AJ and the Bass

Weather this summer’s been different to say the least. Never in my limited memory has there been a year when wind blew from the Northwest for three and four days with hardly a letup. Along with it came not a blowout to good weather, but constantly changing sun to overcast, sun to overcast for an entire day. Weatherman calls for rain and overcast. Comes sun, bright and hotter than hinges of hell. Several days, and much appreciation from Big Green Canoe when opportunity mornings were “calmish” and afternoons were Southwest 5 knot chops.

AJ and I were sitting in the outdoor swing, late afternoon, around five, deep discussion of the evenings libation. Air was down and looking to be a treasured (no matter how many we’re treated to) lake evening. Sun hardly begun serious contemplation of settling to the far shore. Conversation, not too seriously or surprising for that matter, began drifting away to fishing... probably and more likely from early morning troll with a guy who’s probably caught more fish from our lake than anyone in three lifetimes. Adrenaline began to flow, so plan started shaping as AJ would take the little 4’ rod with a Rappala “alewive” lure, paddle her kayak and prospect towards far shore. I’d head out first with a deadhead jig and the fishing skiff. We’d troll around the pads and eel grass and I’d tow her back to camp...trolling of course. Then we’d finish the libation discussion.

Rigged up. AJ had line out as I pulled by and set mine. Less than ten minutes, wind had begun to move up the scale from pleasant calm to sloppy chop. Sun giving up to a grey sky. Third of the way across, I heard AJ yell, “I’m heading back. This is not fun”

I turned, yelled back, I would make a circle then head back as well. Gunned the 8 horse up a bit, kept checking to see she was okay, then made circle of a favorite “Hotspot”, catching what I would call a decent Bass. Appetizer for night’s dinner. Thought was brief of another circle, but air was getting higher. Damp was beginning to resemble minute drops of real water. Warm to cold in less than half hour. This summer’s typicality.

Twenty yards from the dock I see AJ with one of our neighbors standing in front of camp, apparently in deep discussion looking down into what appeared from that distance to be a green bucket. Closing on the dock, I hold up my fish, get little response, then notice, AJ’s holding her rod over this same green bucket. Kind of has this “smirkey” grin tinged with a dose of triumph on the side. Sliding in to tie up, I’m suspecting something, and something probably has something to do with a fish. I slide mine quietly to the floor.

Before I can hoist up on the dock (lake is the lowest in memory as well), AJ says, “We need your help getting this fish off.” By then there are two big grins, AJ’s and neighbor Ted’s. Ted immediately speaks up and says, “Sorry, I can’t unhook the fish. I mean, I can’t kill anything.”

“AJ quickly chimes in, “We saved this fish. I didn’t know if we should keep it or let it go Lee, it’s so big.” I get out of the fish boat, look into the pail, see sparse water, and a big Bass trying in vain to make a good circle. AJ’s intent on telling her story.....“When I turned around and started paddling back it was getting really rough and I didn’t want to stop and wind the lure in. I’d do that when I got back to the dock. As I went by the head of the dock I kind of felt the lure catch on something but figured it was the outhaul for the rowboat. So I set the rod on the end of the dock and went about getting the kayak secured. I turned around to grab the rod and and it was gone.”

As any smart fisherman would do she looked first over dock end and there lay the rod in about four and a half feet of water. Wading out from shore she proceeded to get a foot underneath and kind of lift kicked, catching it on the surface. Rod was moving out and away as she reached, held on, yelled for Ted, and walked rod and fish back to our sea wall while Ted ran to get a bucket.

Wasn’t one for the record books but cut out went up on our trophy wall along with measurements. 2 ¾ pounds, 18 inches. Fed both of us in fine style next night’s dinner.

• R E C I P E •

I truly enjoy a good salad. Greener stuff the better. Have never been able to understand why most Americans eat salad first when it tastes much for the better and better for digestion at the end of main course as Europeans have known for years...Try it sometime and let me know if I’m not correct.

Spinach Salad with Mustard Dressing

1 lb. washed, drained and patted dry spinach

7 T olive oil

Clove of garlic

¼ t dry mustard

3 T white balsamic vinegar or rice vinegar

Salt, pepper, and Tabasco

2 hard-boiled eggs, finely chopped

Cut spinach into bite size pieces. Sprinkle bottom (pref. wood) of bowl with salt, rub with garlic and add mustard. Add a few drops of Tabasco, the vinegar, oil and pepper. Stir with fork or whisk until well blended. Add spinach and toss until well coated. With tongs, lift into individual bowls and top with chopped egg. 4-6 servings.

Fair Winds and Good Roads
– Lee Wilbur