The Whole Shebang

We made Shelbyville an annual trip on the last week-end in April. We told many tales of the trips, although the truth may have been stretched. One year many of the administrative team from our school district decided to join us for one day of fishing (drinking).

Several of the administrators had never fished.  One of the principals, Jeff, took this to heart and brought a children’s Snoopy fishing pole for our AD John. We brought along multiple coolers full of beer.

To accommodate such a large group, we decided to rent a pontoon (as in party barge) boat. Paul, the planner, rented the boat is his name so he became the captain. We all joked that he was now Captain O.B. The pontoon boat steered from the rear, so Captain O.B. was under a canopy. Off we went with several fishing poles rigged for crappies, and everyone with beer in hand.

As beer drinking was the major activity, no one much paid attention to where we going or where they were standing, except whether there was a cooler nearby. We were moving fairly quickly along the lake and most of us were standing near the bow. Don had all of his fishing tackle along and his tackle box was open, when water started coming over the bow of the boat.

With all of us in front of him, Captain O.B could not see the front of the boat. Water came onto the deck before he saw it. The first reaction from everyone was to grab a cooler and move back. Unfortunately many of Don’s lures floated away before anyone thought to help him. We managed to rescue a few of the lures, but many went overboard. Captain O.B. decided to slow our rate of travel and decided to keep everyone back from the bow. We kept drinking beer.

After an enjoyable, but few fish day, we returned the party barge and headed to Jibby’s for food and drink. Paul ordered his traditional Mai Tai.

The Final years

One year I had a Friday night interview for a job. I was not able to change the interview so I missed the annual trip down and stop for pizza. After the late night interview, I decided to return home and join the guys in the morning.

I left home around 5:00 am to try and reach the guys before they left for fishing. I was supposed to bring beer, but had failed to purchase any in advance. As I reached Decatur, I decided to stop and buy beer at a gas station convenience store.

I was informed they couldn’t sell me any beer until 6:00 a.m. I had never heard of this before. Faced with a choice of waiting for beer or leaving for fishing, I elected to wait for beer.

Paul and Don were up when I arrived, but no nearer to fishing. I had plenty of time. By the way, I didn’t get the job.

Robert re-joined us for a couple of trips. One significant trip we decided to try night fishing.   Robert’s version of that night is “I caught that two foot gar in the dark.  We couldn't tell what it was.  Don thought it was a snake when it first came up.”   Don recalls “After looking at its mouth we quit and headed for liquid refreshments “

2000 was to be our last spring trip to Shelbyville. Don was retiring the following year. The need to get away in the spring was not so strong. The fishing experience had never been better than the first trip. It was time to end the tradition.

Three years later all four of us were retired.