On CP lake coupla days ago, older spin fishing guy see's me catching fish, motors his large pontoon over and anchors up at a respectful distance, starts chatting me up. Not really paying much attention until I see him hook up, and realize he is fighting the fish with the rod pinned against his chest with an arm that ends above where his elbow would have been, his other hand reeling the fish in. He catches it, releases what is an average size Cranebow, yells over he's now caught over a dozen small fish, wonders where the bigger fish are. To be polite I asked him what he was using, he said a tiny dab of Power bait on a barbless hook, that way they nibble instead of swallowing the hook, making them easy to release.
I move on when the bite slows, coupla hours later we both arrive at the take-out at the same time, tell him I'll fish the channel while he get's his truck, which turns out to be a flatbed with a swing arm electric davit.
He backs up, attaches a sling to what is a large 10' pontoon boat with e-motor, depth finder, rod holders, all the goodies, lifts it up and swings it into the back of the flatbed, then drives over to the staging area.
He's still at the staging area when I pull alongside him to get mine ready for the drive back home...chatty fella, he starts telling me how much he loves fishing, that his goal each year is to fish once a week come sun, rain or snow, how last Xmas day he caught some big fish from the pier at Diamond Lake with snow falling around him, not another soul in sight. Says fishing is where he finds peace and joy.
Turns out we're the same age, 73, say ain't it great to be retired and have the time to fish when we want to.
He replies he's still working, enjoys what he does, has no plans on stopping soon.
Asked if he minded my asking about his arm, said he lost it in the service when he was young.
On the drive home I reflected on how reserved fly fishers can be, act like their on a mission and their flies are state secrets.
I'll share the waters with that spin fisherman any day.
I move on when the bite slows, coupla hours later we both arrive at the take-out at the same time, tell him I'll fish the channel while he get's his truck, which turns out to be a flatbed with a swing arm electric davit.
He backs up, attaches a sling to what is a large 10' pontoon boat with e-motor, depth finder, rod holders, all the goodies, lifts it up and swings it into the back of the flatbed, then drives over to the staging area.
He's still at the staging area when I pull alongside him to get mine ready for the drive back home...chatty fella, he starts telling me how much he loves fishing, that his goal each year is to fish once a week come sun, rain or snow, how last Xmas day he caught some big fish from the pier at Diamond Lake with snow falling around him, not another soul in sight. Says fishing is where he finds peace and joy.
Turns out we're the same age, 73, say ain't it great to be retired and have the time to fish when we want to.
He replies he's still working, enjoys what he does, has no plans on stopping soon.
Asked if he minded my asking about his arm, said he lost it in the service when he was young.
On the drive home I reflected on how reserved fly fishers can be, act like their on a mission and their flies are state secrets.
I'll share the waters with that spin fisherman any day.
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