Playing the Drum

In late October 2011, I asked Don to join me for fishing on Lake Evergreen. The day was cool and cloudy, but we wanted to get in one more trip before shutting down for winter.

We had good luck fishing that year, especially for fishing for crappies. I had located several areas along downed trees and back in coves. These areas were productive all season with various baits. My usual bait was a small jig with a wax worm attached, but I also fished with minnows. Because the bite of a crappie is so delicate, I purchased a Shimano ultra-light carbon fiber rod. It is thinner than a number 2 pencil. I fished with ultra-thin 4 lb. test fluorocarbon line and a Pflueger ultra-light President reel.

Earlier that spring I had special ordered some tiny jigs for crappie fishing. These jigs were only found on line. The jigs were tube jigs 1 inch in length. These puppies were small, but crappies like small baits.

To complete the rig, I used jig heads ranging in size from 1/64 oz. to 1/80 oz. I tried to buy these at Bass Pro Shops, but there were none that small in the fishing section. Fortunately I wandered into the fly fishing area and found a few. The rest I ordered on line. I even ordered some 1/124 oz.  These are so small they won’t sink.

The tubes came in many colors and all colors worked depending on conditions. Light colors worked well in the clear spring water, red and bright colors worked well when Evergreen became green in the summer. However, the best producing color in all conditions was purple.

For this trip, I purchased minnows. The bait shop was out of “crappie” minnows, which are the small ones. Fishing was slowing down and vendors were not carrying many baits. I purchased medium size minnows.

Why all the details? It is to let you know how light my tackle was that day. I was expecting to catch crappies that might weigh 12-14 oz.

Our first stop was along some downed trees on the main lake area. I thought we could jig there for a while before heading into a cove, where there was less wind. As usual, I fished off the bow and Don was in the back.

After jigging the minnow up and down for a few minutes, I got a strike. The strike was not hard, but I couldn’t move the fish up. I thought I might be snagged, but then the fish began to move away from the boat. Walleyes and catfish stay down when they are caught. I was sure it wasn’t a crappie and likely one of them. Evergreen holds the state record for hybrid walleyes. I thought I might have a trophy.

It circled back towards the boat and headed towards the back and the motor. I kept worrying it would snag around the motor or break the line. The whole time I thought about the masterful way I had seen Paul land the muskie on our first trip to Lake Shelbyville (See Almost Holiday). I tried to do what I remembered him doing.

The fish dove under the boat and I kept moving around the boat trying to keep the line clear of the gear in the boat. We made several trips around, with Don always scrambling to get out of the way as I let the fish decide which direction to go. He asked if he could help, but this was a one person task. With a u shaped rod, I kept tension on the fish but never pulled or tried to “horse” the fish. When your tackle is so under sized, your only hope is to play the fish until it tires and prevent it from wrapping you around a log or snapping your line.

Suddenly the fish turned and started to pull line against the drag on my tiny reel. It was headed out in the main lake towards the dam. The reel was whining against the drag, and with less than 100 yards of line, it wouldn’t be long before I reached the end.

I asked Don to switch places and to start the motor. I kept my line tight, but used the bent rod to absorb the force from the fish. 4 lbs. test cannot take much force before snapping. Fluorocarbon line is also brittle, so it doesn’t stretch much.

All of this passed through my mind, as Don struggled to get the motor started. He also didn’t have much experience with a tiller steer motor, so he was nervous about trying to follow the fish. (I had the same feeling driving that day at Lake Shelbyville).

Don rallied and we stayed within a resonable distance of the fish. There apparently was enough tension on the drag to tire the fish, and it eventually turned back to the downed trees. Don kept the motor running, as we approached the area where I first felt the strike. 

I felt a change in tension as the fish began to rise.  This was a dangerous time as my line was shortened and could not absorb much shock. Walleyes and catfish frequently make a quick dive when they see the light.  Many are lost right at the boat.  I wanted help so I told Don to get the net.

My net is collapsible, which makes it nice for storing, but also needs to be snapped into place in order to open and use. In an exciting moment, this becomes difficult and required some time to accomplish. Don came through and got it together. I still couldn’t see the fish, but expected a monster walleye.

What rose to the surface was wider than my net. It was too long to fit in either. Fortunately Don got most the head in the net and together we lifted the leviathan from the water. We didn’t know what it was, but it was heavy.

Fortunately the fish was very tired, as was I. I could barely lift it with both hands. Don dug my digital scale out of the rod locker, and we hung it on the hook. It flashed past 16 lbs., before the scale exceeded its limit. It was certainly more than 16 lbs., as I had to use all my strength to hold it. Don figured it was well over 20 lbs.

I asked Don to take a picture with my phone, but told him I could not hold the fish up. I sat on my boat seat, with the fish in my lap, as Don took the photo. I was covered in slime, but at least I was successful in getting the fish in. Without Don’s help, I would have certainly lost the fish.

I retuned the exhausted fish to the water. It lay on the surface for a few seconds, then dove to the depths. Don and I were cold and tired too, and decided to end our day. After dropping Don off, I returned home. My slime covered sweatshirt went into the garbage.

I sent the photo to Scott Richardson, who was, at that time, outdoor writer for the local paper. I asked his help in identifying the monster fish. Scott said the fish was a drum perch, the largest he had ever seen.  He wrote about it on November 3. 

I had caught drums (aka sheepshead) before; usually they weigh about one pound and grunt like a pig when in the boat. Apparently this drum was a female as they do not grunt. Drums are native to Illinois rivers and streams and are found in deeper water near the bottom.  They are a separate species and not related to perch or any other fish. Based on the size, she may have been one of the original fish trapped in the lake when Six Mile Creek was dammed to form Lake Evergreen in 1971. That would make her at least 40 years old. Drums are known to live even longer than that and can reach over 50 lbs.

I am no musician, but the day I played that drum, is the best performance I accomplished on the water.

We really did catch some

In spite of my brother's assumption that I cannot catch fish without my spouse, here are a few to debunk that comment.

Lake Michigan in March. What were we thinking? BTW those are coho salmon. We (Paul, Robert, and me) did this for two miserable days.

This was a largemouth on Lake Evergreen. 

This is a keeper hybrid sauger-walleye (saugeye) caught on Lake Evergreen. I just call them walleyes anymore.

My first (and so far only) muskie was caught with Don and Paul while fishing for bass on Don's boat

I caught many fish while fishing with Al off of Pine Island, FL. This red fish was the largest.

We always catch many huge smallmouth bass in Boulder Junction, WI.  This was an early one.

My first Wisconsin trip was written under Two Moon Bay. These are the reason we fished on the Willow Flowage (home of Two Moon Bay)

This is the smallie Paul tried to sneak out get in the early morning.

The day Connie caught her trophy channel cat, I caught one in a different area.

My first trout fishing trip to Wisconsin resulted in this one caught on the pink plastic worms we used in the Smokys. This was years before the one in my profile.

And then there is the one which will be detailed next week.

So , Tim, except for the catfish, Connie was not along for any of these.

Fishing with Connie

I had had many enjoyable and screwy times fishing, but the times with her are very special.

When I learned to fish while in college, I was addicted. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any place to fish except the ditch. There were no farm ponds near our farms. They were no lakes either. The only fishing areas were the Hennepin canal and the Green and Rock Rivers. Since I had no idea how to fish a river and the banks of the Green River were very steep, I decided to stay away. I tried the canal, but it was stagnant and smelled. It wasn’t much better than the ditch.

Then I discovered my uncle had quarry pit on his farm. This pit was stocked with largemouth bass.  I decided to try it and brought my future spouse with me. Connie had done some fishing as a kid, so I figured she knew how.

We borrowed a rod and reel for her. As we got to my uncle’s pit, I handed her a nightcrawler worm to put on her hook. After I cast I looked over to see the nightcrawler laying on a rock. Connie was trying to stab it with the hook. A fish hook is curved 270 degrees with a point that curves back in the loop.  I enjoyed watching this take place. Eventually she was successful and started to fish.

We didn’t do too well fishing, but we had a good time. The quarry pit wasn’t easy to fish as it had steep banks and few places to stand. We went back a few times, but decided it wasn’t too much fun.

As we planned our wedding, we talked of options for a honeymoon. Connie’s folks took a vacation trip most years, and often these would involve fishing. One place they stayed was in northwestern Wisconsin. The place was Boyd’s Mason Lake Resort.

This became our destination. We made a reservation for a week. We had no money as I was just finishing college. We had hoped to put together enough money to go by working part time. We also hoped to get some money at our wedding.

Neither of the money things worked out. We had to cancel our plans and hope for a honeymoon sometime later. This actually was a fortunate thing.

With the military draft hanging over my head, I had only a temporary job where I had worked during summer breaks. Because we stayed home, I received a call to interview for a teaching job. Through luck and timing, I was hired to teach on the Friday before school began. Thus began over thirty years in education.  Had we been in Wisconsin that would not have happened.

After we were married Connie bought me my first spinning rod and reel for Christmas. This was a perfect gift and I kept it for many years. Unfortunately I had almost no time to fish. First year teachers are unbelievably busy. My salary was so low, we couldn’t afford anything. I worked every week-end for any part-time job I could find.

We also had moved to Albany on the Mississippi River. The Mississippi is a scary place for novice. It is the superhighway for water traffic. Barges traveling on the Mississippi are pushed in triple lengths greater than a football field. They move forward, but don’t turn or stop for anyone. Imagine standing along an interstate highways and trying to cast a fishing rod. That is how I felt about fishing the Mississippi.

Ely, MN

After a year of marriage, we put together a plan to go on a fishing trip. My former roommate’s close friend, nicknamed Slim, was an avid fisherman. I had met him on our Coleta trout trips and we got along quite well. He was also married, and his wife was originally from Ely, MN. All of her family still lived there.

Ely is at the entrance to the Boundary Waters.  These lakes border the US and Canada and are world famous for fishing. There are restrictions in the Boundary Waters and boats motors are not allowed with few exceptions. Canoes are the mode of traversing the Boundary Waters. Camping is part of the experience.

However, Ely has many other lakes which are not so restricted. It also had many resorts that provide fishing opportunities. We planned to stay at one and fish with a guide. We also planned to fish with Slim’s in-laws for a few days.

It takes “forever” to drive to Ely.

We stayed in a nice cabin on a lake. Included with our stay was a guided trip, which was to include a shore lunch. We had access to a dock, but we didn’t rent a boat. Neither of us had any idea how to drive a boat.

The day with the guide was wonderful. Slim and his wife joined us for the day. We caught walleyes, and northern pike. 

I was never fond of fish. It was almost a requirement for Friday dinner, and we never had fresh fish. On our guided trip, we experienced our first shore lunch. After building a fire next to a large boulder, our guide filleted our morning catch. He cooked them over the fire.The shore lunch fish was absolutely delicious. Both of us ate until we were full.

That evening, we walked down to the dock and Connie threw in a line. After a few minutes, Connie’s reel began to take out line. She grabbed it and tried to set the hook. The line kept going. She pulled and couldn’t turn the fish. We saw it roll and then dive. It was a monster. As it dove, her line snapped with a crack.

The next day we joined Slim’s wife’s family for fishing in a “secret” lake. This lake was privately owned and way off the regular roads around Ely.

We had to walk uphill a long distance before reaching the lake. In addition to fishing equipment we were carrying small boat motors. By the time we arrived, we were exhausted. Fortunately the family had access to a couple of boats that were kept at the lake. Keeping the lake secret proved a great benefit to us. Connie caught a smallmouth on her first cast. This was followed by many others. It seemed the smallies wanted everything we had. This was the one time I think she really enjoyed fishing.

We followed with another shore lunch and still had many fish to bring home. Fresh caught smallies are delicious.

Our final day, I went out with Slim’s relatives, and Connie stayed in. We were fishing Lake Ely which borders the town proper. It also serves as Ely’s airport, and there were several float planes docked by town. While we were out several landed and took off from the lake.

On this trip I was introduced to the concept of “walleye chop”. This is the term locals use to describe miserable cold windy weather that supposedly makes walleyes want to bite. It is definitely “choppy”, and cold. I didn’t have any sea legs and was miserable. I don’t recall catching anything but cold.

As the years were taken up with the army, children, and working every week-end, we never fished. When we relocated to Bloomington, I finally had some time. Most of my fishing was alone or with my fellow principals, although Connie did join me for some before work fishing.

After I retired and bought a boat, Connie agreed to fish with me. Of course, her real interest was relaxing and reading a book. This she often did while we were fishing. Occasionally she would bring a chartreuse green umbrella to keep the sun off. I was hoping none of my friends would see me fishing with a chartreuse umbrella in the boat.

In spite of her lack of interest, she would pick up an throw out a line if we were stopped. She also was good at fishing and caught some fish.

Fishing with Granddaughters

There is nothing to compare with a fishing trip involving granddaughters. Each has traveled with Grandpa on his boat. Most often these are big family affairs with Nana spending her time helping the girls with what ever needs arise.

This allows their parents to actually fish, enjoy the scenery, or hold hands.

Each granddaughter has approached fishing differently. It truly reflects their personality. All of them wanted to ride and drive the boat, but fishing was not their primary function.

Rachel is Miss Curious. “Why are you doing that , Grandpa?” However, she is the most serious about catching a fish. After all catching a fish is the whole point, Right Don? Rachel can also cast fairly well. She practiced off her deck with a Lighting McQueen fishing pole I bought her. It already had a fish (artificial) attached.

Before I took any of my girls out, I pre-fished the lake. Competitive fishermen do this all this time. I do it to avoid hearing “I’m bored”. Bass champion Kevin Van Dam faces less pressure to produce that me.

So on every trip I located a spot where bluegills were active. Generally it isn’t a problem finding them. Usually I try to avoid these “bait stealers”, but kids need some action. They aren’t fussy about species, just whether they catch a fish.

Preparing for one of these trips takes more time than packing for a covered wagon journey on the Oregon Trail.  There are the required clothes. These are Grandpa’s responsibility, a Bass Pro fishing hat and a life jacket.

The optional clothes are the parents’ responsibility.

We need jackets, short, jeans, hooded sweatshirts, accompanied by a parasol,  in case there is too much sun. There are special sunscreens for the kids, baby wipes, a stroller, and camping trailer. (just kidding)

The strangest piece of equipment we packed was a kid sized plastic toilet. I recall Rachel actually using it.

We pack enough food to march across Alps. Hannibal carried fewer supplies and he had elephants! There are Cheetos, Doritos, pretzels, and sandwiches for the one who only eats jelly, some for the one who only eats peanut butter, potato chips, string cheese, juice packs, water bottles, etc. etc. etc. We carry apple slices, raisins, and grapes too. They are not to eat, but just in case Family Services checks the boat, we can say they are for the kids. When they leave my boat looks like there was a food fight at Frito Lay’s employee cafeteria.

My boat has a listed capacity of 6, but that is for adults. If it was for kids, the capacity would be two and one of them would have to drive.

As I said each has their own personality. Emily now cries when she catches a fish. It interrupts her eating. She doesn’t want to touch anything that isn’t died taco orange. Unfortunately I don’t know how to catch fish that color.

Sabrina is also Miss Curious, except she wants nothing to do with casting a fishing pole. For the all the shells, bugs, and creepy critters she collects at the salt marsh near her home, she won’t touch an earthworm.

She was willing to “pet” the small catfish I caught for her at Dawson Lake. To keep her from getting “horned” and becoming so traumatized to ever fish again, I held the fish for the petting. You can see its forked tails under my hand. Her sister, Veronica, looked on. She was too young to hold a pole, but she could sure eats snacks.

Before showing Sabrina, how we catch fish in the Midwest, her mother decided I needed to learn about fishing in New York. Now Manhattan is an island. Rivers (estuaries actually) on three sides, you have heard of the famous Hudson River, East River, and less famous Harlem River. There is also this ocean( Atlantic Ocean) on the south (down town) side. Water is everywhere. Where do we fish? ….In Central Park.

Fishing in Bloomington or Texas...hook boat to truck, drive to lake. Fishing in New York City...take subway A to 168th, board M2 bus to 110th, walk to Central Park, rent pole, and bait(corn). Seriously, her pole was a fiberglass rod with 6 ft. of line tied to the tip and a hook with no weight. The only bait we were allowed to use was corn. (Next time Grandpa is smuggling in a container of wax worms).

Speaking of baiting a hook, none of them will. I have to bait all their hooks, cast for everyone except Rachel, and then reel it in when they catch a fish., hold the fish while we take a picture, take it off the hook and then throw it back. No wonder they need all those snacks, they are exhausted after watching me catch one fish!

The Texas  lake we usually fished almost completely disappeared over the past few years. The long Texas drought turned the 6000 acre Lake Medina into the 300 acre Medina Mud Puddle.  I stopped taking my boat and we stopped fishing.

Then something dramatic happened last spring. In one year the torrential rains over south Texas filled it ( and every  creek and small depression), with water . It is currently overflowing the spillway.

So the boat may return to Texas. We will go out again, wearing new fishing hats, bigger life vests, and carrying a small warehouse full of Lay’s products. Maybe the New York girls will join us. "We're gonna need a bigger boat".

We may not catch any, but as I always say, “It isn’t about the fishing”