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 I 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 spam, dried out fry bread and commodity 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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Me and Frankenfish. Returned to the water to fight another day. A year later I caught Frankenfish's father..But that's another story.
I have fished [note I didn't say caught] and camped @ Clear lake. I love the area.
It's a really beautiful area Dulay...Some great wineries there as well.
My favorite is Beringer in Napa. Beautiful place, great wine.
There are some great wineries right around Clear Lake Dulay.
In fact that area was the ''wine capital'' long before the Napa Valley. Prohibition pretty much closed the wine industry there and when it was over it reopened in the Napa valley. Now some have moved back to the Clear Lake area
This one is great.
Although I think it's the second time I read this story, it still gave me my big first laugh of the day. Did you ever pull Chucky out of the water or did he have to hang onto the boat until you docked.
I took it to the dock with Can't Catch Fish still handing on to the side of the boat, Buzz...LOL
My second laugh of the morning.
I never tire of reading your stories, Kavika. LOL!
Thanks RW.
I read this before … and, should you post it again …
… I will read it again.
Thanks Mac.
enjoyed the story
Thanks Charger.
Great story! I think I know Can't Catch Fish personally.
He's easy to recognize. He's the one with a lure hanging from his ear.