We sure loved to fish, didn’t we? I’ve never been an expert fisherman, but Grandpa sure knew how to fish. And if Grandpa knew how to fish, I think Uncle Harold knew even more. And Harold had a boat.
There was one year where we drove up to Lake Marion, South Carolina. It was the first and only time I have been there but what memories!
I don’t know if they owned a small lakeside retreat there, I seem to recall it was a circular type of house, very compact but plenty big enough for Uncle Harold, Grandmother, Grandpa, Brandon, and myself. I think Pam and Angela were there as well but cannot remember for sure.
It was on that trip that I was introduced to the wonders of the trotline.
Uncle Harold had a submerged line with hooks every 2 or 3 feet or so, and he baited them with worms. I had never heard of such a tactic but boy it worked. He would bait one hook drop it in the water, inch on down a bit to the next hook, and repeat the process.
Periodically he had to back up because there was already a catfish on one of the previous hooks. I don’t know how many hooks there were but it netted a ton of fish.
Somewhere around here I have pictures of that trip, including the prize fish. I don’t recall if we got it off the trotline or if someone caught it with a rod and reel but it weighed in at 28 pounds. Grandpa was visibly grimacing when he tried to hold it up for a picture, it was so heavy.
In addition to the trotline, Harold took us around the lake and there was one place where it looked like the water was just covered with lilies, like a huge field of lilies in relatively shallow water. I was just a kid, maybe 10 or 12 at the most, but I was deeply impressed. I remember saying to the guys, “This is what God made for you.”
That really meant a lot to Grandpa, as he was telling people about it after we got back from the trip. I do love the outdoors and think it’s a great way to admire God’s creation.
Once we got back to the shore, Grandmother sure cooked up a bunch of the fish and we had plenty to eat. It was a great trip and though about 40 years have passed, I still love these memories.
