That's My Story

THE UNIVERSAL EQUALIZER

Originally Published the Week of Jan. 20, 2026 in Western Outdoor Publications

You may have heard the saying that “music is the universal language.”  There’s a lot of logic to that.

But, I have a different take and twist on that.

In all my decades in the fishing industry and thousands of guest and fishing clients, I think there’s a corollary.

“Fishing is the universal equalizer.”

There might be others, but off the top of my head, I can’t think of another sport where an animal can level the playing field across the board.

An animal with a brain the size of a pea has the ability to cause such a wide-ranging effect on anyone who has ever wetted a line.

Like the nursery rhyme, it can cast it’s blowback over “rich men…poor men…begger man and thief…doctors…lawyers…Indian chiefs” as a matter of course.

There is no immunity. 

I have seen anglers who flew in their private jets or live on private islands…CEO’s…and royalty reduced to tears by fish.

Just as easily I have seen strong men of lesser means that have figuratively had their hearts and spirits broken as easily as a fishing line or rods.

Big fish…small fish…

Likewise, I have seen the elation and joy that crosses all boundaries.

First-timers, old-timers and hardcore anglers laughing and high-fiving deliriously or collapsing in exhaustion with big smiles on their faces and shaking arms.

Kids wide-eyed and proud and parents with puffed-out chests just as proud taking or posing for photo after photo.

Wives, girlfriends and significant others strutting over catching bigger fish than anyone else.   Or more fish!

Even moreso, these wily elusive fish-creatures equalize us all in a different way.

In this day-and-age, there are so many divisive things in our lives.  There’s politics, religion, economics and a plethora of other things.

Fishing kinda brings us all together.

There is the heartbreak of loss and frustration that we have all shared at one time or another. But there is also the shared euphoria and intoxication of the sport and the catch.

There are stories to tell.  Adventures to share. Experiences that pervade, delight, sympathize and laugh about.

There are bragging rights and good-natured competition and one-up- manship.  Not just in the immediate moment, but long into the future with each re-telling of the story, experience or joke.

It’s in our genetic make-up.  Like the hunter-gatherer who returned to his primordial cave or hut to give an accounting to eager ears. There are no class or economic lines when you’re telling stories about the one that got away. 

Or telling and re-telling the story about the great beast that did NOT get away.   Age is relative.  Everyone likes a good story whether it’s an 18” trout or a 100-pound tuna.

It’s how you tell the story!

And then there’s the fun part.

Smack talking and humor.  If you can’t talk smack when you fish, maybe you should try playing chess. 

Give and take.  Give a friendly jab and take one!  Horseplay.  Being kids again. 

All of us. 

Folks who might never associate with each other away from the sport are laughing and talking shop.

The potato farmer with the New York stock broker.  The social director at the country club with the soccer mom.  The electrician and the rabbi. The guy from Japan and the guy from Poland.  Trading stories.  Telling tales.  Having a beer together.

All because of this animal with the little brain.

That’s my story!

Jonathan