THE GOOD OLE DAYS

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Comment by dick tabbert on February 29, 2012 at 8:39am

I am truly sorry for the length, I'll try to keep them short.

Comment by dick tabbert on February 29, 2012 at 8:14am

When I was young we didn't have lots of money but I always found ways to be fishing. My Dad had friends and a sister lived in Luna Pier Michigan. I had a cousin Jack we always would try to sneak off when we got together and more than once we got in trouble for it. But I weighed it all out and I knew I would have more fun than the trouble I would be in and managed to disappear. Jack wasn't quit as convinced of that or maybe his dad spanked harder and a lot of times he wouldn't go with me so I had to go by myself. Anyway at the end of Luna Pier was some lagoons. These were my fishing spots for years were I got self educated into the art of fishing. I was already bitten by the fishing bug and obsessed at most. Being as I didn't have any equipment (rod & reel) I only had fishing line and a few hooks I had to make a make shift rig. I would fined me a small stone unless I could fine me some nuts I would tie it to my line on the bottom for a sinker, put my hook on and about 8” above my make shift sinker. I then would tie me on a piece of stick which was my bobber. That was a choir in its self to have the right size stone or nut for my bobber some time's it would sink my bobber and I'd have to go and find a larger stick or smaller stone or nut till everything was matched and my bobber finally floated. I'd bait my hook throw out my line and begin the waiting process. Sometime it would be instantly some times I'd be waiting for awhile which didn't bother me cause I was determined I was going to catch fish and usually did and if for some reason I didn't I always had fun trying. What was nice about the lagoon you didn't know what you were going to catch next. We mostly caught bluegills, and an occasional sunfish, with lots of bullheads, some perch, carp, or catfish. It really was a smorgasbord and with every cast not knowing what that next bite was really kept it interesting. I lost lots of fish and had to go through the process of finding another stone/nut and stick for a bobber and setting everything up again. That didn't detour me though I was still having fun. This was the way I fished for quit awhile. Most the time me and Jack fished it was always very competitive. I think back on these memories and say to myself, how could I have been fishing this way. I was fishing with string, sticks and stones/nuts, and never thought a thing about it I wanted to fish and fish I did. I made the best out of what I had and I caught fish in the process. I know I was enjoying the day and the days seem to always go by so fast I never wanted them to end. One day I changed things up a little. First I put my weight on a little larger stone/nut so I could throw my line out farther then put on 2 hooks spread about 12” apart. Threw my new fishing rig out knowing this was indeed a way I could fish and walk around and investigate things like turtles and frogs and what ever else a boy does. On shore I would lay a loop of line on the ground and tie the end of the line to a bush or cement block if I could find one. This would free me up to do boy business and could leave my lines unattended When the fish wound bite the loop I made in the line on the ground would be pulled straight and I knew at that time I had a bite. I would grab the line and give it a hard yank. Caught many carp and catfish with this concoction and still had brake off's because when your at the end of your line and have nothing to absorb the shock the line sometimes tends to break. I learned lots experimenting and learning as I went. I always made do with what I had when growing up. Setting here and reading this almost sounds like a fictional story and I almost came close to not sharing this memory and deleting it. I came up the hard way not having money but I really didn't think of it that way my mind was very occupied with the thing I loved to do the most and that being the start of my fishing addiction.

If you talk to any body that knows me personally they will tell you I am truly obsessed. I like so many have these memories etched in my mind and like so many others am unable to share this childhood spots with my boys as they were growing up or my grand kids. I think they called it progress when they back filled our old fishing memory haunts for more land and built homes on it. The memories are there but the lagoons are gone forever never to be fished again. My childhood memories are etched in my mind and even though we didn't have lots of money I was rich in my own special way. Thank you Mom and Dad for giving me the freedom to do what I liked to do the most and giving me the opportunity to be who I am today, I love you both.

Comment by Dwayne Denison on February 29, 2012 at 7:27am

Jeff, I had a napa cap just like that. Takes me back to riding my stingray to the river to carp fish

Comment by dick tabbert on February 28, 2012 at 10:38pm

2lb Bluegills precious memories something we will have with us forever. Sounds like you and your Dad were real buds. You know I set here and read these memories of the past and I can't believe how many but lots that I really don't think about and some I forgot all together but just reading these short stories brings back some of them old memories. Most of us fished as soon as we could hold a pole. But it's all the same were hooked on fishing and loving it and passing it on to family and friends and oh what a joy it is. GOOD FISHING..

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on February 28, 2012 at 8:39pm

Nice stringers were common place back in the late 80s and throughout the 90s....Parents have since moved back to our home town but these memories are etched in stone so they're here to stay......

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on February 28, 2012 at 8:30pm

My grade school friend back in Mandeville, Joe Fandal was with me on this trip to my grandmother's ponds in upper St.Tammany Parish!

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on February 28, 2012 at 8:28pm

Great fishing destinations close to where I was raised.....This is why I'm such a fan of bumping Cypress trees..been around them my entire life and you just catch fish around them! Cypress Bayou pictured....

Comment by DAVID L EITUTIS on February 28, 2012 at 6:57pm

HEY 2LB., THERE'S NNNNNNNNNNNNOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR WRITING and you certainly can convey your feelings just fine. Man that sounds like heaven for a kid to be on a trip like you had. Bet every mile seemed like 10 miles waiting with eager anticipation to just get there !

  TOOTY

Comment by DAVID L EITUTIS on February 28, 2012 at 6:30pm

HEY DAVID, Many thanks and its MY GOOD FORTUNE to be here and what a Ole Jeffrey had in his youth huh. Leo that is a good approach to raising kids and you are full of wisdom WWWay BEYOND YOUR YEARS!

  TOOTY

Comment by dick tabbert on February 28, 2012 at 5:03pm

Jeffrey I could get lost really lost on a river system that looked like this. When I say lost I mean in deep thought what a beautiful river. That's the kind of place I can really lay back in. Thank you for sharing for for this remarkable picture. Make me want to load up and head south.

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