Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Reminisicing


As I get older I find myself reminiscing more about my childhood growing up in Choctaw County in Mississippi. My fondest memories were fishing the two streams that flowed through our property near our house. One of the streams was near our pond that we fished and swim in. My younger brother and I would walk the banks of the streams in the summer and spring looking for pocket holes that held sun perch and yellow catfish. The catfish could put a bend in our hand-made 9 and 10 ft. cane poles. We didn't realize it at the time but we were tight-lining without a cork. We seldom used a cork because the spots we were trying to fish were well hidden with brush and limbs. We would shorten our line on the cane poles at times to gently stick the end of the pole right above the surface of the hole and wait for a tug on the redworm we use as bait. We would always land our best fish using this method. Redworms were our go-to bait when fishing the creeks. Little did know at the time that the tight line method we use as young boys would be used by me to fish for trout one day. True the cane pole method wasn't as refined as the fly rod, but still is was successful. 

We would watch my Dad land bluegill and bass with the fly rod and be amazed at how far he could cast a popper. Dad used an 8 1/2 ft. Southbend fly rod paired with a Daiwa fly reel. My brother and I got to use Dad's fly rod only when he had time to give us pointers on how to cast. We found out that our cane pole could be used as a fly rod and much easier to cast. We used a monoline as long as the cane pole. We use green grasshoppers as our fly casting it as far as we could fishing the small creek that flowed into our pond. We would land small rock bass hiding near the undercut banks of the little stream. As quickly as the grasshopper vanished we would jerk the pole upward and the little fish would fly over our heads. It was always a contest to see who landed the largest little fish. We didn't realize it then but we were using a scale-down Tenkara rod. I am so glad that my brothers and I were raised to enjoy the outdoors in the form of fishing, hiking, and hunting----memories I will never forget!

As the winter months close in it gives me time to look back on this past year and wonder how I will approach the coming season. Where will I be casting my flies and poppers this next season? I hope I get to fish the Sipsey more this coming season!!!!------------Here's wishing you all a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year!

12 comments:

  1. Enjoyed your trip down Memory Lane, Bill, with its adjacent waterways enticing kids & elders with their "early Tenkara" outfits. Such memories will certainly keep you feeling spirited through the quiet season waiting for the new year outings on the lakes & rivers. Thanks for sharing these, and all the best for your holiday season!

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  2. I used to watch the colored folk (probably not politically correct)fish the canals with cane poles. They would mainly target Mullet. About a foot above the bottom of the line was a hook that they baited with bread dough. On the end of the line, a treble hook. The Mullet would nibble at the bread dough (they never bit the hook)they would yank up on the line, and the Mullet would be caught with the treble hook. Quite ingenious.

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  3. Nice read, Bill. Funny how we come full circle with the same techniques, but are prone to feeling far smarter and more skilful only by dint of using a fly rod! Happy Christmas and all the best for 2022.

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  4. Justin
    For two little kids who lived in the country, being innovative was a necessity, hence the cane poles work well as our fly rods. Thanks for the comment

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  5. Mark
    Yes, I can relate to what you are saying, and not a fish was wasted, not even the small ones. Thanks for the comment

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  6. Walt
    I could compose a book about growing up in the rural south as a small boy and even into my teenage years. In fact, some of my brother's and my adventures are covered in my blog book. We didn't realize it at the time but it was some of the best years of our lives. Thanks for the comment

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  7. If there's ever a time for reminiscing, I'd guess it's about now, when I'm putting the hunting and fishing gear away for winter and I come across those items handed down from my grandfather and Dad. Add Christmas season to it all and I can spend a lot of time just pondering. Merry Christmas!

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  8. AlR
    Christmas has a way of bringing back lots of memories of years past. The only downer for me during Christmas is how fast it comes around each year. Hope you guys have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

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  9. Bill sorry for the late response...but your points made here are well taken. Call backs to the good old days are so important.

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  10. Alan
    Wouldn't be fantastic if we could go back for just a little while and experience those days again----wishful thinking ----thanks for the comment

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  11. Hi buddy! I left you a return comment on my blog. Hope you have a great 2022!

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  12. Emily
    Thought you might be sick, good to know you are ok---thanks for the comment

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