| Never snagged a branch but I
didn't consider it a plus at the time. It was threaded down through
about thirty, small, branches. Man, I just looked at it and listened to
Jay, squalling like a stomped on cat! I just looked at it and then
turned to old Loud Mouth and asked him what he was crowing about. I told
him that I did it a purpose so I could give him a demonstration as to
how a skilled fisherman would get himself out of just such a predicament. He was about peeing himself with glee!! Jerk! I had no idea as to how I was gonna perform this deed but knew I had to
bluff it. Did I tell you we had a beer bet on this contest? Maybe it
was a six-pack or two. Can't remember right now. Anyway, my old buddy
Jay was a calling me some really uncalled for names and a carrying on
something awful. He was saying things like, I had just screwed up and
was gonna lose a lure and have to cut my line and he was glad. He
wasn't really showing me the proper respect, I didn't figure! I hunkered down and I starts to pulling that lure up to the first
little branch and when I got it there, I snugged the lip up to it and
just pulled, gentle like. It's old butt pulled up and then I gently
gave it a tiny tug and the damn thing just popped over that limb like I
knew what I was doing. He started yelling that I was just lucky and
wouldn't do it again. I said, " Are you paying attention? Are you taking
notes? Cuz there may be a test!" I hadn't thought that far ahead but
had to have something cocky to say. Heck, I was gonna be hung up in a
minute and he was gonna tear me a new butt !!
Well I tell you, I worked that lure up and over every one of those damn
little branches, slicker than snail snot. All the while listening to
him a squalling. I told him that he had better have those beer's ready
cuz this was hard work. The little vermin was a getting a bit tense and
I detected that in the lad by the way he was reaching for my rod and
trying to set them hooks. I do think I showed a bit of poise in the way
I babied that lure up and out of that tree, especially considering the
fact that I was laughing my butt off and trying to fend off the
pissant, all the while concentrating on the task at hand. Course I had to make
sure he was studying on how I was doing the job because I had sorta come
up with a test. Now that is what I call multi-tasking!! Now, as I said, I worked that lure up and out of that tree just as if I
knew what I was doing. I was as shocked as he but had the good sense to
take full credit for the deed and act as if was all part of my plan. He
wasn't buying it though.
Now I did stroke the boy and told him that he was almost as good as me
and if the chore was ever his, now he knew how to do it. He started a
spouting as to how he wasn't stupid enough to get himself in such a
position. Well he and I had been friends for some time. In fact he was
my Forman at work. He should have known that you can never be real sure
of some things. My old buddy, Jay, was setting in the front of the boat and I was in
the rear as usual. I asked him where he would like to go. He told me
where I could go. I said that I meant fishing. He said in a sorta
grumpy way. "Your running the boat, dickhead"! Well, he was a setting
there and his pole was a setting there. His pole had a Rappala on it
and darned if it wasn't within reach. I had an inspiration. I said,
"Jay old buddy, how about pulling up the anchor"? He starts a pulling it
up and I just reach over and snatch up his rod and darned if I didn't
make a perfect cast , just like the one I made. It went down thru them
branches like a smelt thru a seagull!! He looks up and ( I wish I had
a picture of his face. Poor baby) starting to yelling. I asked him if
he had been paying attention and the lad got a little cocky. Said if I
could do it, so could he. I watched for a minute and saw that he just
might be able to do it. Little sucker!! :0)
Now it gets a little boring watching a guy do that so I gets a notion.
I starts up that motor and headed for the middle of that lake. He
starts a screaming and of course, the motor is making a lot of noise and
all so I don't catch it all. I look at him and he is a bit tense. That
pole is a jumpin' and line is just a shooting off that reel. Heck, the
way I look at it is that he should have been happy that he got his bail
open in time and the line could spool off ! :0) He did get a little
pissy with me. Heck it was MY face that line was a shooting past as I
was the one in the back of the boat! He just wasn't thinking of anyone
but his own self!! HAHAHAH Upshot of it all is the fact that he must not have been paying
attention. He failed his test. His lure is probably still in the top of
that cedar. He lost a bunch of line. He saved his rod and reel and it
is all because I did yell, "Hold on to your rod, tight"! You know, when that monofilament line cuts loose, it makes a heck of a
noise. I did have to give him a Rappalla and a hundred yards of 20#
Stren. He was such a poor sport. After all. He is the one that failed
the test! Not I!
We got back to camp and we both paid off the other and when the beer was
gone. All was forgiven. I couldn't hold it against him because he
called me all them names. He don't even know my mama!:0)
I haven't seen Jay in years. About 20 or so. I have enjoyed writing
this story as it gave me the chance to relive it. I haven't thought
about it in a long time. There is the story about Jay and I getting
stranded for the night on the Albany River. That empties into the James
Bay. Man that was a trip! The trip to the Chapleau River in Northern
Ontario. Heck I didn't know the lad was scared of bears!! HAHAHAHAHHA That is another story :0) Hope you
enjoy-----RO
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