A Life Long Fishing Partner

What started out as a normal day of fishing after work turned into something I never could have imagined—a lifelong fishing partner.

From the very first time Georgie unhooked my line from a log in the Kinik River (Eklutna Tailrace), I knew there was something different about him. That day, I didn’t catch a single fish, and Georgi gave me one of his salmon for dinner. Right then, I could tell there was something special about the man everyone calls “Russian George.”

I didn’t see him much outside of fishing season, but the following year, we found ourselves at the tailrace almost every day after work. On the days I didn’t see him, I would ask the other fishermen, “Where’s George?”—not realizing they were calling him to tell him, “Maria is looking for you.”

Over time, Georgi and a few of the others noticed my fishing rig wasn’t set up quite right. One by one, they tried to fix it, until Georgi finally stepped in and got it just right—and after that, no one else touched it again.

Then I started noticing something else—every time I fished next to Georgi, I caught fish.

One day, I caught a beautiful red salmon but didn’t have my phone with me. I asked Georgi to take a picture, and of course, he was happy to. That moment gave him the chance to get my number.

I had joked before about his blue fishing bucket with the built-in rod holder, saying I was going to get a pink one just like it someday. Not long after, he surprised me with a pink fishing bucket—just like his.

We started talking every day, sharing ideas about new fishing spots. Eventually, Georgi asked if I’d like to go fishing with him at one of his favorite places. Without hesitation, I said yes.

Early one Saturday morning, we went to Sheep Creek and had an amazing time. Then again on Wednesday. And again the following Saturday.

And now, here we are—two years later, on July 26—saying yes for life.

After many years of being single, God heard both of our prayers. Now we are becoming one, with multiple fishing poles and God’s blessings guiding our way.