Tugboat Catfish
They say laughter is the best medicine and I truly believe this is so. I’d like to share with you what happened on a fishing trip about eight years ago out at El Dorado Lake. My husband has always encouraged my love for fishing. Even on our first date I took him fishing. At that time I used a cane-pole and worms for bait. I quickly learned he wasn’t a fisherman, for I ended up baiting the hook for him.
Every year I’d get a license, and we’d go out. He’d bring a book to read and enjoy just watching me fish. I never caught much and when I did I either took them back home for my dad to clean or quickly released them. This setup went on for more than 30 some years.
Then one day, things changed. I couldn’t believe it, wonders never cease; he bought a fishing license. Boy was I surprised after all this time. Out to the lake we went with all our fishing equipment, and lawn-chairs. Things had changed since our first trip out together in 1966. Instead of cane poles I’d switched to a Zebco Rhino, plus a Red Ringer, and a Kingfisher. For the bait I still use worms, plus stink-bait, chicken liver, corn, and even used a hotdog once.
We tried different spots around the lake and got several nibbles and near misses. At one spot we watched a water snake swim from the left, then from the right, back and forth. We were never sure rather we were seeing ten snakes or the same snake over and over again. We then decided to find another spot to fish from.
We enjoyed watching all kinds of birds on or around the water, plus a beautiful sunset. It was really peacefulness at the lake, and my husband enjoyed it so much that he wanted to go again.
That next day when we were getting ready go, was when I made my biggest mistake. Our black American Spaniel, Trooper, was there at the door as we were packing things in the truck. He was begging to come along as usual and I unwisely asked if we could take him. Before we could do anything about it Trooper was in the truck and there’s no getting him out until you give him a ride, and around the block doesn’t count because we’ve tried that.
Back out to the lake we found what we thought was the perfect spot and started unloading all our stuff. I started carrying things down to the shore. As I got closer I’m sure my eyes got larger and I must have gasped in surprise. Before my husband could attach the leash, Trooper jumped from the front seat of the truck and was down the path to see what was there.
There, washed up to the shore, was a huge, and I mean huge catfish. It was big, bigger than a desktop. I remember saying; “this is the spot to fish because it’s got big ones.”
After sitting there for a half an hour or more, I realized my stomach was getting rather queasy. That dead fish didn’t seem to have a strong odor, but it must have been enough. Rather than have us move to another spot I thought it might be better to push the fish out further into the water.
I searched around the area and found a long pole. Then stepped out on the rock ledge and tried to nudge the fish out and away, but it didn’t budge. So I put more leverage to it and really pushed. This time the fish started moving, but suddenly the boulder I was standing on tipped, sending one whole shoe into the slimy, stinky, water where the fish had just been and with one foot still on the boulder I was doing the splits.
I was glad the fish was moving away from shore because there wasn’t any way I was getting out of this position without help unless I was willing to take a swim. I guess I must have screamed when I slipped, because Trooper came running to the rescue.
Before my husband could get out of his chair, Trooper was tangled in both our lines. At that moment I noticed my bobber had snagged onto the dead fish and Trooper was pulling it back to shore right at me. I was yelling, the dog was barking and my husband was laughing so hard that tears were running down his face.
When I was finally back on shore, Trooper untangled, and the fish pushed back out into deeper water, I sat back down in the lawn chair. All the equipment was strung in a mess around us. I turn to my husband and started to tell him how sorry I was for ruining the fishing trip, when he smiled a funny smile at me. I’ll always remember him saying, “Why didn’t you tell me fishing could be so much fun.”
Several fishermen were returning to shore in their boats, outlined against the fading light. It was another magnificent sunset; one you can only see the likes of in Kansas. Off shore we saw the dead catfish riding high on the waves like a tugboat. It most definitely was the big one that got away.