"Mr. Emmet is a re-occurring character in many of my fishing canvases. Regrettably, as I began sketching the outline for Gone Fishin', I received word that my friend and neighbour has died suddenly. The always popular Mr. Emmet would appear in future paintings. But I decided that this one must be a tribute to that wonderful lone fisherman, and to capture the solitude and freedom that he enjoyed so. I decided to add Mr. Emmet's faithful companion Sally at the last minute. Here we see her as she sits at the edge of the dock in eager anticipation of the catch of the day. The painting is set on Otter Island, the dock a part of the old Nimrod Club. I took some liberties with the building, however, deciding to capture the structure as it once was, rather than how it appeared at the time this work was taking shape.

Looking at the image today, I can still hear Mr. Emmet waving good-bye to his wife in the city, saying 'If anyone askes for me, tell them I've gone fishin''."

- James Lumbers