By: Jesse Ewing
It promised to be a great day! The weather man was calling for 60 degrees, sunny, light wind, and I was hoping the bass would be ready to play.
5:00am: Got the boat loaded up and out the door I went. After stopping at 7-11 to get some drinks, snacks, and gas I was on my way to the lake.
5:45am: While driving on the interstate I hit an unseen pothole that somehow broke the fender on my trailer causing it to destroy a brand new trailer tire sending sparks, smoke, and burning rubber all over the place! After pulling over to the shoulder and assessing the situation I got out my jack, spare, tire iron and sawzall... yes I said sawzall! The trailer fender had broken loose from its mount and was hindering the tire from moving so it had to be cut off.
6:20am: A successful yet unconventional tire change had been completed despite being pelted by rocks and debris from semi-trucks and other rude cars speeding by only a few feet away from me. I am now racing to get to the boat ramp before the 6:30 tournament launch time. Stressed out and angry for how my morning had started off I finally make it to the ramp just in time to catch the last boat before they left.
6:45am: Boat is in the water and its time to start fishing! Its a beautiful day on the water and I am slowly shaking off my bad attitude and focusing on the job at hand... catching some bass! I tried a few good looking spots with nothing to show for and decided to head to a spot that has produced in the past. Luckily no one else was fishing there when I pulled up. Immediately I go to work with my jerk bait. A few twitches and pause... A few twitches and a pause... I felt a slight change in the line and BAM, hooked up to a nice fish! Reeling in the line I was hoping for a good hook set and praying it was a bass. With a big splash I got a glimpse of what I had on my line. To my disappointment it was an "inferior species" , a 24.5" citation chain pickerel. Not gonna win any money catching those but it helped boost my spirit and encouraged me that today was gonna be a good day.
3:00pm: After 8 hours of solid fishing non stop and not even one bite after the pickerel that morning I decided to go home early and just call it a day. Several other boats had already left and after talking to the head of the tournament I discovered that it was not just me. He informed me that he only knew of two other boats that had one fish each! So I paid my entry fee, loaded the boat on the trailer, and headed home to lick my wounds.
So my bad day is over right? WRONG! its now 11:00pm and after "licking my wounds" from the day its time for bed. I had been organizing my tackle and left a fishing lure hanging on my tackle cabinet. After a few well deserved adult beverages I headed to the bedroom. I guess I wasn't walking completely strait and must have stumbled a bit because the next thing I know I ran into the cabinet with the hanging fishing lure and instantly knew my day had just gotten so much better! I was hooked thru my shirt and into my arm with a treble hook deep past the barb. I called for my wife who had already gone to bed and told her to get the camera because I wanted pictures of this. After clipping the hook with a pair of dikes I was able to remove my shirt. I tried pulling the remaining piece of hook out of my arm with pliers but the barb was not letting go. I also tried to push the hook thru my skin but that wasn't happening either. My wife was insisting that we go to the hospital but I refused. I took one of my deer skinning knifes and began to perform my own surgery. It was a difficult process because I am right handed, but eventually using my left hand I was able to cut out the barb. What a great way to end what had promised to be such a great day.
