The
Last Day Con't...
For
a fisherman on vacation, one does not sit on thoughts of doing anything but
catching the big one. It will not solve anything but the catch will help you
forget life's problems for the future years when 'you were a wishin you were a
fishin.'
On
this enjoyable of a right time and right place last day, Tom continued his
adventure towards that island where this little girl caught her luck. On his way
over, the air felt damp and cool. Sitting on the thought of rain, Tom focused
his pondering mind on the Lake Nosbonsing record Walleye he is going to catch.
Meanwhile, he cut his motor off to start his drift in nine feet of water. A hour
of drifting under a hot sun with small cotton ball clouds adding to this
scenery, Tom decided to try his luck inland just across the lake where shade is
available.
During
the two-minute trip, he noticed a slight change in temperature forcing Tom to
put his shirt back on. Making his way to fish closer to shore which will protect
him from a very hot sun, and a wiping cool wind that is making his travel on the
lake miserable enough to stir up his lunch in his tummy. Cutting off his motor
in a nice calm eddy, Tom decided to switch over to his crappie rod. Because the
waters surface is cluttered with Lily pads and rocks standing tall above the
calm eddy where the Lilies contoured the waters surface, Tom said good bye to
the thought of his record breaking Walleye. The weather is making this day
miserable enough to make this spot heaven.
Tom
popped a top and lit his pipe to celebrate his journey across the lake because
he beat nature's determination to ruin his last day. Catching nothing in an
hour, he changed his tube jig setup to a dark brown body with an orange tail
tube jig. He made his third cast near the lilies to jerk his rod up on a strike
that changed his mind about calling it quits for the day
Releasing
his catch, Tom made another over head cast towards the same Lily Pad. Reeling in
the slack from his perfect cast, he noticed the line moving away from that Lily
pad he cast to outsmart another fish. Reeling in the slack came to a complete
halt making his rod bend to its limit forcing the drag on the reel to squeal
like a pig. During the battle, it is necessary to tighten drag so he can
continue fighting the monster in for a Kodak moment. Reaching over the boat to
grab his biggest Rock Bass he ever caught, Tom snapped a picture of his fish
before releasing it. Tom thanked the Rock Bass for the entertaining fight.
Looking down at his rod and reel that is geared for four pound test line he is
using, Tom's smile grew, because he new this tiny setup was like battling a
small twenty pound Chinook Salmon in the Niagara River.
The
rain clouds hid the warming sun making a cool breeze passing through the live
birch tree leaves. Weather like this dos not intimidate Tom, but the fish must
have been playing cards because it felt like they dealt his heart. This is where
the fisherman rides away.
THE END
Fishy says, "Always practice good
catch and release"
And if you click on him he will take you back to my Fishing Short Stories Home
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