Springtime Reprieve

My last fun day at work was April 11, 2008. That was the day we got a springtime reprieve from computers and cubicles and got to see the good our work does for the world. We were sent to our fish hatchery for a day outdoors. We were given classes on some activities our department advocates to the public: Shotgun shooting, archery, and fishing.

We started in the early afternoon with grilled hot dogs, then we were loaded in the vans to our outdoor adventures. The first stop was the shooting and archery range. I did fairly well at these. Surprisingly, I handled the gun better than the bow, and it was great to learn new things. My claim to fame came when we started the final portion of the day: Fishing.
They gathered us around the pond where they raised the catfish for stocking the lakes and rivers in the state. “Everybody should catch at least one fish,” the leader said, holding up a Polaroid camera, “and we’ll take a picture to prove it!” The condition was that this was catch and release, so there would be no fish dinners that night.

Crossing to the far end of the pond, I cast my line and waited. Glancing around at the others reeling in their catches, I decided that today probably wasn’t going to be my lucky day when something tugged my line – hard. I stumbled and almost added swimming to my outdoor activities.

“Don’t just stand there, reel it in!” I heard the leader shout. I grabbed the pole with both hands, cranking the line as hard as I could. This one was a fighter. It nearly pulled me in several times. After witnessing my struggle, one of the instructors took pity and helped me reel in my catch. It flopped out of our hands as soon as we got it out of the water.

“Good Lord, that’s one of the biggest fish we have in this pond. No wonder you had a time reeling her in. Hold her with these and we’ll take your picture!” The leader said hooking it in the mouth with a pair of needle nosed pliers.

I had to grab it with both hands. It was a catfish of course; at least a foot long and not happy about being held by a tool. I gripped it with both hands and a silly grin while they took my picture and dropped it in the pond the minute the picture shot out of the camera. Studying my line, I understood why the fish fought so hard. The worm was still on the hook. Somehow, it got caught on my hook without even getting the prize!

“What a shame! It didn’t even get the worm.” I said.

“You have time to cast again if you want,” the leader said. After hooking on a fresh worm, I cast again.

I didn’t expect to catch anything else after that major success, so I decided to enjoy the spring sun. I was studying a dragonfly when my line jerked again.

“Oh no!” I said, grabbing the pole. This was a thing unheard of. I usually didn’t catch anything and now I caught two fish in one day! It was as big as the first. I reeled that one in with some help, but the hook went in at an odd angle so we cut it loose without a picture.

That night I proudly scanned my picture of the big catch and E-mailed it to my family. I got a number of responses over my luck at a day out of the office, but my father’s was the best:

Sherri – I’m glad you sent the picture. I never would have believed it was that big!

It might have been cheating to fish at a stocked pond, but I don’t care. A catch is a catch and I’m proud of my big fish. I have the picture to prove it!