burning heart
Member
Hey Fish Catcher , I went fishing for you the other day , it was an awesome trip , God came along . My best friend , instigator , and fishing and hunting buddy couldn't stand the fact that I bought a boat . So despite already owning 7 other boats ( OCB ? ) he bought another . He said he needed it to go 'but fishing . That clearly justified it in my mind , no further explanation needed . Heck , he didn't need to explain at all . So on day 3 after buying it , we went fishing . Now this boat was used but in excellent condition , but my buddy didn't have a chance to test it , and since the 'but grounds were about 20 miles out , I thought we needed a little insurance so I prayed . I asked God to give us a good , safe trip and to let us all catch 'but , but if that wasn't His will to at least give us an adventure . There was 3 of us and we left my buddies house at 2 : 30 am and got to the launch about 4 : 30 . By 5 : 00 we were on the water . During 'but season the launches get crowded quick . We were the 3rd boat to launch . . It clouded up during the night got foggy and windy . When we left the launch it was almost to dark . Once out from the launch it was almost to rough . But hey wer'e 'but fishermen ! So off we went , hopefully in the right direction , trying our best to see deadheads . As it got lighter we could make out the shoreline and knew we were headed right . After a long rough ride we made it to the 'but grounds . The water and wind calmed down enough to fish , the fog lifted , and wonder of wonders , we were 1 of a handful of boats that made it . Crazy ? Stupid ? These plus more ? Hey were 'but fishermen , covered by Christ! .So we started fishing , and we fished and fished and fished , but no 'buts . No bites , no sharks , not even seaweed . Our baits were lasting until they rotted off . We weren't even snagging bottom ! After awhile my buddies friend , who fishes here fairly often , commented that this sure was an "unusual " day . He didn't know this was a God given adventure , but he did feel something was different . He said this the first time about 10 : 00 , and every 45 min . or so until 5 : 00 . We couldn't look out across the water without seeing a whale or porpoise . Sea birds were everywhere but where's the 'buts ? After noon the sun poked its shiny nose through the clouds , and the water calmed down enough to stop threatening us with seasickness. The 'but ground is a mtn. top rising up out of 800 ft. to 70 ft. , at about 200 ft. you hit the edge of the dropoff . About 5 : 00 we all decided it was getting late , but we would go out to the edge and drift into shallower water for one last drift . Halfway through the drift my buddies friend hooked up and landed a 25 lb. 'but and I had a hit Thank you God . Ok one more drift . Halfway through the drift my buddy hooked up and landed a 35 lb 'but . Thank you God . Now it was getting late and we wanted to be back before dark , we were pushing it , but hey were 'but fishermen , we'll take one more drift . About the same depth I hooked up and this 'but didn't want to see the sun . I'd reel in line , he'd take it back and sit on bottom and I'd have to pry him up . Then he took off running , ( a 'but with legs ?) and we had to chase him with the boat . We all thought I had a monster . After a good long battle , he started coming up , and we saw him . A nice 'but but not worthy of the fight he gave me . Then we saw the reason , he was hooked in the belly . None of us expected to land it we couldn't see how that little strip of skin survived the fight , and I was greatly relieved to get him in the boat after half a dozen attempts to gaff him failed and made him go berserk and rip off a bunch of line . Normally you don't bring a 'but this big into the boat unless its dead , they can do a lot of damage . Unfortunately my buddy forgot the harpoon ( yes , harpoon ) so we didn't have a choice . Fortunately when my 'but was gaffed he got it in the brain . I had a dead 'but . A dead 'but in the boat . It wasn't a big 'but but it was a nice 'but ' and it was my 'but . Given to me by God with an adventure . He weighed 52 lbs. ( truth , I can't lie about this one ) . When we got back to the launch , the parking lot was almost empty . The ranger said it was packed and that most fished by the launch because of the fog and rough water . 2 other boats had 1 ' but each . Weee were the only boat to limit out . Catching 1 'but is outstanding , 2 'buts incredible , 3 'buts outrageous . 3 'buts and an adventure , God given , just because I asked . Thank you God . Hey God , what ya doin ? Nothing ? I know this sweet little lake where the fish .....