Tackle Shop for my new found friends to enjoy for the fishing season.

Those boys were the best at bringing new found joy in the art of fishing to me and they were the master anglers! The hot dogs and I arrived and they were waiting with a cheer … Jay – Jay – Jay! How could you not love them!?

I may suggest to all of my angler friends that you consider making a donation of fishing tackle and supplies to many of the programs that help people with physical and intellectual disabilities.

Programs are constantly seeking recreational and relaxation opportunities for their clientele and fishing is one of the most popular pastimes. Lake Arthur and many state facilities have fishing piers especially for the use of handicapped individuals.

Until we meet again do something kind and be a master of friendship!

Jay Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle