I didn’t know … my brother didn’t know … and my wife certainly didn’t know.
It began Thursday night when my brother called and asked if I wanted to go fishing Friday morning. Being that I’m the proud owner of a boat called The WW Blue-Light Special, I responded with a “Hell yeah I want to go!” We decided a 6 a.m. departure and 11:30 a.m. return would be appropriate and give us ample time to reel in some fish.
The weather conditions were perfect: very little wind = very little waves. The parking lot to the public boat launch was relatively empty which made the task of backing my boat trailer into the water relatively simple. Everything went according to plan.
I’ll be first to admit, my boat isn’t very big—it’s a rowboat okay? With a 7 hp Montgomery Ward pull-start motor—but it runs. We donned life-jackets and ventured out far enough to hopefully catch some fish, but not too far so as to use those life-jackets as seat cushions.
The first spot where we dropped anchor totally sucked. We were strategically placed between two marinas, and as the day progressed, larger and larger boats zipped by us leaving fairly large wakes. I’ve already got a small leak somewhere in my boat and didn’t need to take in extra water so we moved in closer to shore and away from the marinas.
Still, no fish.
Next, we moved into the spillway and soon enough my brother was reeling in a carp.
The day wasn’t too bad. We caught a variety of fish: crappie, sheep head, perch, and that carp.
After 5 hours of fishing, we returned to the boat launch now bustling with activity. The entire parking lot was jammed with trucks and boat trailers and someone from the sheriff’s department was patrolling the area.
It took awhile before we could load The WW Blue-Light Special. Most of the boaters were launching; whereas, we were loading. I backed my Taurus down the boat ramp, secured the boat to the trailer, and headed for home.
It never occurred to us that the Jobbie-Nooner (Michigan’s equivalent to the Mardi gras) was just getting started. If I had known, I would’ve brought some beads …
... then again, probably not.
I’m just glad to have gotten off the lake before the heavy partying started.
8 comments:
My brother and I used to take his boat fishing and take lots of beer, then kick back and say, "now if the fish just don't bite."
Sheep head and Jobbie Nooner? -- so weird sounding, had to look 'em up . . . berry interest'ng'
I'll be turning down a July 4th bash for the same reasons. Less really is more when it comes to gobs of people :->
Crappies and perch doesn't sound too crappy.
Oh yes. Always the unexpected parade getting home.
Warn me, too, when these kind of events (Jobbie Nooner) come up so I can stay inside and read. Thanks for the warning.
Oh JR! Not the Jobbie! I got outta dodge before all the foolishness ensued. The muscle heads at my gym have been pumping crazy iron like idiots, for the big day of seenin' and bein' seen. GROSS!!!
A Montgomery Wards motor?!!! Jim you just never replace anything do you?
jobbie nooner... hmmm, guess it isn't any weirder than a "wing ding"...
Odd how we have to adjust our schedules for holidays, y'know? We did groceries around dinnertime last night, just to avoid was was surely going to be a rush. The cloud cover made it bearable to be outside & I considered going for a hike at a local park--until I remembered that it was July 4th weekend & said park was likely to be packed with people.
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