Catching Frankenfish - A Grand Fishing Adventure
At O dark thirty my fishing partner, Chucky, also known by his Ojibwe name Can't-Catch-Fish, headed 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 cold cuts, dry bread and old 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 and his lure ended up stuck on a tree. Having fished with Can't-Catch-Fish many times I knew this was abetter 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 ongoing 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 was 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 we 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 the line 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. 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.''
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It's true, that's Frankenfish at 10 lbs 6 oz.
OK , finally evidence I can believe ... or was that a plastic model ?!
Great yarn ! Thanks much
It's the real deal Petey.
Thanks for stopping by.
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha....
...that was dang good Kavika!
Yup, I do let him bait his own hooks. Of course I always have my Bowie Knife ready to cut them out of his fingers.
He's not have a dangerous as his brother, Can't-Hunt...
Uh oh !!
Thanks Larry, old CCF is, at best, a piss poor fisherman. But I have to give him an ''A'' for trying and the ability to take pain.
Reminds me of a friend, I guess I'd call him "Please don't drive" LOL, everytime he gets behind the wheel something always happens, nobody lets him drive them anymore because he is such a rolling disaster.
:~)
An accident waiting to happen..I'll bet he's really dangerous in snow and ice.
Old Can't-Hunt once shot a pine tree, three time with a 12 gauge. Thought it was a pheasant. Damn scary, kinda makes Dick Cheney look like ''sure shot McGoo''.
LMAO !!!
Oh the horror of it flame. Beer and no pole.
Actually BF it was Bobbi, he is a she. With the gentle hand of a long practiced fisherman, she was returned to the water, uninjured. Once again, to roam the deep and have a lot of little Bobbies.
That is one helluva fish I've been told they eat trout (please sat it ain't so).
Barbless hooks are my choice easier on the fish and human thumbs.
They do eat trout, but than again trout eat small bass Mac.
I use a lot of barbless hooks as well Mac.
Last time I fished it was aquatic life 3 - Enoch 0.
E.
Sounds like a hockey game E...
Please RW, I took him Muskie fishing one time. An adventure to be forgotten. Seeing Can't-Catch-Fish, fighting with a 50 inch muskie, was a once in a life time experience.
The fishingworld will never be the same, neither will the muskie. When last seen, the muskie was laughing, and pointing a fin at CCF, I think he said on his way back to the deep. ''That boy is an accident waiting to happen, I'll be his accident.''.
That was great that your son got to fulfill his wish. Tagging the Marlin and releasing it is the only way to go.
ROFL, banned from a fishing boat. Even CCF isn't that bad..
Oh my gosh! I laughed until I cried!
Wonderful story!
Fishing with Can't-Catch-Fish is a contact sport Dowser..