Gone Fishing

Benny, Jim and Allen went fishing often. Benny, a construction foreman, provided the boat. Jim, who ran a bait shop, provided the bait and tackle. And Allen used his pickup to tow the boat to Lake Wahoonee. They were a merry group, having known one another for years.

After fueling the pickup and the five-gallon tank for the boat motor, they set off up the road.

Benny addressed the group. “What are we fishing for this time?”

“Dunno,” Jim said from the passenger seat. “We might get into a few cold-water types since we’re early in the season. Steelheads, maybe. Or trout. If we go out far enough even some Atlantic salmon.”

“I’d like to hook one of those. I hear they put up a heck of a fight.”

Jim nodded. “They do."

Allen, silent until now, voiced his opinion. “The way we fish, we’ll luck into a bunch of suckers or carp. Fish and game say they’re on the rise and could take over most lakes around here.”

“Damn,” said Benny. “You can’t eat them. Too many bones.”

“Taste funny, too,” added Jim.

“Yeah.”

They motored along in silence until the turnoff for the lake appeared. Allen wheeled right and slipped the truck into four-wheel drive for the muddy road ahead.

When they arrived at the small clearing at the edge of the lake, they got out and surveyed both sides of the pickup.

Benny chuckled. “Got some mud on her, didn’t you?”

Allen grinned. “Wouldn’t be a good trip without some mud, eh?”

While Benny and Allen untied the boat from the trailer, Jim pulled their provisions from the bed of the truck. Soon, a few sturdy cardboard boxes sat to one side. Allen jumped back into the driver’s seat and expertly backed the boat trailer down the bricked launching ramp until the boat floated off. Benny used the painter to tow it parallel to the rickety dock.

Allen parked the truck and the three loaded provisions, tackle, and two perforated bait cans into the boat.

Jim raised his eyebrows at his friends. “We forget anything?”

“Where’s the beer?” said Allen.

Benny snickered. “Leave it to you to ask about that.”

Allen spread his hands to the side. “Asking for a friend.”

“Oh.”

Donning their fishing vests, they set off into the lake.

They putted around, looking at several likely spots until they came to a small cove. Benny pointed the bow toward it and when they reached relatively calm water, he killed the engine. “Looks like a good spot, huh?”

Allen and Jim shrugged.

After taking a few minutes to prepare their rods, they began fishing.

As he was rebaiting his hook, Jim peered over the side. “Hey. What are those fish?”

The other two looked.

Allen looked, then pronounced, “I think they’re Bullheads.”

Benny shook his head. “Look like carp to me. They’re more of a surface fish then Bullheads.”

“Sure are a lot of them. Why are they hanging around?”

“Looking for a handout, I expect. Toss them a little bait.”

“Nah, don’t want to waste it. We need it for the big one.”

Benny laughed. “Big one what?”

“The big fish. Like the one I caught last year. Remember it, Jim?”

Jim rubbed his jaw. “Naw, I don’t.”

“Hang on. I got a picture of it.” Allen bent over, pulled his billfold from his back pocket, and opened it. In the process of doing that, the boat rocked a little.

Caught unawares, Benny, who had begun standing to get a better look at the photo, lurched to one side. This time, the boat rocked far enough to make all hands hold onto the gunwale. When Allen did, his billfold flew through the air and landed with a light splash in the water.

“Dammit! Look what you make me do,” he stormed.

They spun in the direction of the widening circles and began searching for the billfold.

Allen pointed. “There it is! About two feet down.”

Jim grunted. “What are those fish up to?”

As they watched, several fish nosed against the billfold, pushing it from one to another.

“Damndest thing I ever saw,” Allen said.

Benny laughed. “Not for me. I’ve seen this before.”

Jim stared and Allen said, “You’ve seen this before? I doubt that.”

“Sure. Haven’t you ever heard of carp-to-carp walleting?”

Benny narrowly avoided being thrown overboard.