The second year I participated in this extravagant outing, I took my boat. This was a 14 ft. coverd bow, riveted, Lone Star. Not the best boat to trotline out of because of the covered bow, but it got the job done. The motor on this boat was a 1958 mercury 45 hp. It was gas guzzling, and way too heavy for the boat, but it started everytime,(at least that year). The Captain had to pay strict attention to the stern of this boat, with the heavy motor and short transom, water coming over the back was a constant threat! Which leads me forward with this tale. Brother-in-law, was my peon this year, (he was the only one crazy enough to get in this boat). We had caught lots of fish, and it was Friday. Time to go get our fish, pick up our lines, and head home. The wind was a little gusty that morning, (blowing whitecaps, swells is more like it). But being the last day we had to go get our lines we thought! Most of the others, with boats safer than ours remained in camp. We had taken a couple of Blues and a couple of 40-50 lb. yellows off, and were taking up the lines as we ran them. We had 2 lines in and were working on the 3rd, of course untieing one end, running it, and taking it up at the same time. As long as the bow was into the wind everything was fine, but we got about half way and had a yellow on that wouldn't accomodate us by coming up long enough to net him. My head peon was putting the hooks on my stick, and trying to play him too. I was trying to net him, the back of the boat turned into the wind, and about 2 seconds after that we were swimming! I now wear, and my peons do too, a life jacket at all times. It is impossible I think to get a life jacket on by oneself, while swimming!
Well to say the least we lost our lines, and fish, but we did manage to get a nice bath,(that was very much needed) before heading back to camp. We hitched a ride to the pickup and made it back to camp pulling a empty trailer. Much ado was installed upon me and my peon. Not the praising kind though. A little later the patriarch, his head peon, and myself went in his boat and tied onto the titantic, as it became known, and pulled it upside down to shore. We turned it over and my knife, pliers, and most everything else rolled to the bottom of the boat, even some of our lines, but no fish! The only thing important that was lost, was the oar, and I could have gotten it when it floated by, but I was trying to get that dang life jacket on! Whew. That was the last year brother-in-law has been. I think his father in law (the patriarch) told his wife. I know he didn't!!! I now have a 16 ft. flat bottom, 72 inch across, aluminum , 25 hp. Yamaha, YELLOWCAT CATCHING RIG! So you can come again now.
Next Installment: Fun Most Of The Time
