Growing up in Minnesota -- land of 10,000 or so lakes -- you've heard it all. When I was a kid, I used to fish all the time. I loved my little neon green fishing pole. I would play with the leeches and make my dad put them on because I was too scared to touch those nasty blood suckers.

Catching fish always got me super excited. The jerk of the bite, the fight of the reel, until I would bring that oh-so-heavy sunny into the boat. The happiness sparkling in my eyes as I stared at the little fish I sat for a long time waiting for. The smell of the batter in the frying pan and the crackle of the oil and butter of our late night dinner of our catch for the day. It was one of the main reasons why I loved summer so much as a kid.

For many years after, I had quit this sport Minnesota loves all year round. Why? Well, as embarrassing as it sounds, one day I was watching my dad clean fish for the very first time, it ruined me. I stopped eating fish. Then as my brother and I got older and hockey became a year round sport (another Minnesota love,) we ran out of time for fishing. Growing up, living 30 minutes from Ottertail Lake, we didn't get out much.

Fortunately for me, we moved about five years ago to a cute little farm house in Miltona, Minnesota. The house had a 2-acre pond tucked away that was the perfect size for kayaking and paddle boarding. That's when fishing started to make its way back into my life. At first it started out boring, but as I went out more and more, the excitement grew.

About a year ago, two weeks before I had started my freshman year of college, we moved again. This time, to a sweet little lake by Arrowwood Resort in Alexandria, Minnesota. For the first 10 months, the only thing I did that involved the lake was ice skate on it, once it froze over. I didn't get home much. Plus, I didn't have a rod anymore because it had broke that previous summer. When college got out this May I had asked my dad to buy me an Ugly Stik fishing rod. Mainly because I have a few friends to actually go fishing with this summer.

Dad followed through and when I came home, I had my very own rod. I was honestly excited. For the first two weeks I was home, I spent every waking moment, and every dollar I could find, on lures and bait. I asked everyone if they wanted to go fishing. The first fish I caught this year was a little large-mouth bass. After that, I was hooked. Now, six weeks later, I have caught so many fish I've lost count. I have two fishing rods for different fish, and my lure collection is growing every week.

The moral of the story is that no matter how busy we all may become, take some time to throw a line and enjoy every little moment that fishing has to offer.