The Essential X Series: Lost Sheep

Our series continues with a story of a tradition gone by and lifelong habit formed.

“Growing up we herded sheep a lot on the Chuska mountains. By we I mean me, my brother and cousins. We spent just about all of our summers up there.

I remember my dad or grandparents came up once or twice a week to check on us and bring us food. (Can't do this anymore 🙄)

Well one day while we were herding sheep they stopped at a lake and we went to go play in the water and saw trout. Then it turned into a contest of who could catch a trout first.

I'm pretty sure we lost the sheep this day then had to go find them.

As kids we didn't really think it through and tried to catch them with our hands but as the summer progressed we would use whatever fishing material was left behind at the lake by previous people.

So whatever hooks and lines we found with some old salmon eggs we would rig that up and use a stick as our rod.

Eventually we were all able to catch fish off of our makeshift rods. Then instead of eating whatever food was brought up to us we insisted on going out to catch our own dinner.

Then one day we had a tribal game and fish officer come up to us asking where our fishing license was lol.

We had no clue about what he was talking about.

So the next time my dad came up to bring us food we convinced him to let us leave the sheep in the corral for the day and take us to the nearest place where we could get a fishing license.

While there he bought all of us actual fishing poles and some tackle. He told us he would only get us this if it did not interfere with taking care of the sheep haha.

I've been hooked on fishing ever since.”