The Cabin: Day 4

Hi Folks!

Well after three pretty disappointing days where we didn't really get a chance to fish, granddad and I woke up on day four at the cabin with little or no expectation that it would be much better. After all, what with the snake bite on day one, the storm on the second day, and the high waters on day three, it just didn't look like we was gonna have much luck at all. So we was only somewhat optimistic when we found that the sun was shining, the temperature was cool and welcoming, and the air was calm and so still you could hear a Hawk Billed Hooter from ten miles away.

We didn't waste no time getting ready. Weren't no way we was gonna waste a minute of what looked like a perfect day to be down by the river. We grabbed a quick bite of whatever leftovers were still lying around, put our gear together, grabbed our waders and hats, smeared on some bug cream and set off for the trip down to the river in the gator. 'T'weren't too long before we'd picked our spots and settled in for a chance to finally get some fishin in.

Mind you the water was still somewhat high and the current was a bit stronger than it could've been, but all in all the conditions seemed to be just about perfect. Granddad and I both took a moment to scope things out before picking out what we thought would be best lures for the conditions. Course we didn't confer on it or nothing... in fact we both kinda turned our backs on one another. After all, we was trying to prove just whose ideas about fishin were the best... and it was a contest of sorts.

It wasn't long before we both had things sorted out and had our lines in the water. We both started on the river bank... kinda by mutual agreement... with the water still runnin so strong... it was clearin up but still had a bit of chop and stain from the dirt and debris of the day before... we didn't want to take a chance that one or the other of us might just end up being pulled on down the river. That would've just mucked up a large part of another day and we didn't want to chance it being our first real chance to fish.

Granddad looked like it was a tough choice for him. I thought I saw him going back and forth between his favorite bucktail and some live bait he brought from the house. He had a mix of nightcrawlers and leeches. Never did see exactly what he chose... I was too busy deciding what I was going to use.

Well whatever he chose, it must've been the right one. He got his line in the water first and it seemed like no sooner had his line hit the water than he had a hit. Guess the fish were all starving... that the big storm must've disrupted things for them enough to make whatever granddad was using real appealing. The water was too cloudy for me to see what it was right away. From the look of it, that fish took granddad's line and went straight to the bottom. Granddad hauled back with all his might to make sure the hook was set. Then he started the dance, letting the fish run when it wanted to and reeling in the line when it tried to rest. That fish put up a good fight for awhile but it weren't too long before granddad had it up alongside the bank and was reaching in to net it. Turned out to be a Walleye... only about ten inches or so but it was a good start to the day. I couldn't wait to get my line in the water but, not to cramp granddad's style, I moved a little way down the bank so we both could have enough room to operate.

Turned out to be a near perfect day all round. Seemed like just about every time we'd cast our lines into the water we'd get something on the other end. Trout, Bass, Pike, Whitefish, even a small Muskie all jumped at the chance of being caught. Frankly I was just amazed. Never been to a place that flush with fish. I asked granddad if the storm had something to do with it... concentrated them all in that spot on the river. He said it might have had something to do with it. It was unusual to have that mix of fish all in one spot... couldn’t rightly remember it ever happening before… but even without it we'd still probably have caught our fair share of Trout and Bass. We ended up tossing most of them back. Only seemed right after the fight they gave us and you should only keep what you can use. We did keep the really big ones though. After all we did need to eat that night.

Yes sirree, it was a great but most unusual day for fishing. Didn't really settle anything between granddad and me. Hard to tell whose ideas and techniques are better when it don't matter what you throw in the water. As we packed up to go back up to the cabin, we sorta decided right there and then that we'd have to try a more challenging spot the next day. Give ourselves a real test. Have to admit that granddad did catch the biggest fish though. Didn't lord it over me though... after all it was only an inch longer and just a tad heavier than my biggest. Didn't really matter though. After we got 'em all cleaned and prepped for cookin you couldn't tell which one was caught by who. Hmmmm hmmmm. Once those fillets were floured and breaded they cooked up real good. Course we only cooked up a couple. Most of the rest we froze for later... just in case we didn't have as much luck over the next couple of days.

It was kinda nice just to have a day out there on the Big River... just the water, the fish, and you... no problems, no troubles, no disasters... makes a body wish it could be that way all the time.

Anyways... that's it for now. 'Til next time. Jon