by Uncle Wes, March 06, 2006

As the alarm clock went off he rolled over to shut it off, as he had done so many times before. He lay there thinking of what this day had in store for him. He pushed his blankets off and headed for the shower adjusting the water to just the right temperature, he climbed in and found his mind wondering to days gone by. How many times he wondered had he fished this lake? How many times in the last 40 years had he gone through this same ritual? As he quietly day dreamed he thought he could smell the coffee brewing and the smell of bacon cooking on the stove, but he knew that was an illusion as his faithful wife of 54 years had passed some 5 years ago. But still a smile came to his face as he recalled the many breakfasts they had shared before heading out on the lake. As he dried off and got dressed he held onto his thoughts.

He made his way to the kitchen to put the coffee on and got the eggs and bacon out of the fridge, he paused for a moment remembering the banter of his two boys the laughter and excitement they felt knowing it was almost time to go fishing. He stripped the bacon off and put it in the old frying pan as it sizzled away he gazed out the window, he thought to himself what a beautiful day to be on the lake. He cracked the eggs and set them to cook beside the bacon and stared off into space thinking of his oldest boys first trout. What a fight he put up, a nice 3-pound rainbow, the pride his son felt and the smile and laughter as the net was put on him and added to the chain. The old man smiled to himself as he put his breakfast on the plate. As he poured his coffee his mind wandered off to his youngest boys first trout how the reel fouled up and the boy’s shear determination to land it and when he finally did, the cry of laughter that the boy let out will always be in his mind. He just smiled as he ate his breakfast in silence.

So many memories, how he missed his boys, both had been struck down in the prime of their life. Cancer had claimed the oldest and a tragic car accident the youngest. He put his dishes in the sink and rinsed them off and headed to the back porch. He looked down to find his tackle box dented and old, a gift on father’s day some 35 years ago. Although it was dented and the paint was peeling he had never had another this was his good luck charm. He opened it and took a quick inventory to make sure everything that was needed was there. As he knew that it would be. He slipped on his old vest, a Christmas present from his wife. It was worn and had a couple of patches but he still wore it with pride. He grabbed his rod and headed out the door. He could see his boat at the end of the dock with the sun glistening off of the water and the waves gently lapping the side of his boat. He was ready.

As he headed down the dock he took a deep breath of the mountain fresh air, how he loved it here he thought to himself. He set his gear in the boat and climbed in himself. He thought to himself how it never used to be that difficult to get in the boat, he just smiled and started the engine. As he pulled away from the dock he glanced back to his cabin and smiled. He was remembering how it was built. It was a family project; everyone had a part in the construction of there vacation spot. And what a welcome addition it was after tent camping up here for their first 5 years. It could use a touch of paint but he’ll get to it later this summer he thought to himself. He pointed the boat to his familiar honey hole and took off. Finally on the water and in his favorite trolling pattern he let his line out and motored silently in search of his first catch of the day. It’s been so long he thought to himself, I should have come up last summer but one thing or another I never made it. But I’m here now and it feels so right, how I’ve missed it.

As he settled back in his seat he poured a cup of coffee, his thoughts kept going back in time. So many times with his family talking about baseball and the sports hero’s of the their time. Remembering back when his boy’s were still very young and the wonderment they had in all the wildlife around them. The laughter that echoed across the lake as they each enjoyed the others company. Yes so many fond memories of this place. The times he spent alone with his beloved wife just trolling along this peaceful lake and enjoying the silence. The discussions and problems that they solved together out here, yes this is a place of many special memories. How he longed for day’s past, but times change, such a pity. He looked off into the horizon and just smiled. When all of a sudden he felt a peck, then a slam. He set the hook and the first trout battle of the day was on.

After a couple of good runs this beautiful rainbow trout finally surrendered to the net. He stared down at it and removed the hook then released him ever so gently. He started to laugh to himself as he recalled his wife’s first attempt at netting a fish. She stood up in the boat, a12’ aluminum much like the one he is in now. And the boat wobbled and she went in the lake headfirst, screaming and cussing as she went over. When all he could do was laugh as he helped her back in the boat. You could here her all over the lake and him laughing just as loud. He smiled as he let his line back out again and resumed his troll. As he nestled back in his seat he began drinking his coffee and could feel the warmth of the sun on his face, he felt at peace with himself. He gazed up into the sky to see the billowing clouds floating by and an eagle circling the lake hunting for his breakfast. Such a beautiful day to be out here with nature, the lake was like glass and it was so quiet he could here the birds chirping, it was a hypnotizing effect. He was totally relaxed, when all of a sudden his rod tip took a dive, he set the hook, and his reel began to sing as this trout just kept taking line.

He thought to himself, I need to point the boat for the center of the lake can’t let him get in the weed bed and break me off. As his boat headed out for the center his reel just kept singing, this fish was giving it his all. He smiled to himself thinking this must be Bubba, the imaginary trout he used to tell his boy’s about. Finally his reel stopped singing and the struggle was on, first he would catch up and then this fish would strip out more line. This went on for fifteen minutes when finally he started making up ground on this majestic creature of the lake. As he got him closer to the boat, he leaped out of the water several times trying to shake the hook. What a magnificent looking trout, must be at least 10 pounds he thought to himself. After a few more moments of struggle he got him to the side of the boat, he just stared in admiration of this beautiful rainbow trout. After a few moments he reached down and removed the hook and he swam off, take care of yourself Bubba he thought to himself and smiled. He headed the boat back towards his trolling pattern and let his line out ready for another battle with whatever the lake was willing to bless him with.

He reached down to grab his coffee and realized in all of the excitement he had kicked it over, he just smiled as he recalled telling his boys that such a thing was considered good luck and a sacrifice to the fish gods. He poured himself another cup and just smiled as he nestled back into his chair and prepared for another hook-up. As he worked his trolling pattern he couldn’t help but notice another new home going in along the lake, he thought to himself that it seemed like yesterday that only four cabins existed but I guess you can’t keep such a beautiful place a secret forever. He drifted off in his thoughts of the many family re-unions and parties he had over the years, the sound of laughter that could be heard all over the lake and the smell of barbeque that made your mouth water, he only hoped the new people would experience the pleasure he had enjoyed over the years.

Then he felt a tug on his rod that brought him back to the here and now then he had a real solid take and set the hook, yes the battle was on. Once again his reel was making that all to familiar sound of line being taken, yes it was going to be another nice trout. He battled this one for another ten minutes or so with this beautiful creature coming out of the water several times and making run after run on him but he was determined to land this trout and call it a day. As he put the landing net on him he decided to keep this one for his dinner he thought to himself it has been a long time since he had enjoyed a nice trout dinner. After securing the trout he turned the boat towards the house and headed towards his dock yes it had been another nice day on the lake. He tied his boat up, gathered his trout and all of his gear and made his for the house dropping his trout at what was named many years ago the cleaning stump.

He smiled to himself as he thought about the first time his boys cleaned their fish all of the ooh’s, yuks’s, and this is gross, and general complaining. But over the years the boys had become experts at filleting their catch. He dropped his tackle at the cabin grabbed his knife and headed back for the stump stopping long enough just to admire his catch. He finished and headed for the house dropping his catch in the sink grabbing a potato peeler and started peeling a nice one for dinner. He glanced over at the kitchen table and his mind drifted off thinking about the many times him and boys had set up their tying vices just before dinner to get some more tied for the next day and his wife playfully scolding them to clear the table and get ready for dinner. She used to tell him “that she had three boys, not two”. He smiled as he put his trout and potato in the frying pan’s then setting the table.

After dinner he dutifully did his dishes and got ready for bed, he realized how much he missed the banter at bedtime with the boys all keyed up and excited about there pending fishing adventure the next day. He climbed in bed and as he drifted off to sleep he thought to himself how lucky he was to have had his two boys if for what seemed like only moment in time, and a loving, caring, faithful wife. Yes he had truly been blessed.


I don't go fishing for the scenery, its just a side benefit.