(By: "big shot" ,
MyHuntingPage.com "Show'em watcha got!" - Home - Hunter's Trophy Pictures 4-08)
Well, not necessarily "crappy" weather, but in spring time... usually April, is when the crappie fishing heats up along with the water temperature.
So, like any "weekend" outdoorsman, I've got to get out there, just to justify my new fishing reel, which I convinced my wife was necessary, over morning coffee. I explained the ratio of bite vs. catching speed based upon the number of ball bearings in the reel, etc.... just to the point of noticing her attention span waning....Good, now that I've covered that "unnecessary" purchase, I felt better about asking her if a new trolling motor might be a good investment too!
Escaping further "justifications", I take off for my trusty canoe , and childishly jump in, pushing off the sandy shoreline, just then seeing the paddle waving at me from the front lawn! O.K., this is an interesting millisecond response, either I blow really really hard or I'm gonna have to jump in the water before it gets any deeper and get me and the canoe back on shore. Let's see... that took approximately 3 nanoseconds to decide that conclusion... yup... I'm soaking wet now, up to my knees, but thank God none of the neighbors saw me! Whoops...except for the two guys in the $45,000 bass boat off shore! Smart alecks... they don't have to laugh "that" hard. Isn't spilling beers a "sin" in Wisconsin! Not that "I'm" drinking anymore...but that's another story!
Back to the fishing part... that is, after I re-grouped -- twice...cuz I also forgot my net, stringer, and the minnow bucket... this is so exciting, opening day you know! Ah... the wide open lake waters, just me and tranquility! That is, until the train went by, and the guy on the riding mower,... come to think of it, between the freeway noise, the airplanes overhead, and the jet skiers, forget the tranquility part, after all this is Suburban fishing? O.K., focus, I think to myself, this is why we work all week, so I can get out here on the water and out smart some fish with brains the size of a wart. Plan number one, get up to the edge of the shallows by my "lucky" pier, and get the canoe into perfect "catching" position... this would've been a lot easier... with an anchor,... I think to myself, realizing the upcoming third "re-launch" is coming! Aarrrgh, this time, I really take a good inventory, no more interruptions, I think, as I cast away from shore "again"!
"Back so soon honey?" my wife yells from her perch on the front deck... "No sweetie, I just wanted to "double check" if you wanted to join me this morning?" Great come back, I think to myself, hiding my ill folly. "See you in a bit... miss you!" That "line" should be good for at least a good hour I cleverly convince myself, paddling away waving kisses!
O.K., back to my "treasure chest spot"... anchored in place, and only wasted about a half hour. So far... so good. Darn! I forgot to place the minnow bucket over the side, half are floating on top, ya like you've never done that ...don't smirk. So... flipping the dead and dying overboard to get chasing after the "live" ones, I'm thinking, hey... we used to call this "chumming" in Louisiana! O.K., how come a minnow can out smart me and a net, as I'm spinning around and round the bucket, spilling half the water on my "dry" shoes. O.K., a minor victory, but I did get the biggest one... now hold still, so I can focus my 51 year old eyes on the hook and target...ouch! , Try again! Got it! A flipping big minnow is about to make me a fishing "terror" as far as crappie are concerned,...I slide the stick bobber up about 18 inches, and cast away into the "zone",... Well, that is, after I untangle the first attempt that "accidently" wrapped around the pier post... O.K., so this probably wasn't the best spot to "stealth" attack... we'll just move over to pier number two!
O.K., settled in, everything's right this time, lets get that first fish of the season, I ponder with anticipation casting "perfectly" within inches of the dock. Plop...plop...ya baby! Under for the third time, and gently setting the hook... "Bam!" resistance on the other end, and I'm ready for "In-Fisherman"... I proudly award myself, as I spin my new reel into action! I "professionally" handle the big guy swinging him upwards into the canoe. YES! First crappie of the year, and we're ready for the season's competition... "Buzz, buzz, buzz... what the??? Oh boy, this is our modern escapes into the "wild"... Cell phones... "Hello?" Yes, What? Uh huh! O.K., Yup, Be there in a minute,"...Some tough guy, I'm feeling! "Honey Do's"... take over beginning with my wife's dead car battery... well maybe we'll consider this "a word from our sponsor"... ‘Til next time... Someone... Please go get ‘em!?
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