Never listen to strangers [Archive]

Jeff Jones

01-07-99, 12:55 AM

Once, long before I was hooked by flyfishing, I was castig a small spinner on Wildcat Creek. The "big tan truck" had just visited, and there were tons of rainbows in the tiny, clear creek. I settled in to catch and release a few dozen before I caught a few to keep and eat.Amidst the "herd" of fish, off to the side a little, finned a large bow with a hooked jaw and dark coloration. (for a stocker) I looked back at my wife and told her I was going to catch "that big one". Laughter soon followed, but on my first cast; the big bow chased the spinner up to te head of the pool and ENGULFED IT. He made a huge splash that got the attention of a cornperson who was fishing downstream. As I played the fish ever so carefully, ( at that time I'd never caught anything over 1lb,un less it was green and black and ate shad.)and the cornperson edged closer and closer. The big bow was twisting and thrashing with all the strength he could muster, but alas, he was alost mine! But, suddenly, I realized that I didn't have a net! How to land this fish of nearly 4lbs.? Just as the dark missle made another run to the back of the pool, . . . the cornman yelled" SWING 'EM UP HERE!". I DO NO KNOW IF IT WAS RESPECT FOR MYELDERS OR INSTINCT TO A STARTLING COMMAND, OR SOME OTHER OBSURD REASON; BUT I DID JUST THAT( KNOWING I WAS USING 4 LB. TEST) <sorry- caps>
Just as the fsh ran, I jerked ------ the lineparted with a SSSSNNNNAAPP!!! The corn man just shrugged, and walked off. The other fish were cooperative and I caught and released 40 or 50. But I learned two things . . .never listen to a cornman who doesn't know you have 4 lb. test, and, if your wife laughs . . .it may be an omen.( Ya think ?)
this is a very true story. Thank you for reading it!

The Ole Man

01-07-99, 01:04 PM

Jeff
That cornman knew exactly what he was doing. He came back the next day and caught that fish for "hisself". I was there, he used my net. Said he would never try to land a fish that size without a net. He gutted that fish and hung him on a tree. Said he was " waitin for his maw to come pick'im up". Last time I saw him, he was whistling "Amazing Grace" and skipping rocks across a now empty pool. That fish still had your spinner in his mouth. Corn man said he liked to put those on the wall and put the fish in the "fryin" pan.