John 21:3 ESV /
Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
It all started a few days before Christmas. Fish house... check. Auger ... check. Game on! Me and the boys were going fishing. We were up at the butt crack of dawn. One stop for minnows. Lunch was packed. We are living in Minnesota, and we are going fishing- 26 below. It don't matter. We are having fun.
Hmmm! here is how it really went. When we stopped to buy minnows, and gas, it took an extra half hour because the computer was down at the bait shop. Finally we got out on the ice. hook the fuel canister to the new auger, and "pshhhh!" propane leaking all over. No big deal just a hose. 8:00 back in Warroad MN . 9:00 back out on ice. 9:05 auger won't start. 9:10 Auger is broke. 9:15 boys having a caniption fit. 9:20 Strangers help us get fishing. 9:30 getting lines in water. 10:00 no fish 12:00 no fish 2:00 5 fish 4:00 no more fish and time to get home.
It's good doing business in small towns. The next day, I returned the auger and got one that works. Just in time to head up to Lake Kabetogema near International Falls. Fishing with my new bride. My luck has changed I think. Day one of fishing... 1 perch and 2 pike. Baby's feet got a little cool. Day 2 no fish... Baby decides to stay in cabin. Hmmmm.
So after a vacation and a honeymoon in a winter wonderland, its good bye land of 10,000 lakes and home to the Missouri flats near Williston. I had this thought.
I was thinking that maybe if I built a little fish house and tried fishing the great Missouri River and Lake Sakakawea, my walleye luck might change. So I built it. And I geared up and and tried my hand at fishing in North Dakota yesterday. I went out to a place called Lund's Landing. I fished. I moved around a little and low and behold I got into some 5 lb pike. Not a bad day. Left early because of the storm that didn't come. Anyway I am still here to write about it.
So today, I went back to the bait shop to pick the brains of some local fisherman, and brag a little about my adventure. A guy said , "Hey! if you want to catch walleye and sauger, follw me and I will point you in the general direction." So I did. I went out to Lake Jenny, a flat on the Missouri complex, a general area of Sakakawea. We get out on the lake. The reader will notice how I did not give directions to this sweet new fishing hole. It would break all fisherman code to reveal such a location. And we drive up to this guys fish shack. It has satellite dish. light generator, solar panels, alarms, motion lights, bath tub, couch, wi-fi. Its like a mini-Radisson on ice complete with pole dancers and a wet bar. Just as I was getting out of my truck to introduce myself, the dark haired brown skinned grinning familiar smile of none other than Jose Jimenez popped his face out the window. "Come on in and have a burrito Tomas."
It seems i.t was his brother-in-law I met at the bait shop. Little did I know before today Jose's sister lives near Williston. Cool! I fished until 7:00 had a bite. Jose showed me his walleye, and a burbot (they call them ling here). When I got home I had waiting for me a fresh batch of fish patties from the northern I caught. How wonderful she is Williston is feeling a little more like home, and I feel my luck has changed for the better. The walleyes will be jumping into my bucket tomorrow.
