The Old Brass Reel ©

I was taught to fish in the old mill dam:
My teacher was a workmate, a man called Tam:
He gave me a rod and an old brass reel
and the fish we caught made a tasty meal:
We spent many hours fishing for trout,
some time we caught one when they were about:
It was always so peaceful and such a delight
just to wait for the click of the reel and a bite:
We fished most weekends and holidays too,
Tam in his time taught me all that he knew:
Sadly Tam's gone now and a sadness I feel,
but I still keep one memory -- The old brass reel.