| With the fourth of July weekend freshly | | | | boat, now turned ski boat, gained more power |
| behind us, I am reminded of one of the darker | | | | and speed.Oh what a time it was, the time of |
| moments in a long and illustrious series of | | | | our youth--resplendid youth.Alas, the joy was |
| dark fishing moments....Once upon a time, | | | | broken suddenly--when young foolish A.J., |
| there was this young energetic outdoors type | | | | queried as to the whereabouts of the days |
| fella, who burned the recreational envelope | | | | catch.Were they stored safely in the captains |
| to the bitter end. It was not uncommon for | | | | cool locker? |
| this naive- yet spunky- young man to | | | | |
| participate in multiple outdoor activities on | | | | Had they been stowed away in a water filled |
| any given day.Fishing in the morning would | | | | live well?Puzzled looks and questioning |
| yield itself to mountain biking, or hiking, | | | | glares hung over the lads like an Irish fog, |
| or berry picking and then followed by the | | | | it was clear that the bouyant mood had been |
| evening fishing du jour. A little grub, a | | | | broken. Accusations flew, and |
| little quenching of the thirst, perhaps a | | | | responsibilities were shirked. Swords were |
| spirited game of cribbage, a short nap and | | | | ready to be drawn.... had there been any |
| soon it was time again to repeat the previous | | | | swords.AND, a good thing there were no |
| days repetoire.Those days are all but a | | | | swords, for after inspecting the stringer, |
| memory now, and yet somehow- like fine wine- | | | | the very same stringer which had once held |
| the memories ferment and settle, leaving a | | | | the hopes and prayers of a hungry fish camp |
| wonderful vintage of pleasant happenings. | | | | of merry men and women- it was found that the |
| However, as afore mentioned, there are some | | | | stringer was now void of fish!!Nothing but a |
| rather embarrassing and somewhat painful | | | | few gill plates remained.Much remorse was |
| times when in his zeal and zest for the | | | | felt amongst the lads, and a futile but |
| outdoor experience, good judgement was cast | | | | heartfelt retracing of the boats whereabouts |
| aside or completely forgotten.One such | | | | was undertaken. To no avail.The fine and |
| instance came upon a nice summer's day--twas | | | | handsome trout had either sunk to the depths |
| the fourth day of the grand month of July--as | | | | of the unforgiving waters of the reservoir, |
| I recall, when all sense and wits left his | | | | had wound up prey to the many a swift fish |
| self. | | | | hawk that hunted these waters, or were back |
| | | | swimming happily beneath the surface...sans a |
| A.J.--as we will call our lad-- was invited | | | | full gill plate.A dour feeling hung over the |
| to a morning's fish on a large and water | | | | crew, and great shame stood in the place |
| filled reservoir in the region of Southern | | | | where pride once brimmed so brightly. Candor, |
| Oregon. The ships steward and captain had | | | | and speculation ensued.Had the fish kept up |
| mentioned that it would be nice to cast about | | | | for a while, hanging on with every bit of |
| for trout in the morn and then take to the | | | | there very facial fiber as they slapped |
| waters of the reservoir for a "skimming upon | | | | across the surface, like little water skiers |
| the surface with wooden planks", of which | | | | themselves?Did they vanish and scatter to the |
| most refer to- as water skiing.After a | | | | wind upon the first thrust of the boats great |
| bountiful morning of much catch and | | | | motor?It matters not. For they were gone, |
| frolic,the three jolly pranksters cajoled | | | | GONE, GONE!!Should there be a need for a |
| loudly about the fine and handsome trout | | | | moral to this tragic and wasteful tale, let |
| which hung from yon stringer. Many a citizen | | | | it be known: that if you plan to water ski |
| would bow humbly before them and think of | | | | and fish on the same day, in the same boat |
| them certainly as masters of ther | | | | --be sure to place your fish IN the boat |
| craft.Fishermen indeed!!Now, after a few | | | | before transitioning to your next |
| celebratory quaffs of spirit, the lads were | | | | recreational pursuit.Maybe just maybe if you |
| anxious to take to the ever inviting waters | | | | heed these words, you can avoid the pitfalls |
| of the reservoir, "To the skis, men" harkened | | | | of youth like these lads were so unmercifully |
| the ships captain.Soon, wooden planks were | | | | forced to endure.A tragic tale indeed...A.J. |
| tossed to the sea, and one at a time the lads | | | | Klott |
| took to the water. | | | | |
| | | | Author, writer of fishing humor,and "fly |
| Skimming and jumping and showing the | | | | tack" peddler.A.J. writes about the |
| versatiles of youth--the lads frolicked | | | | people,characters and modern day events that |
| immensely. | | | | surround the fishing world. His first book is |
| | | | due out in December of 2005. |
| Thumbs were thrust skyward as the fishing | | | | |