THE GOOD OLE DAYS

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Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on February 28, 2012 at 5:02pm

You betcha David and congrats on the new Ultimate Angler.....

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on February 28, 2012 at 4:58pm

That is a beautiful river, Jeff. It looks perfect for my new Native Watercraft Ultimate Angler. 

@ tootie - all I can say is it's good to have you here.

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on February 28, 2012 at 4:52pm

Growing up in Southeastern Louisiana, we frequented a fishing camp on the banks of the Bogue Chitto RIver.....The best part of this river was the refreshing water temperatures on those 100 degree, 98% humidity dog days.....But man we had great times securing the boat to a willow tree and tight lining in the fast flowing current....The most red breast sunfish I have ever caught was in this river along with countless freshwater drum and buckets of channel cats......We basically had a little beach below the fish camp and we had constructed a big fish holding cage out of old iron and screen that sat half in the water and half out...The lid was an old stop sign and also served as a platform to clean fish..My uncle had taught me how to skin catfish on previous trips and it was my turn to clean a mess for the routine fish fry at the fish camp......I was chugging along doing just fine until I dipped my net in the fish basket to get the next cat when the largest Salt and Pepper king snake that I have ever seen arrived in my net. He had halfway eaten a 12 inch catfish head first and seemed content to hang out right there until his meal was consumed......To this day I don't know how this snake got into the basket and I'm sure glad I was standing in the river for this event so none of my family and friends could see how my nerves actually handled this surprise catch!

Comment by dick tabbert on February 28, 2012 at 12:00pm

Leo kids will be kids. I'm sure they learned that Dad really knows what he's talking about. At any rate I'm sure there was a lesson learned. You know as parents we do the best we can do but sometime the kids will still test the waters. That's when we really need to explain just how serious the consequences can be. The main thing is you all walked away safe.

Comment by Leo Nguyen on February 28, 2012 at 11:44am

Don't know about you guys, but I reintroduce the same experience that I had to my kids to the best that I can, without getting themselves killed in the process. Hurt, no problem..It's the learning process that they will inherit and remember for the rest of their lives. I just give them warnings way ahead, then let them make their decisions based on my forewarning. They know when I warn them, it's serious. When they decide to move forward, they know I'm always there by their sides to help them along, without over intervening.

 

One example would be hunting for the trouts at Lake Gregory. My 3 yrs old girl, was 1.5" years back then, would case after a trout because it dislodged itself from the hook. Before it came in onto shore, I warned her to be careful in pulling the fish in. Too much force will break the line or dislodge the hook from the fish's mouth. Well, youth's impatience and fishing normally don't mix. Quick yank, and the fish was off the line. Once again, I looked at her, and warned her not to chase the fish because the water was deep and cold. She smiled, and darted straight into the water. Surely enough, she retrieved the fish, then complained about the water being freezing cold. Mom got horrified for the moment, but just laughed her head off with her older brothers. Her brothers did exactly the same thing with the catfish and their trouts. Good grief.

 

Now, they're more brazen, and will be willing to do anything and everything that involve a bit of excitement or daredevil. I wonder when I should introduce them to sky diving and bridge bungee hoping. Ehh..maybe after their survival mode training.

Comment by DAVID L EITUTIS on February 28, 2012 at 6:35am

Ya know fellas we can't go back to our youth of course, but one thing we can do is savor the moments in time that are of importance . Share em as you guys are here and with your kids and grandkids. In the hustle and bustle of todays world it's easy for the kids to get caught up in the fast paced lifestyle that goes on around us.
  Will they ever know of the pink light in the morning sky and waiting for a squirrel to start that familiar chuckle.  Hope so and lots of other little things, like walking in the fresh due drops on the grass heading up the creek, or seeing the first rings on the water from a fish rising to snatch a bug off the surface of the pond. Hope so.
  You guys have been more than generous with your thoughts and memories and this group has exceeded my wildest dreams and thanks to all.

Comment by Dwayne Denison on February 28, 2012 at 4:27am

Jim, Thanks for sharing. I also love farm ponds and old coal mine ponds. I remember walking to old mine ponds as a child. We did not catch a lot of fish, but had great times. Like your pond these are gone now, they have been filled in. I remember catching bass so small, you could not lip them, but they were just as fun to catch as a five pound fish. Fishing was a lot more laid back in those days.

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on February 27, 2012 at 10:47pm

Thanks, Jim. I would not feel the same visiting some of the places of my youth, either. I prefer today to make new memories.

 

I also recall TV's without remote controls - I WAS the remote control. My dad would say, "Get up and change the channel, son"... and I did.

Comment by Tony Livingston on February 27, 2012 at 10:08pm

Very touching story, Jim. I too have experienced dreams where I was so close to a BOW from my younger years that I could see the sunlight sparkling on the surface, or hear the bullfrogs croaking while catfishing at night. Almost always, I wake up depressed, wishing I could return once more to those innocent times, and be that young boy with a fishing rod, his one and only rod, just one more time.

One day. Just one more glorious, carefree, sunny summer day spent fishing the pond, or the creek. Wading in the water, moving downstream, turning over rocks to collect small crawdads for bait. My faithful Border Collie up ahead, my fishing companion for many years until the ravages of time took their toll and introduced me to sorrow, and the harsh reality of what must eventually come to pass.

Just one day, another chance to see a smaller world through those young eyes, in a time before responsibilities and schedules, wristwatches and cellphones.

Just a boy on the water, fishing rod in hand and dog by my side.

Comment by dick tabbert on February 27, 2012 at 9:28pm

Great memories Jim. Seems like nothing  stands in the way of progress. Your right they can take the lake but they can't take the memories. Them memories are what we are and what made us the way we are today. Thank Jim for sharing.

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