Fishing at Granny's
"I got a fish!"
"Oh, he got away!," Ashley exclaimed angrily for the umpteenth time.
She was just excited to be with her daddy fishing! Or, so I though, but little did I know.
We were having one of those rare Father's and Daughter's moments together. I just wish I knew how precious memories would like those would later become.
Ashley did not have a big vocabulary; I figured she was catching the plastic worm on stumps, logs and branches that could feel like a fish pulling back. With the boat slowly trolling along on an electric motor, it could feel like there was a fish pulling on her pole. I myself had set the hook on an underwater log, thinking it was 'The Big One.' But, I was feeling no pull of a fish today on my lure, slowly moving along the logs and stick-ups.
The date was September of 1988 and Ashley was born in June of 1986; Ashley was a toddler, a tad over 2 years old.
Amazing.
It was on the first late afternoon and into the evening that we visited for Granny and Grandpa's lake home in East Texas. I could fish about 30 minutes until it became too dark to be on the water. Ashley wanted to go out on the boat and be with her Daddy. That is what I thought, but she wanted to fish. In fact she insisted on fishing.
Okay. I was not about to let a toddler fish with any hooks, so I found an old fishing rod without a reel. I tied a piece of fishing line onto one end, and tied the other end to a rubber worm. No hooks. That created a safe fishing arrangement for Ashley.
I wanted to try a section of the upper-end of the lake that had a lot of tree stumps that was 3 to 5 feet deep. I killed the Mercury and negotiated the bushes and trees with the trolling motor. I was on the front of the boat, but I was aware of my daughter, fishing with her rig and wearing a life-preserver. I was keenly listening for her movement in the boat or the sound of a large splash that meant trouble.
I was on the lookout with the depth-finder for a creek bed or structure that was different in these trees that might hold bass. Suddenly, the water that had been about 3 to 4 feet, jumped to 12 feet. Then, the underwater creek-bed that I was found came close to the shore. I thought I found Bass Heaven! With the sun already set below the horizon, it was time to head back to the house.
I turned to put the fishing gear away and stow anything loose, including my daughter, when I noticed something with her rod jerking in a series of pulls that had a lot of tell-tale bounce. Before I had a chance to react, Ashley pulled back and with all her might. The line and worm came out of the water. And, low and behold, a Large Mouth Bass came with it! The bass must've wanted that worm so badly that there was no hook necessary to get him in the boat.
Amazing!
Although it was a small fish, about six inches long. I was in a quandary over the choices I had. The bass was undersized, and not by a little bit. Twelve 12 inches was the lower limit before the state allowed you to keep it on this lake. I didn't have camera to record this moment, either. This was 1988--digital cameras or cell phones were not the norm. I could put the bass in the live-well, but then I would risk a sizable fine from the Texas Game Warden, who liked to hang around the boat ramp checking for fishing licenses and live wells for under-size fish.
In the end, I release the fish on the spot. I now wish that I had a photo of the event. Surely, the Game Warden would have understood. The warden might even have had a Polaroid. But a photograph would be worth the fine. Every bit of it!
Amazing!
Ashley does not even remember that occasion. I am surprised, but really, how many memories do I have of that age?
Amazing!
Ashley and I caught this bass (I could not handle the bass by myself!)
Lisa, Ashley and Grampaw