It was supposed to be a simple, near-perfect fishing afternoon for a dad, his 10-year-old daughter, a favorite lake, their favorite pizza, and time on the water together. Sheron Brown, a longtime and competitive angler, took care to fish respectfully—waiting for others to clear out, staying well off shore, and choosing a calm, open spot so his daughter, Azaylia, could cast without snags. Fishing, for him, is about patience, rhythm, and connection, and that day was meant to be no different.
Before a single line hit the water, though, the moment unraveled when a shoreline resident harassed them by yelling threatening and racist things and throwing rocks at them, turning a peaceful fishing trip into something way heavier.
However, Brown later emphasized that fishing is one of the best ways to bond with kids and teach respect for nature and others on the water. His hope in sharing this particular experience is not to define a community by one person’s actions, but to remind people that lakes are shared spaces—and that how we treat one another, especially around kids, matters just as much as the fishing itself.
So, just remember to be kind and respectful to others and don’t BE a bad apple or let the bad apples ruin any part of your day. Let’s just all do our part in keeping new anglers excited about getting out there fishing.
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Feature photo credit: Sheron Brown
