The one that Got Away

“That’s right,” Phil told me as he was re-baiting his hook, “You shouldn’t lay your rod over the net, particularly if it has a lure tied on it” he exclaimed with a harsh growl. “Well Phil,” I said, “It is your other rod and you loaded the boat!” Well now, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Earlier we had tried to fish the Sunken Island with no luck. I thought we might want try something these Walleyes had not seen before, Erie Deries. It did not take much to convince Phil either. So we loaded up the boat, put a couple distinctive colors on our rods and off we went. You see, we use these lures on Lake Erie tipped with a Big’ol Crawler. They work great there but we haven’t tried them in Minnesota. I located our spot and Phil threw out the marker, now to set up our troll over the spot. After about three passes all hell broke loose. Phil had on a fish, a big ol’walleye.

“This must be a big one, can’t turn him”, Phil explained. “Keep the rod tip high” I said. I always say that, as most people that lose fish don’t let the rod play the fish! Anyway, Phil played the fish correctly; the fish did come up and back down again. Just as the fish came up the second time, I grabbed the net; the fish went to the back of the boat and wrapped around the outboard motor. I abandon the net and raised the tilt on the motor to get the line untangled. “Loosen your drag!” I shouted to Phil, “Ya’gota give him some line so I can untangle it.” He did and I was able to get the line free.

By now Phil had the fish almost worn out, at least we thought so. I grabbed the net but when I laid it down to untangle the line, I must have laid it right on top of one of our rods and it got all tangled up in on a hook. Well I scrambled to get the hook out of the net and stuck it in my thumb. “Matza, rattza, fratza, nab’it anyway” I shouted in a gruff tone. But with modest effort I managed to get the hook off my thumb and out of net.

I now hurried to assist Phil in landing this fish, which seemed by now to be a 28-30” Walleye. We later estimated it at least 8 to 10 lbs. As the fish surfaced now the third time, I lowered the net but the fish had other ideas. With one big splash and a turn of the head he threw the lure back at Phil which knocked his hat right into the lake. With net in hand, I retrieved his hat. I don’t think I’ve seen the Irishman so frustrated.  All we both could do was grin and bare it!!!!