Catfish are Ugly! Growing up in Indiana – Part IV

My grandmother was an amazing woman. I have such wonderful memories of her, I tell stories about her all the time. She definitely left me with the example of what a good woman is, that I hope I have patterned my life by.

She loved to fish. We usually took her mother with us. My earliest memory of our fishing trips was as far back as three years old. She was so funny; I remember she would pack Gerber chicken and noodles in the tackle box. I guess I would get hungry while we were out. Our favorite place to fish was a secret place as is true with most fishermen. If someone came by while we were there, they would ask “how are they biting?” Grandma, would always say, “They aren’t.” even if we had a whole stringer full of bluegill.

 
My great grandmother would usually situate her little fold up chair the farthest away. While writing this I am realizing that there was probably a reason for that. I am sure it wasn’t the easiest task to undertake, entertaining a three year old on a fishing bank. Can’t say I can blame her for wanting to be as far away from the action as possible! Fishing can be tedious, and sometimes even boring. I learned to fish using a can pole, bobber, a little bit of weight and of course an eagle claw hook! I remember using red worms and bee larvae. I usually fished for blue gill I think. It is funny when thinking back; I remember saying things like, “come on little fishy, bite the worm!” Things we do as children, gosh I have even said those things as an adult! Anyway, on this particular day it was very hot, very sticky and I was bored out of my mind. I remember playing in the water, throwing rocks and probably doing everything you shouldn’t do if you really want to catch something. Grandma was baiting my hook, as I am assuming I just hadn’t mastered that one yet. She asked me to hold her pole for a few minutes while she finished my line. She was using a rod and reel. I stood there fooling around, pacing back and forth when suddenly the pole jerked. I remember it vividly because it scared me. I said “what do I do”, she just calmly said “turn the reel, reel it in!” As I turned the reel, I could feel the fish on the other end of the line, pulling and tugging to get away. I reeled enough that the fish was finally close enough to the bank for me to see it. “Oh my Gosh”! I said. It was the ugliest thing I had ever seen. I threw the pole down, ran to my great grandmother crying about it being a monster. It was just a 2lb channel catfish!

I am sure that my grandma laughed about that story for years to come. I am sure that she set me up, that the fish was already on the line. She probably did herself a favor because after that I was never bored fishing with her again. Even though to this day, catfish are not my favorite fish to catch. I can pick them up, take the hook out of their mouths and I know how to clean them if I have to.