Do not ask, "How is your mom doing?" Ask, "What is the coolest bug you saw this week?" Let the water do the work.
And one day, sooner than you think, you will reel in a fish, look at the sky, and realize you haven't thought about your ex for three hours. That is not just a good fishing trip.
For many, the advice is predictable: "Hit the gym." "Get therapy." "Download the apps."
Take the kids fishing. Not to catch trophies, but to talk . The side-by-side nature of fishing (rather than face-to-face) lowers the pressure for heavy conversations.
You cannot argue with your ex while you are tying a hook for your daughter. You cannot text nasty things while your son is screaming, "I got a bite!"