BIRTHDAY FISHING FUN

I celebrated my 47th birthday last Friday.  Normally, I'm in a duck blind or enjoying the day in some sort of outdoor setting.  I've had some wonderful and memorable outings on this day over the years and I'm always looking to make more. 

It had been a mild week and fishing had been good so my daughter, Ashley, who was home from her first year at college said she'd TAKE ME fishing for my birthday.  I've missed her over the last few months and remind her of that with a text every time I hear Trace Adkin's song "She Thinks We're Just Fishing."

"Oh, are we going to take YOUR boat?" I joked.

After three days of beautiful, mostly windless weather Friday's start was different.  The forecast called for big winds which don't bode well for holding a jig steady in a brush pile waiting on a crappie bite.  Plus, it was going to be cold with the wind chill.  I pushed back our departure time to about noon hoping the weatherman was correct and the wind would subside towards sunset. 

Ashley, a buddy and I arrived at the ramp and the wind was blowing 21 gusting to 32 mph.  Ouch.  Not many places to go to avoid it so we stayed in the cove for a while and tried our luck somewhat out of the wind.  Nothing.  An hour or so later the wind calmed down a little and we headed out to the main lake where the action had been good.  But my boat was still bouncing 2-3 feet with each wave making it difficult to stay on a spot.  Ashley caught the first crappie but her feat has an asterisk as she thought she had a stick.  The wind died a little more and I was able to control the boat.  But the fish weren't there this day and we only had a handful to show for our efforts. 

I struck out for greener pastures a little after 4 p.m. and found another likely looking spot.  It wasn't long and I quickly realized I wished we'd abandoned the original game plan much sooner.  The action was steady and all three of us were catching fish, mostly crappie but an occasional white bass or two.  A blue and chartreuse plastic tube on a 1/8-ounce jig head was producing well for me and Ashley and my buddy was catching them on black and pink.  I commented aloud how nice the weather was now and said it was "balmy."

"Seriously, Dad?" Ashley quipped just a little frosty after several hours despite being bundled up like a camouflaged Michelin Man. 

But she never whimpered and we fished until dark.  In an hour's time we'd caught about 40 crappie.  Our biggest fish were 12 1/2 to 13 inches and most were just nice fish that make perfect fillets.  They'd look remarkable sizzling in hot grease.  It was truly a beautiful ending to a very fine day.      

As I waited for my buddy to back my truck and trailer down the ramp Ashley and I chatted in the boat.

"Did you have a good birthday, Dad?" she asked.

"One of the best!" I said.  "Thanks for taking me!"