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KIDS & FRIENDS MAKE ONE
APPRECIATE LIFE.
By: Ron Wilson
June 19, 2006.... Its been a busy couple
weeks. It all started with the Modesto Ambassadors Take A Special Person
fishing event at Kelsey Bass Ranch. Bass Pro Norval Pimentel and I were
there with our boats to take part in this fun event. The kids had a ball
catching fish and then getting trophies at the end of the day. This
event helps one appreciate what they have in this world and how very
special these kids are.
That evening we headed over to the
Nor-Cal Bass night team event held at Lake Don Pedro. Norval and I
started the event in Mexican Gulch using top water baits with no luck. I
switched to a dart head and Norval a jerk bait and we put a couple small
fish in the boat.
Dark fell and I switched to a 10 inch
worm, Norval rounded a point as I dragged the swimming worm in 20 feet
of water when a bass picked it up. I gave the fish time to get the bait
in its mouth and then set the hook. The rod tip just stayed there as the
rest of the rod bowed double and then the fish shook its head a couple
times and spit the bait. I reeled in and the hook was not even threw the
worm! Evidently the fish had the bait in its jaw and was holding down
tight when I set the hook.
A little later it was Norval's turn to
lose a good fish. His Rod bent double and in the shadows we could see a
fish leap out of the water and throw the ruby red Brushhog Norval was
using. We struggled the rest of the night as we fished around the dam
and then early in the morning we moved to an island where we caught lots
of bass but nothing that would put us in the money.
After weigh-in in was time to head for a
well deserved breakfast then home to the couch to catch up on some
ZZZZZ's!
Last Saturday was a fund raiser for Dan Perkins who died last year in a
tragic accident on his way home from work. I was disappointed with the
number of boats that showed up to fish the event but was elated in the
knowledge that those that showed up really cared! 26 teams and a raffle
held after the event produced nearly $5,000 that was given to Dan's
widow Leanne. Dan touched many people's hearts in his lifetime. Many of
those came out to celebrate what he meant to them
Norval and I headed for a rock pile on a main lake island. When we got
to it a houseboat was sitting right on top of it. We started at a point
on the island and worked our way south. Soon we had a limit of fish in
the boat on Keeper 1050 6" inch worms. Its a crawdad imitation that the
spotted bass love. Spot Remover is the name some of the bass fishermen
have given the worm.
We had an 8-pound limit and went looking
for bigger fish up near Coyote Creek but we had no luck there. We fished
around Bear Creek with no improvement either. But Norval put a good
catfish in the boat! It would of made dinner but neither of us felt like
cleaning the darn thing.
At noon his trolling motor up and quit.
Then about 15 minutes later it started again for a little bit and then
quit again. This went on until weigh-in time. I couldn't help but kid
Norval about it being a union trolling motor taking a break every so
often. At weigh-in it quit again and Norval was lead to the dock holding
onto a fellow fishermen's motor.
I weighed the fish in and got in the boat
and the trolling motor started again. I told Norval See I told you it
was a union trolling motor here its quitting time and it wants to go
home! A good meal and raffle and then time to head home. I understand it
was a faulty chip in the motor that was made in Mexico.
On the way home I stopped by the local
fishing club and almost saw a truck get crushed by a 200 year old oak
tree. Awesome sight seeing it fall. Could of got a couple hundred pounds
of honey out of it but they were upset and I didn't want to get stung.
And finally last Sunday George Azevedo
held a kids event at Kelsey Bass Ranch. I think almost every Azevedo in
the country was there, along with quite a few fellow bass fishermen I
knew.
I drew a 6 year old young gal who wasn't
sure if she wanted to fish or not. I put on a watermelon-bubblegum senko
and she soon had her first fish in the boat, about a 1-pounder. Her next
fish was in the 3-pound class. She was dragging a senko in deep water 15
feet behind the boat and I got to see the fish jump and told her it was
a big one. She fought the fish to the side of the boat and then it came
up and jumped in her face. It scared her so bad she almost ran out the
other side of the boat before I grabbed her! I got her composed and as
she reeled the fish in again I was still laughing so hard that it hurt.
The fish jumped again at he boat and threw the hook. All she said was
that she was glad that mean fish got free! She soon had her second fish
in the boat and then had to make a potty call.
I tied up the boat on the floating dock
and she informed me that she would be right back as she wanted to catch
another bass or two.
Back in the boat and we were off again.
She had a ball catching 20 more fish. She was having fun and telling
anyone around that she would show them how to catch them if they wanted
her to. There is nothing like taking an inexperienced kid fishing for a
day of fun. You just never know what will happen and just how much fun
you may end up having! |
