Catching Frankenfish - A Grand Fishing Adventure
At O dark thirty my fishing partner, Chucky, also known by his Ojibwe name Can't-Catch-Fish, and Iheaded for Clear Lake California, the Bass capital of the West. A 700 mile drive that we intended to cover in one day.
Arriving at 6pm that night we were exhausted. After a wonderful dinner of spam, dried out fry bread andcommodity cheese we headed for bed, determined to be fishing at first light. First light came and went, but never fear, Can't-Catch-Fish and I hit the water around 10am. Heading to our secret fishing spot on the lake we arrived with great anticipation, knowing that Frankenfish was lurking in the deep.
Can't-Catch-Fish made his first cast and promply broke the tip off his rod, his lure ended up stuck on a tree. Having fished with Can't-Catch-Fish many times I knew this was a better start then most of his adventures. The last time, after a mighty cast he tripped over his own feet and fell in the lake. I almost changed his Ojibwe name to Big-Foot, but at the last second decided to give him one more shot to become something of a fisherman.
Can't-Catch-Fish changed to a new rod and was now set to go after Frankenfish. I quickly landed a few small bass as Can't-Catch-Fish was trying to figure out what he was doing wrong. This is an on going saga with him. Finally Can't-Catch-Fish has a strike, after a mighty battle, during which he got his thumb stuck in the reel, he landed the fish. Now came the moment of truth, could he unhook the fish without major damage to the boat, me or the fish. I heard a scream and quickly turned to see what happened. There was the fish flopping on the bottom of the boat and Can't-Catch-Fish screaming in pain, the hook stuck in his thumb. I pulled out my Bowie knife, (took that from Jim Bowie at the battle of Crooked Creek, or was it Whiskey Creek) and did a quick cut and out came the hook. Satisfied that I hadn't cut off his thumb I went back to fishing while Can't-Catch-Fish bandaged his minor wound. The day ended with me catching a number of fish, none of them Frankenfish, and Can't Catch-Fish living up to his name.
Day two stated with the same scenario, fish for me, nothing for him. Reminds me of the song "Whiskey for me, beer for my Horse''. Finally late in the day I hooked into a big one, sure that this may be Frankenfish I was excited. Of course Can't-Catch-Fish got into the act. He didn't reel in his line and quickly our lines became tangled, me with what I was thinking was Frankenfish, getting a little excited and angry. As Can't-Catch-Fish was trying to untangle the lines, I was screaming at him to ''cut the line'' before thinking that he would be loose with a Bowie knife in the boat. This is not good. Finally I convinced him to cut the line with his teeth. As he grabbed the line and attempted bite it in half the line slipped between his teeth. The fish sensing that he had an advantage quickly headed out in the opposite direction, snapping Can't-Catch-Fish head to one side then the fish headed in the other direction. Can't-Catch-Fish head looked like a ''Bobble Head Toy''. finally the line took out one of his front teeth and snapped. Off to the dentist for Can't-Catch-Fish. Our fishing day was over.
Day three, four and five were repeats of day two. Minor mishaps and a lot of fish, but no Frankenfish.
Day six, our last day before heading home. Knowing that this was our last chance to catch Frankenfish we pulled out all the stops. When I told Can't-Catch-Fish that we were going to pull out all stops, he pulled the drain plug. A couple of hours later, after getting the boat to float again we were off. Finally a major strike for me, this had to be Frankenfish. The battle was on, first I had the advantage, then Frankenfish, back and forth the battle seesawed, exhausted the fish was beside the boat, it was the biggest bass that I had ever seen.
Now Frankenfish had to be netted by Can't-Catch-Fish, a thought that made me sick to my stomach. Missing the fish each time that he tried I was at the end of my wits. Finally with a mighty sweep Can't-Catch-Fish hit Frankenfish in the head with the net and stunned him, also knocking the hook loose. In an amazing show of shear stupidity, Can't-Catch-Fish tripped and fell overboard, now I have a stunned Frankenfish in the water and also Can't-Catch-Fish right next to him. Who to save, I went for the net and scooped up Frankenfish, leaving Can't-Catch-Fish in the lake. He was hanging off the side of the boat screaming for me to save him. I had the trophy fish of a lifetime in my hands. Pulling Can't-Catch-Fish on board, my mission complete. This fish was so big that the picture of him weighted three pounds. I had won, now I released Frankenfish to fight another day. An Ojibwe War Cry and the fish was gone back to the deep.
That my friends and fellow fisherpersons (PC) is a true story. Of course there is the old saying ''All fisherpersons are liars, except you and me, and I'm not so sure about you anymore.''
Kavika 2011 All Rights Reserved. Do not use without permission.
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Chucky AKA, Can't-Catch-Fish, and I have been fishing partners for decades.
Sometime I wonder why.
My dad and I spent many an afternoon with lines in the water and beer in the cooler.
Curiously, we usually went home with neither beer nor fish in the cooler
Good times, good memories!
And good article!
And it's true RIO, well mostly true. Some of it is really true. The largemouth was 11.5 lbs.
Glad that you enjoyed it Max. A little reprieve from the normal political articles.
Don't be tellin' anyone, but this is the only known photo of the epic battle.
It's a good thing that I was at the top of my game. Well in this photo at the bottom of my game, he was one bad boy.
Thanks RW. It was tip and tuck there for awhile. I finally had to use the ''reverse pretzel bender'' on him...
Nice Bass!
E.
He survived RW, but it was a life and death struggle. Well, close to it anyhow.
Your article reminded me of this one that I'd written 4 or 5 years ago...Time to pull it out.
Our fishing boat was named the ''Sea What!!!!''...or was it the ''Say What!!!
Thanks for stopping by niijii
Great story, Kavika. And this picture looks rather like "Who has who?"
(or pornographic) 
You should have taken this guy fishing.
I recall a previous story written by you about a fishing trip with Can't Catch-Fish, or is this a retelling of it. If this is yet another experience with fishing with him, I venture to say that either you have a high tolerance for torture or a great desire for challenges.
Wow ... the picture alone weighed 3 pounds ! How many bytes [bites] did that take ?
Great story Kavika...
But I was spying on Can't Catch.... and besides being a hot dude... his fish tale isn't measuring up:
More like a small fry. Good thing he let it go.... maybe next year he might have dinner for 1.
And, again, as I walk through the garage and see my two sets of rod/reels, tackle box and folding filet knife - that haven't been touched in 8 years, I get SSSOOOOOOOOOO envious of your water opportunities.
Someday - someday.
Nona, RW it is a giant kissing fish, or a catfish, maybe a dogfish.
I'm sure that he would have done well Mac.
Indeed he does.
I have a very high tolerance for pain Buzz. But, Can't-Catch-Fish and I have been friends since, well forever.
I'm stuck with him....
3 bites and 2 bytes petey.
Damn, that little fishy isn't big enough to be bait Perrie...LOL
Come on out 1st, we can have quite the adventure. We'll bring Can't-Catch-Fish, that alone is good for endless laughteror pain..
Hafta have plenty of coffee - no other way
You can't catch fish with coffee 1st...LOL
Hey my super new coffee maker arrived yesterday. We are good to go.
A Mac
Looks like he is good at it and he probably doesn't drink much beer - let's add him to the crew.
I don't know if that a good idea RIO.
Haha! You can't catch me unless you want to travel to the other side of the world.
LOL ambiv, a fall back position
"Giant kissing ' fish......
lol
Well maybe it's true Nona.
I'm sure it is, you would never kid about anything like that....