I first went fishing about 10 years ago with family in Houston. We fished from the boat dock, which I have since learned may be illegal. On that venture we caught a bunch of crappie. I had family bait the hook, take the fish from the hook and clean the fish. That's hardly learning how to fish! When I set the goal of learning how to fish it included baiting my own hook, taking the fish from the hook and cleaning the fish.
My first fishing trip this summer took me to Granger Lake, operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. This is the area where my Great Aunt Rosie was born. Several years ago she took me to the site where she was born. On this trip I learned how to bait my own hook. We were using minnows. On more than one occasion I had a dragon fly land on the end of my line and linger. I hear this is supposed to be a sign of good luck, so I was hoping to bring in a load of fish. We caught nothing! I think we had a few fish bite, but nothing large enough to keep. I was intrigued watching the schools of fish in the shallow waters.
My second fishing trip took me to the LCRA Park, Lake Bastrop Southshore. On this trip we used worms for bait. I couldn't do it! I couldn't slide the slippery worms on and around the hook. They were flourescent green and bled floursecnt green. That made it more difficult because it was not natural slim! Yet, I am the one in the family video carrying around worms doing a dance at the age of 3 in the back yard. It rained most of the fishing trip. One morning I was awoken by the sound of a tree falling. It was as if the tree was falling in slow motion. I was waiting for the tree to fall on me in the tent or the sound of it crashing in to my car. The tree was about 1 foot in diameter and at least 10 feet long, but it did not crash into me or the car. On this trip we caught nothing, but there were dragon flies on the end of the pole.
I recently visited family just north of Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana. There is a State Park we enjoy visiting on the north shore and I thought it would be fun to fish with my 3 year old nephew. I was told a weekend fishing license for a nonresident was $40, which was out of my budget. That's more than an annual license in Texas. My brother said my nephew likes to fish in his kiddie pool with a nut tied on the end of the line. Unfortunately, time ran out before my nephew and I got to go fishing. Maybe next time!
My last fishing adventure took me to Lake Walter E Long operated by the City of Austin. The nearby bait shop was closed. The nearest meat market that sells pigs feet and beef tongue does not sell chicken gizzards or chicken heart, so off to the nearest grocery store for chicken hearts. We fished from the shore for catfish. The lake has a great deal of hydralla and there was a limited area not affected. It has been a struggle for me to cast my hook. I often bash the bait on the shore a few times before I get the bait far enough out in the water. I have gotten the nickname of Bait Basher. It was a gorgeous morning. Temperatures were cool and there was a breeze off of the water. We fished about 6 hours and caught nothing! Right out of the bat I had a fish that took my bait and hook, but that was the closest we got to having anything bite the bait.
I have a trip planned later this week on the San Marcos River with a former co-worker who doubles as a fish guide. I'm looking forward to more adventures.
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