Now that summer recess has kicked in, UW-Madison chemistry professor Earl Schweigert can finally commit more than three days a week toward his primary hobby and passion: fishing.
With his customary schedule of providing a lecture Monday, Wednesday and Friday in addition to holding office hours and conducting research Tuesdays, Schweigert was only afforded three days per week in which he was not too bogged down by his profession to toss some hooks, lines and sinkers into Lake Mendota.
“I have been spending five, six, heck, sometimes even seven days per week reeling in the good stuff now that I’m on summer break,” Schweigert told Daily Cardinal reporters. “It’s nice to get out here on the water and relax doing what I love.”
Schweigert, 57, is a tenured professor in his 24th year at UW-Madison. Earlier in his career, he worked five days a week and sometimes spent as little as two or even just one day fishing per week.
“The first 10 years here were pure hell,” Schweigert explained. “I could barely fish at all! Especially before my children moved out, sometimes I’d spend an entire Sunday with them, without doing any fishing whatsoever.”
Schweigert’s wife is not quite as thrilled about her husband’s commitment to his hobby.
“Every year in May I get excited to spend more time with Earl but he always fishes the whole fucking summer away,” said Janet Schweigert. “With his hectic and demanding work schedule we hardly get any time to make whoopie during the school year.”
Despite the gripes of his spouse, Schweigert is pleased with his summer lifestyle. “Just about nothing makes me happier than fishing,” he said. My only complaint is that every now and then a stray line hooks an incoming freshman here for SOAR."
Want to go fishing with Dylan? Invite him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mr_manderson.
