Personal Essay (Final)

Greg DeSilva
9-21-09
Pappas
Personal Essay

The cold morning air gives me goose bumps as the fishing pole held in my right hand is whipped back by the wind. As the boat shoots up the lake I can’t wait to come to a stop as the already cold air becomes much colder as the wind hits me. The lake is calm with the reflection of the boat and trees, it looks like glass and is a fisherman’s favorite because the fish come out of hiding. Colton has been my friend since about the 3rd grade and 10 years later sits on the bow in front of me facing the back of the boat. I look to my right to see Colton’s fathers squinting from the wind and I hand him my sunglasses without asking, knowing he would take them. Since Colton’s two uncles had decided to sleep in, it was our first time gong in the morning at about 5:30.
Eager to use our brand new poles Colton and I were quick to cast as soon as the boat came to a coast. Bang. “Fish on” said Colton as he reeled in the first fish of the day.
“Uh oh now it’s on” I said as the score was now 6 to 5 bass each for the week. With the next cast I could feel my lure drag through the weeds as I slowly yank it through. Then comes the short taps, tap tap tap, I yank the pole and feel the fish fight back. Instinctively I yell “Fish on” and reel in my first fish of the day. The bass was a bastard; he struggled when I tried to grab his jaw. I finally got a hold of him just to find that my gitzit was lodged deep in his throat and it was not coming out. I cut the line and put him back in the water before he suffocated. I find it amazing how the hook in its mouth will simply rot out in a couple days and the fish will be fine. As I reach into the tackle box I notice there are no more green gizits and decide to try my luck with a silver one. “7 to 5” I say to remind my buddy of the competition. “I know” he says with the little smirk afterwards, I chuckle and take another cast.
“Want to head to horseshoe” says Colton’s father, we both agree on account of its shallow waters and weeds in the water where the fish love to hide. I strap down the back seat I was sitting on and hop in the front to tie down my pole. As we take off the 11 mile lake is stunning with its big lakesides houses and small islands. From the name horseshoe I was pretty sure that the land shape was that of a horseshoe and sure enough I was right. In the first hour at horseshoe Colton caught 3 more fish and his father caught 4. After catching so many fish it was time to move to another spot. I knew it was just a matter of time before I got another fish because I was well overdue.
“7 to 8” Colton’s says, and I laugh “yes it is”. We soon came to a coast near the booey with a diamond on it which anyone with a boating license knows means rock. Colton’s father soon pulls out the trolling motor to navigate through the rocks. It’s very easy to get your lure caught on rocks and it happened to me many times as it was a root of many jokes when we got back to camp. “Rock on!” I would yell when I noticed I was caught. Even though it was hard to get around the rocks, you can only imagine how many fish are seeking shelter under the shade of the big boulders. “Rock on” I yelled and laughed, but wait was it a rock. “Never mind fish on!” I yelled as I reeled in my second fish of the day. It only took one more hour for Colton and his father to catch 3 more fish, bringing our total of fish to 12. As it got close to lunchtime and our stomachs growled it was a time to go in. So we tied down the poles and pulled the trolling motor.
Now that the sun was out the breeze felt great on my sunburned back and shoulders as the boat took us 50 mph down the lake. Within a few minutes we were back to find Colton’s family eating. It didn’t take long for Colton’s uncle to ask how many fish we got. “12” Colton said with a big smile on the three of our faces. “I rather take the two boys every time” Colton’s father jokes on account of he was not as lucky fishing with his two brother in-laws. Colton’s uncles and father rush out to the boat in hope that they will be just as lucky. Colton and I scarf down the delicious pasta and burgers and retreat back to our cabin to change and watch some Television. After some TV and catch with the football we join his aunts and cousins in some board games. Soon enough it the sun started to go down and dinner was ready. We start eating and sure enough the men come back and are eager to brag that they also caught 12 fish. Colton’s father, the happiest I’ve seen him during the trip, told us to hurry up as he demolished his food and wanted to go fish for a couple hours before the millions of mosquitoes filled the lake. With the fish count at 24 for the day, we set the goal at 30 and hoped to get 6 more at least. We all caught one more apiece simultaneously within the first half hour and were convinced we would get 3 more to make 30. The score was now 9 to 9 for me and Colton. Colton’s father soon pointed out these little bugs that look like helicopters that eat the mosquitoes. After we noticed these bugs then the tons of mosquitoes made their appearance. We rushed to get back to camp. Shower was the first thing on all of our minds and we yelled 3 as we ran to the showers. The count for the day was 27 and it was most definitely the best day of the week.
Looking back on this vacation that day was most definitley the best day and most remembered. It’s funny how a beautiful day on a lake can be made better buy catching one fish. I still don’t understand how some people don’t take a liking to fishing because regaurdless of the fish you catch its is so very relaxing. I guess I appreciate fishing a lot more now because, I rarley ever got to go because my dad was not a fan by any means. As I think about the future one thing is for sure, fishing will definetly be on the vacation list.