Catching Grandpa

[Mike Martin]

When I was 8 years old my Grandparents, who were dairy farmers, took me fishing. It was my first time using a closed faced rod and reel and not a cane pole. My Grandfather who was sitting behind me in the boat had already warned me that I had just about taken his hat off while casting. I remember after a few casts later announcing to my Grandmother, who was sitting in front of me that I had cast out so far I couldn't see where it landed. I then heard my Grandfather mumble that he knew where it had landed. I turned around and and he was sitting there with my hook in his upper lip. He told me that it was going to have to be cut out. I asked my Grandmother if she was going to do it. She said she couldn't. I asked my Grandfather if we were going to the doctor to have cut out.
My Grandfather's reply was if he went to the doctor he would hear about it for the rest of his life, but if I cut it out I would hear about it for the rest of my life.

The man sat there, never made a sound and had an 8 year old cut a #6 panfish hook out of his upper lip with a pocket knife.

That event happened 53 years ago. Why do I still remember it so vividly? Because my Grandfather was right. Not a family gathering has gone by that I haven't been reminded of the time I "caught" Grandpa.

He did take me fishing after that and I never hooked him, or anyone else for that matter again.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Lesson learned...the hard way!

[DAVID L EITUTIS]

HEY MIKE THANKS FOR THE story and your grandpa must have been a saint !!!!! Now if an 8 year pulled out a pocket knife to preform a minor surgery the Swat Team would show up and haul the kid away.... My how times have changed .....

[Mike Martin]

David, they probably would. He was my favorite person when I was growing up.
McScruff, that's probably why I never hooked anyone, except myself, again.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Larry Houghton?? Holy Cow - the Prodigal Pirate returns. Good to see a post from you.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

I don't know about the crappies - they hate me. In my entire fishing life, I have caught but TWO. One of those was with another guy alongside, so I can't even claim sole responsibility for the thing.
Seriously, I think I give off an anti-crappie odor of some kind (along with my other noxious vapors). It's like I hit the water, and they say, "Oh shit, it's HIM!! Time to scram!"

Come to think if it, maybe if I took a bath more than once a quarter, I'd have more friends, too....

[Mike Martin]

Well that explains the strange smell every time we get a wind from the east :).

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Sure thing, Larry. For you, anything.

PS where will you be fishing? That time frame is right around shower time... Maybe I'll come on over and visit!