Are you holding your mouth correctly in order to catch more fish?

My young stepson and I were fishing at Rush Creek with the same rod, reel, line, and lure. He eventually asked why I was catching all the fish while he wasn't. John explained that I had instructed him to make that face in order to catch more fish.

Are you holding your mouth correctly in order to catch more fish?

My young stepson and I were fishing at Rush Creek with the same rod, reel, line, and lure. Everything was the same; the only difference was that I had caught about a dozen bass while he had not, and we were only about 10 feet apart.

He eventually asked why I was catching all the fish while he wasn't. "Well, John, you're not holding your mouth right," I said. "How am I supposed to hold it?" he asked. "Like this," I said. I made a strange face with my lip protruding and my face all messed up. So I looked over and saw him trying to imitate my expression and just fishing away.

I never thought about it again. He went up to the mountains of California about 2 months later and was fishing for trout at his grandparents' cabin. His grandfather came along to check on him as he stood by the stream. His grandfather kept looking at him and talking to him until he finally said "Is there something wrong with your face, John? Are you ill? ".

So John explained that I had instructed him to make that face in order to catch more fish. His grandfather tried not to laugh and continued on his way to tell John's grandmother, who informed my wife, who informed me.

I haven't seen John in a long time because his mother and I divorced about 20 years ago, but I'll always remember him as my fishing buddy, holding his mouth open to catch more fish.