Wed, Dec 03 2008
|
|
Published December 16, 2006 10:29 pm - I was at home, sitting by the fireplace, when I made the decision to go ahead with the plans Brad Cardwell and I had made for fishing the next morning. Silas Gray: Guided fishing trip well worth the wait By Silas Gray
Globe columnist I was at home, sitting by the fireplace, when I made the decision to go ahead with the plans Brad Cardwell and I had made for fishing the next morning. Inside, by the fire, it’s easy to forget that the ground outside is covered with snow and ice and that it’s 13 degrees out. Reality set in as we carried Brad’s loaded canoe through knee-deep snow and worked our way to the edge of the frozen stream. Luckily, the entire stream wasn’t frozen, only the first few feet near the shore. Once we’d broken through that, the deeper, flowing water was clear. Brad has fished and trapped the local streams and rivers for most of his life, and last June he offered to guide me on a canoe fishing trip. Never having fished from a canoe with an experienced guide before, I eagerly accepted. It took us six months, but we finally made it. I dug out all the hats, socks, gloves and other cold-weather items that I’d tucked away last March. Winter fishing was here at last, and I was loaded and headed toward Carthage. Brad’s canoe was strapped to its trailer and sitting in the driveway when I got to his house. It was still only 19 degrees, so we sat and finished a cup of coffee. Brad loaned me a pair of hip boots which he said would be more comfortable than my chest waders for fishing from the canoe. After loading life jackets and a few remaining items of tackle, we began the short drive to the water. We were fishing a section of Spring River that was just a few miles outside Carthage. The spot had several good fishing holes within a mile or so of where we’d launch the canoe. We could return quickly to the truck, which is important at this time of year in case of an emergency. With temperatures that cold, we had to be well-prepared for even a short trip on the river. Brad had resealable buckets containing dry kindling, fire paste, matches and newspaper for building a fire, emergency food, dry clothing and a throw bag. A throw bag is a very clever bag of rope. One end of the rope is attached to the bag; the remainder of the rope is coiled inside the bag with the free end left hanging out. In case of an emergency, the free end can be held while the bag is thrown to the person in trouble. The canoe was launched and Brad started us up the river. He took us past long stretches of shallow water, stopping only at the deeper holes to fish. At the first stop, we rigged weighted night crawlers six feet below a float and cast to a few key spots of the hole. I quickly missed two fish, both times pulling back only a small piece of the worm. After we fished those areas, Brad moved us to the upper edge of the hole, and we drifted the live bait through it as quietly as we could. Brad would then paddle back up and start the drift again. After drifting each hole a few times, we’d move upstream to the next deep hole. After rounding one of the bends, we came upon hundreds of geese covering the water. They were separated into two groups and the closest group spooked immediately and took off with their normal noisy goose racket. The second group seemed unconcerned and remained on the water until we were within a few feet. 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Columns section
Mike Pound: Recital dancers may make playoffs Wally Kennedy: Intersection ready for spring work Zach Ewing: Some cures for your fall-sports hangover |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
 |
 |
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
 |
The Joplin Globe Publishing Company 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. |
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |