For you to really appreciate this story let me give you a little background. First, the wife: my bride was the daughter of Howard Ford, a man known for his outdoor abilities. Mr. Howard and his fishing buddy Frank Freeman could catch fish any day of the year, rain, sleet, snow or heat wave. They didn’t have to wait until they were biting, these guys could find them and make them bite. And pick up some ginseng to sell and mushrooms to eat with the fish in transit. For some foolish reason I just assumed his own daughter, his flesh and blood, would have a modicum of angling prowess. Second, the guide: Donald Bush can usually fill a cooler with blue gill and red ears with the best of them. He pretty much knows where they are, what they’re eating and where they’re going next. His wife Pam is the boat’s chef and safety officer. Doing the fishing that day was to be Sierra and Donald Bush lll. The Stagner’s main job for the day was to eat the delicacies proffered while drinking ice cold Cokes while watching the fish come in at the back of the much larger than average pontoon boat and catching some rays. The soaring fuel cost is keeping the aquatic hot rods in the garages so the water was as calm as my backyard deck. A more peaceful day on the water one can’t imagine. Until Miss Robin jumped up and yelled “I wanna fish”.
For the rest of this column, read this week's Cadiz Record.