Friday, November 24, 2017

Gone Fishing

Most of you have heard a few of my fishing stories, not fish stories mind you because there is a big difference between the two. Fishing stories are stories about going fishing, and Fish stories are where a fisherman may or may not stretch the truth a little bit about his fishing trips to make them more interesting.

You have heard a few "Whoppers", and also isn't it true that everyone has seen or for some of us even done, the motion of holding his arms spread wide apart showing the size of "the one that got away", or bragging about the stringer full of nice fish he caught, bad thing about this one is that no one ever saw the stringer of fish, and never was invited to the fish fry either.

OK I'll admit that some fishermen can stretch the truth so far as to where you could assume he was lying, but never call a fisherman a liar, we like to say that he is telling a fish story.

A green plano tackle box with two rod and reels leaning across the top.

A fishing trip always begins with a good old tackle box and a couple of rods and reels. Last week I got a chance to go fishing for the day, I brought out my trusty tackle box that I have used for about 35 years and a couple of my favorite rod and reel setups.

Today could be the day that I could start my post with;

Deep in thought I stood at the waters edge staring into the rolling waves, I was contemplating my approach because the magnificent creature had eluded capture for so long, I could feel it in my bones this would be the day I would outsmart the monster dwelling below the surface.

I used this beginning on you for one of my other fishing trips where I landed the monster, caught a stringer full of fish, ok I actually caught three that day and I have pictures to prove it.

Jimmy standing at the waters edge holding a stringer with three trout.
The Super Duper Day I caught three fish.

On that fishing trip I was the man everyone wanted advice from, what lure are you using? Do you think I'd do better with power bait or live worms? Should I use a bobber or fish on the bottom? Do these waders make my butt look big? You know all of the typical fishing questions.

I was the man that day, the one with the correct lure in his tackle box, the master fisherman, and the fact that I only caught three fish just goes to show how good I was, or how bad the fishing was for everyone else.

But to tell you the truth, when I went fishing last week, this fishing trip was one of those empty stringer days for me.

My stringer was empty, but the young oriental man and wife team that continued to march around the lake, pulling fish out left and right all over the place, and once he even casted one right next to where my line had landed, it was like a race reeling them in, my black and yellow spotted Panther Martin with it's gold blade spinning at the speed of sound against his...whatever it was he was fishing with, and whatever it was, it was immediately hidden from view as soon as he pulled it from the water.

This kid had the nerve to step right into my spot while I was busy changing my lure over to a kastmaster, and he actually landed two, I'm telling you this guy stepped right into my spot and cast his line right into the same waters that I was fishing in and on two consecutive casts he pulled in two really nice trout, I asked him what he was fishing with and while he cupped his bait in his hand hiding it from view, all he said was "jig" as he walked away kindly relinquishing my spot back to me.

I had to pull out the big guns now, I had to know what he was using, and since he wasn't sharing this information with anybody, I sent in Zayah, you remember Isaiah don't you? Cindy's Uncle Larry's grandson, the one who had the Accidental Baptism last time we went fishing.

To make a long story short Zayah went down and talked to this young man, and not only did he tell Zayah what he was using, he gave him one and showed him how to use it.

My little spy, Zayah brought back his newly acquired fishing jig back and showed it to me, Look at what he gave me Jimmy, you want to try it? I grinned because with my fully stocked tackle box, in my mind I could see all of my jigs in the bottom tray, left hand side in at least three assorted colors. No problem thanks Buddy he gave it to you, you go ahead and use it. Zayah ran off and I flipped the lid open on my tackle box, guess what was the only thing that wasn't there...

Jimmy's hand holding a fishing rod with boots propped up on tackle box, view of lake beyond feet
Jimmy "Gone Fishing"
Kicking back for a while on my chair with my heels propped up on top of my 35 year old tackle box really isn't a bad day, I figure that a bad day fishing is better than a good day doing...most anything else.

And folks this was a bad day for fishing, but it was a really good day to be fishing.

And yes when I got home I placed my jigs right back into their proper place, in the lower tray, left hand side...

I wonder whose bright idea was it to remove all of my jigs to make room for those new Kastmasters that I just had to have anyways...

37 comments:

  1. As a general rule, They are always taking what you ain't got.

    ReplyDelete
  2. My father always made his own lures. I can remember following him along the river banks. When he caught was when we ate. And even my vegetarian self will admit that freshly caught rainbow trout is special.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is a special talent in the hands of a man who makes his own lures, those are some really nice memories on the river banks with your father, and yes freshly caught rainbow trout is really good.

      Delete
  3. I have a nephew-in-law who make his own flies and hand-pained lures. They are little works of art. It's not uncommon to see him on Facebook with fish over 3 foot long.

    I love your fishing trip stories. Fishing is a great example of the saying, "It's not the destination, it's the journey that counts." Great way to build good memories and have inter-generational conversations.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is some serious fishing your nephew-in-law is doing catching three foot long fish, I haven't fished in waters with the possibilities of a fish like that in a long time. I bet his lures are works of art especially with him attracting catches like he does.

      You are right even though we love to catch a few fish, the trips are really more about time spent together than anything else, I hadn't really thought about it but there were three different generations of fishermen in our little group of three people.

      Delete
  4. That's okay. You went fishing. Not catching.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's right Val, I sure enjoy fishing more than catching some days and this was actually one of those days.

      Delete
  5. each time we learn from our experience something new ,
    i am glad that you enjoyed both days of your fishing adventure Jimmy and came back with equal peace of mind

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes Baili, Each experience teaches us something new, that is one good thing about life, new adventures are there every day and it is up to us to enjoy them.

      Delete
  6. Fishing isn't always about the fish. I'm reminded of an episode in a TV show I like, where the owner of a cabin by a lake invites his friends to come fishing, so they do and after a while one of them says "there's no fish in this lake" and the cabin owner says "shhh" and they all just kick back and enjoy their day off.
    I don't like fishing myself, but I know many who do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wouldn't really have a problem with fishing in that lake, as others have mentioned, fishing is not really always about catching fish, it's like fishing in that lake with no fish, sometimes you just have to kick back and enjoy the day.

      Delete
  7. I have never been fishing but I have been in the same location as fishermen when I walked the dog. Most men were reading, none were actually doing anything, so you can't blame me for wondering if they were using fishing as an excuse to get out of the house. I know it is a sacred sport, though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes Valerie, Sometimes just sitting back with a line in the water, reading, daydreaming, or whatever is a nice and sacred part of the sport, it teaches us relaxation and patience ;)

      Delete
  8. Dad always sent us out to the leave piles in the woods and dig for worms if we wanted to go fishing. A cane pole, Hook, worm and bobber is all we needed to catch some brim and go home smiling. He taught me how to bait my hook and take off the fish.
    Grandmaw on the other hand, would fish all day for catfish, usung shrimp. (no bobber) with a reel and rod. Patiently!
    Lisa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lisa I actually miss being able to go dig in the leaves and find worms to fish with, I started fishing a long time ago with a cane pole, line and bobber also, those were definitely the days my friend...

      Delete
  9. Fishing and not catching is a great way to air out out minds. I'd call it a great day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Patti I have to agree with you, any day spent kicked back fishing is a good day.

      Delete
  10. Very few fishing tall tales now in the age of smartphones where one can say pics or didn't happen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It has come down to that hasn't it Adam, if you don't have a picture then it didn't really happen in some peoples minds.

      Delete
  11. It looks like success in fishing can happen different ways.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen Bijoux, you are 100% right my friend, you understand completely ;)

      Delete
  12. Softy babbling water, dappled sunlight, relaxationn..sounds to me like a good catch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Delores, I say that is the type of day I want.

      Delete
  13. Some folks know how to fish. Others just enjoy being out and leave it at that. Folks I know fall into the latter category.

    Have a fabulous weekend, Jimmy. ☺

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As you can see Sandee, I am in that same category also, we are in good company in my opinion.

      A great weekend to you also.

      Delete
  14. Did Zayah catch anything?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fran Zayah actually loves to run around and play with the net and talk to all the other fishermen, as much time as we have spent trying to get him actually fishing I don't remember him ever catching anything yet, I know after his first catch we will have created a monster

      Delete
  15. Sounds like a good day even if you didn't catch any fish. The guy that ended up fishing in your spot would have irritated me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joey, I can tell you that I would have never done that to anyone, even though I was doing something else at the time (changing a lure) didn't mean that I had walked away.

      Delete
  16. I've always enjoyed fishing, but it's a good thing we don't rely on it to eat.
    That guy who fished right in your spot - that's some serious breach of fishing etiquette!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Abby it is surely a good thing that we don't fish for our daily food supply either ha ha.

      "that's some serious breach of fishing etiquette!" you have that right Abby, he was gone by time I changed my lure but with two fish that I may or may not have caught...that was just wrong.

      Delete
  17. I used to fish with my father when I was pretty young, then my brother and I went a few times alone, then I stopped because I realized we were killing the worms AND the fish . . . sometimes it's not good to grow up . . .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Jenny, killing the worms and the fish too makes me feel better that I am using artificial lures and power bait and not catching anything either.

      Delete
  18. I love fly fishing. There's only a few places in Alabama where one can catch a rainbow trout and fortunately it's only a few miles from my house.

    I've written several blog posts about my fly fishing experiences. Once where I lost my shoes.
    R

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have never tried fly fishing myself, it appears there is a fine art to mastering fly fishing and in my opinion anyone who masters this skill has my respect.

      I need to look back at your fishing posts.

      Delete

Thanks for stopping by, jump in and tell me what you think, or just say Hi, I really appreciate your comments.