North Carolina River Fishing

[TarDevil]

I wrote this in the spring, prior to meeting Basser Drew and being introduced to this site. Perhaps you folks wouldn't mind me sharing this?

The winds of March bids the icicles of February away.
Trees and shrubs began putting on colorful clothes.
Lawns began bleeding green through a winter brown.
Hilltops afar grow bald as the hair of snow melts.

Rivers began swelling as a saddened winter sheds tears of departure.
Creatures rise from the cold barring depths to the warm light above.
Unarticulated romance breeds restlessness in nearly every form of life.
Restlessness and anticipation drive the hearty male souls to feed, and...

It eagerly rises to the fly, drawing in the unsuspecting terrestrial.
It turns, looking for more sustenance.
Unexpectedly, it feels the stubborn tug, the prey's resistance.

The master sees a disturbance, knows what is to come.
The line tightens, the graphite bends, the reel sings as it yields.
The master smiles, satisfied with his deception.

Beneath, the creature feels no pain, only panic.
It races toward the light, instinctively takes flight.
In the low resistance of air it violently undulates the body.
Then back in the depths it madly rushes to the familiar comfort of rocks and stumps.
And the pressure stays.

The master bows to the dancing creature, admires its strength and determination.
But in the age-old tradition, he plays and tires it to submission.

Exhausted now, the creature has done all it can but the prey has won.
It is lifted to the light, its head brought above the surface.
There is pressure in the gut as it is lifted clear from its cool fluid home.
And the offensive insect is removed from the corner of its mouth.

The master feels only gratitude toward the creature.
He utters a word of thanks, then lowers it back to the stream.
With practiced care, holds the creature until it regains its strength.

The creature once again feels surrounding life-giving water.
It courses through mouth and gills, the senses alive again.
Free from restraint, it thrashes wildly away from the giant captor.
Sounding to the rocks below, it hides from the behemoth that once gripped it.

The master sits upon a rock, takes a draw of water from his canteen.
There is no one with him save the creatures above and below.
But he remembers the high pitched voice, the awkward splashes, the interminable chatter.
And sheds a tear of remembrance...
for the lost companionship of a son now consumed with a life of his own.

And the wind whispers, "It is in his soul. He will come again."
He smiles, rises to his feet, once again strips line in anticipation.

[Creekstalker]

Very nice!

CS

[SmallieSam]

Nice work TarDevil. You've been a real shot in the arm to the NCRF board. Would that be considered prose?

BTW, are you a Tarheel or a Blue Devil, you can't be both. . .
_________________
How far can you run, standing deep in the flow? FJB

[TarDevil]

[Creekstalker]

[TarDevil]

[SmallieSam]

At least you're only half-bad, huh?

All kidding aside, I'm pleased to have you here and would love to come down and hunt smallies with you sometime.
_________________
How far can you run, standing deep in the flow? FJB

[TarDevil]

[basserdrew]

That was real good Tardevil!
_________________
'07 big fish
'06 big fish

[frankinnc]

TarDevil, enjoyed the prose. My stepson has just graduated from Appalachian State (my alma mater) and I'm hoping he'll come back to fishing and enjoy it like he used to. He has rarely fished with me over the past 5 years, but he mentioned he'd like to get back on the raft sometime before winter. I surely look forward to it.

Frank

[TarDevil]

I hope he does, Frank.

My dad and I shared a passion for fishing for over 45 years. Last week he announced to me that he is no longer interested in fishing and I was welcome to come get his stuff... including his boat.

Broke my heart.

One of you guys iz gotta come fish with me, 'cause there ain't no one else.

[frankinnc]

I'd love to TarDevil. I'm in the Charlotte area most weekends nowadays which looks to not be too far away from you. Let me know.

I'm sorta planning to venture out somewhere this Saturday morning and find somewhere on the Broad to wade for a little while. I've got some info from a couple guys about accesses on the Broad in SC and some info on the Broad in NC. I know nothing about suitablility for wading but just thought I'd explore a little and see. Maybe find access suitable for my raft for future reference, etc.

Of course, if thunderstorms were to muddy the water, I'd back off from wading. I don't wade muddy water that I don't know well.

Frank