CHAPTER NINE
After cleaning up the camp they head for the lake with their gear and load it into the canoe. The sky is beginning to show a little hint of color, and it is not so dark anymore. The lake is so calm, the surface looks like glass. They get in and start to paddle across, making small ripples in the water, as they go.
"Joe," Bill says softly, "look! Over there.." He points to a spot along the shore. "Do you see them?" he asks.
Joe looks to where Bill is pointing, not sure what he's looking for. But then a slight movement catches his eye. A doe, with two fawns are drinking from the waters edge. Joe watches, fascinated, he's never been this close to deer before. He's moved by the sight. Suddenly the doe raises her head as if she is listening for something. Then she turns to leave, her fawns following close behind. He could see their white turned up tails bouncing through the brush.
"Wow!" says Joe, turning in his seat to see Bill, who just grins to see his friends reaction. "They were beautiful! Why do you think they left?"
"Probably heard or saw us, I imagine. Took her babes back to safety. They spook kind of easy, but I'm glad you got to see them."
"Yeah, me too."
They continue to paddle towards the other shore where Bill suggested they find a spot to fish. Joe can't figure out why one spot looks better than any other, they all look the same to him. But Bill seems to know, and he's the expert here. The water is so still they don't even need to anchor. Joe carefully turns around to face Bill, watching as he hooks up the lures and hands him a rod.
He looks over the lure on his. No red and purple today, but a short stubby one that is white with red stripes. Bill has the same type, but his is green with yellow spots.
"What we fishing for today, Bill?"
"Bass, Joe. They're fun, give you a fight if you get a big one. We're going to cast into shore this time, that's where they are in the morning, feeding in shallow water."
Just as Joe casts and releases the line, Bill warns him,
"Don't get too close to that tree hanging over…." Too late, Joe has managed to cast it directly into the branches of the overhanging oak.
"the water." Bill just shakes his head. Joe, meanwhile is trying to reel in the line and get his lure free of the branches. Without much luck. He looks at Bill and says,
"Hey, I caught a tree!" he jokes.
"You catch it, you clean it. Hang on, I'll get us closer, and we'll get you unhooked."
Bill guides the canoe closer to the tree and manages to untangle Joe's line for him.
Back out on the lake they start in again, casting and reeling, casting again.
"Sorry about the tree before," says Joe, being more careful now.
"It happens to all beginners, not just you." Bill is looking toward Joe as he casts out again. This time he thinks he's got a bite, he feels the tug on his line as he reels it in.
"Mine was bigger," says Joe, trying not to laugh.
"Your what was bigger?"
"My tree. Does that mean I win this round?" He is losing the battle not to laugh. Bill had landed his lure right in the middle of the branches of another tree.
Bill shakes his head and grins sheepishly at Joe.
"Guess it happens to anybody." he says, while Joe laughs at him.
They paddle over to the trees once again, and untangle Bill's line.
Back out on the lake they continue to fish. Joe lays the rod down a minute while he lights up a cigarette. He looks around hoping to catch another glance of the deer, but nothing seems to be there. Around the other side of the canoe he hears some quacking and turns to look. There in the water is a mama duck and 5 little ducklings following her.
"Hey, Bill, look! Lunch! Want to glaze one?" Bill just shakes his head, he'll never hear the end of that fiasco.
Suddenly Joe's rod is nearly pulled into the water. He makes a grab for it while trying to hold onto his cigarette at the same time.
"Drop the cigarette, Joe! You got a bite! Quick, set the hook!"
He is looking around trying to figure where to drop the cigarette that is Bill 'approved' and wonders how you 'set' the hook. He drops it to the floor and tries to reel in. The fish on the other end pulls hard, nearly pulling the reel from Joe's hands. Bill tells him to lock the reel and give it a tug. Joe does this and feels that the fish is secure on the lure, and starts reeling it in. It's coming along smoothly and Joe gives Bill a big proud grin. Then suddenly the fish starts to fight back, jumping from the water about a foot in the air startling Joe, who had begun rising from his seat, nearly falling out of the canoe.
"Sit down, Joe!" Bill hollers at him, "before you knock us both in the lake!" He is trying to regain the balance, the canoe rocking back and forth.
"Just keep reeling, firm but slow, give him some line, just a little, let him tire himself out. That's it, keep doing what you are. Looks like a big one, pal!"
Joe keeps doing as Bill instructed, the fish finally close to the canoe.
"I'll get the net, hold him steady. Doing good, keep reeling."
He gets the fish along side the canoe as Bill reaches into the water with the net, scooping the fish into it. He brings the net and fish into the canoe, Joe still holding onto the rod.
"Go ahead, Joe, take the lure out of his mouth. He won't bite."
Joe looks into the mouth of the fish. He has teeth, he's not sure Bill knows what he's talking about.
"You better show me how, I'll do the next one." He'll worry about that one when it shows up.
Bill grabs the fish by the gills, squeezing to open the mouth, removing the lure as he does.
"Good job ! This baby must go close to five pounds! Now you're a fisherman Joe, aint that great!"
Joe is looking over his fish, thinking, wow, what a mouth on that thing! Sure glad he wasn't one of those fish from yesterday, or I'd be singing soprano for sure.
Bill puts the fish into a basket and sets it on the floor of the canoe. He hands Joe his rod back and tells him,
"Let's go get another one!" Joe lights another cigarette, and takes the rod.
"Guess I'm not doing too bad for a beginner, huh, Bill? First the biggest tree, and now the biggest, and only fish." Joe's grin is as big as the bass.
"Oh, look Joe," Bill says pointing to the water, "You're snake came back."
Joe jumps and turns to look where Bill is pointing.
"Very funny pal," he reaches into the water to grab the stick that really is a stick this time, giving it a toss into the water. Joe is so pleased with himself by his catch, he just sits and enjoys his cigarette, wondering why Bill is looking at him so funny. He has his rod laying across his legs, the lure just dangling right above the water.
'You getting so good you think the next fish will jump right in the canoe?"
"Huh?"
"You might want to try to put your lure in the water, it usually works better that way." advises Bill.
"Oh, sure, just let me finish this cigarette first. Besides it's your turn to get one now."
"You just watch, I'll show you how it's done," says Bill smugly.
Joe finishes his cigarette, tossing it on the floor, and picks up his rod to resume casting. Bill is working the other side and casting slightly behind him. Joe just watches him for a minute when there is a sudden splash right next to him. He turns to look at his lure, completely surprised by what he see's.
"Uh, Bill? I got another one." Joe is looking puzzled at his line. Where in the heck did that one come from? I never even cast this time, he thinks.
"You got another what, Joe?" says Bill turning to face him.
"Another fish." He is still trying to figure out this one. Bill looks at Joe in complete surprise.
"How did you do that?"
"Beats me, I was just sitting here and it jumped out of the water."
Bill grabs the net and scoops Joe's fish into it.
"Will you look at that? It's almost as big as the first one. What's with you and the affinity with the fish? Yesterday they wouldn't leave you alone, today they are jumping on your lures without you even trying! Talk about your beginners luck!"
Joe just sits there grinning, until Bill passes the net to him.
"You said you would undo the next one, well here you go! Hurry up, before they just start jumping right into the canoe."
Joe looks at the fish in the net, then back at Bill.
"You better get it, I might drop it back into the lake."
Bill gives Joe a dirty look as he takes the lure from the fish's mouth and puts it in the basket with the other one. Without saying a word, he turns to resume casting. Joe watches him for a minute, before he tries again. They fish for a while longer, then Bill decides to try another spot. Shortly after starting the new location, Bill finally gets a tug on his line. This one seems to have some fight in it. Maybe now he can show Joe how to get the really big ones, he thinks. Joe watches with interest as Bill works with it. Finally getting close to the canoe, Joe grabs the net ready to bring it in, he lands it at Bill's feet. He peers at the fish in the net, then at Bill.
"Isn't that one of those minnows, from yesterday? I always did wonder where sardines came from. You only need about twenty more to fill a tin." he remarks, trying not to laugh.
Bill's fish, while not as big as Joe's, is a keeper. They add it to the basket and try a little longer. Bill does manage to catch another one, this almost as big as Joe's.
"Guess we can call it quits, we'll head in and clean the fish, then make lunch."
"Clean them?" asks Joe. "They don't look dirty to me." Bill looks at him trying to decide if he is joking, or just plain dumb. Joe laughs and says,
"I know what 'clean them' means. Just don't know how, and not sure I want to learn. How about, you clean them, I'll cook them, and even do the dishes."
"What, you'll toss the paper plates away?"
"Whatever it takes," Bill thinks for a minute and then agrees. It'll be easier this way.
"You get to unload the canoe, and bring the gear back to the site. Do that and I'll clean the fish. Wait here a minute while I get something. Be right back."
He takes off for the camp site and returns in a few minutes with his handy Brownie camera.
"What you doing with that thing? I haven't shaved, I look like a hobo." Joe is not fond of having his picture taken even when he has shaved.
"You want a picture of your fish, don't ya? Think the guys at work will just take your word for it? And you're supposed to look like that, you're camping, not going on a date." He puts Joe's two fish on a stringer and hands them to him.
"Here you go, now hold 'em up so I can see them." he instructs.
"Thought you said you were taking a picture of the fish, not me?"
"Well Joe, they're not going to stand there by themselves you know. Don't worry, no one will be looking at you when they see these."
Joe takes the fish stringer and holds in gingerly between his fingers.
"Ok, Joe, hold 'em up high now so we can see them! And get that dumb look off your face! Smile!"
"What dumb look?"
"That one, you look like you just found a dead body. You're supposed to be having fun, so smile, dammit!"
Joe tries to muster up an appropriate smile as Bill focuses the camera and shoots the picture.
"Let me get one more…hold them closer to you this time."
"What do you want me to do, kiss the damn things?"
"Hey, that'd be great! Do it.!"
Joe looks at the fish, and then at Bill and says,
"I think I'd rather kiss you. And that's not high on my list either."
"Maybe some other time, Joe, right now let's concentrate on the fish."
They switch places and Joe takes some shots of Bill and his minnows. Should have gotten a shot of my tree, he thinks, laughing to himself.
"Sure, now you smile!" Bill just shakes his head, taking the fish to the camp site to clean. He lays them on the picnic table and gets out his scaler and knife to do the job. He decides to sit a minute and have a beer before he starts. Joe is on the beach unloading the canoe of their fishing gear. He watches him , thinking it will take him at least two trips to do that. Joe grabs the poles and the tackle box for the first trip. He heads for the campsite, with Bill still watching. He seems to be very interested. Now what am I doing wrong? Joe wonders. He shrugs his shoulders at Bill, like 'what do you want?' Bill just shakes his head, and waves him on, still watching.
He sets the tackle box on the table with the poles leaning against it. He stands there a minute before heading back for more, trying to ignore Bill, which is not an easy task. Bill grabs his Brownie camera and snaps two photos before Joe turns around again. This is too good to pass up! He continues to watch while Joe makes his way back to the canoe. He picks up the small cooler and the nets and turns once again to the site. Bill is still looking, but now seems to be trying to hold back laughter. Joe stops for a minute trying to figure out what he is doing now to cause this. He looks at his clothes and shoes, all seem to be in order. My first mistake, he thinks, is trying to figure out Bill. He seems to live in his own little world sometimes. He once again heads to the camp. Now Bill is turning bright red from trying to hold back the laughter.
"What?" says Joe loudly, getting annoyed.
"Shh!" Bill tells him, "You'll scare your kids!" It finally happened, Bill went off the deep end, he's been expecting it for a long time.
"What are you talking about?" For some reason he is whispering too. Must be something in the air up here. Bill keeps laughing trying to get control enough to speak.
"Look behind you, Joe, don't move your feet, just turn your head."
Joe does this, half afraid at what he'll find. He looks but does not see anything. He turns to Bill again, who says nothing but points his finger down.