Fishing Stories and Tall Tales

[OldTimer]

This is a little fishing joke my dad and I used to pull on new people coming up to our Muskoka cottage in the spring:

We had an old Bakelite 78 rpm phonograph record connected loosely with an eye bolt and washers through its centre hole - and attached to a 3 foot wire leader that had an 8 ounce egg sinker on it………and with a snap swivel on the loose end of the cable.

This rig was fairly heavy.

We’d take a person out flat line trolling on the lake with Williams Wabler spoons – so we’d get the rods out and placed in their gunwale and transom holders. Then Dad would start his “history of the lake speech” as we trolled past the many points of interest. Usually as we went past one of the larger resorts we’d get out the binoculars to let the guest have a “real good” look.

While they were distracted – I’d clip the snap of the rig on their rods line and drop the assembly in the water.

Well……….. in less than 3 seconds this would run down their line and stop suddenly when it reached the spoon and make the rod lurch and bend DOWN.

“FISH ON” I’d yell and jerk the rod outta the holder and hand it to the guest. Dad would not stop the boat but keep right trolling.

What a show!................ the rig was so heavy that the light rod and the reel’s drag could just barely handle it… plus it would dip, dive, and veer as the disc moved into different angles to the water.

I’d be yelling: Reel…Reel……Reel…HARDER…….keep yer rod up…………..Reel…….come on - reel faster……DONT STOP …..REEL!

Eventually the guest would manage to reel it all in…………… to see their “record” catch…

…………smile.

…………………………..“Shall I net it for you?”

Cheers,

OldTimer

ps……….I’ve also seen this joke pulled with a small downrigger ball by an old (late) friend - Doug Neal,.......... while downrigger fishing in his 24’ Sea Ray for Lake Trout on Lake Simcoe.