Alan Ely begins by describing a photo of his father and mother fishing on Lake Simcoe. His mother smiles at his father while his father holds up a large fish, and the photo was taken sometime in the fall on a 10 horsepower wooden boat. He also his first time boating alone on Lake Simcoe. His father's most important lesson for him was to learn to respect the lake, and that he was not to worry about the boat as long as he was safe should bad weather arise. He also talks of fishing with his father for perch and bass, taking any extra to his uncle Gordon, and enjoying eating the fresh fish.
