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Nostalgia Goes Fishing
by Chris Sorrenti
In sharp contrast to the powder beige granules
we Baskin’s Beach swimmers bake upon
after the welcome cooling of tans in Ottawa River
on a rocky landing just beyond the swimmers’ buoys
a kid about thirteen hooks the prized species that eluded me
all the years of my own related endeavors
the streamline of a freshwater predator
clearly visible in the distance
With youthful exuberance I run over to examine the catch
a sixteen or so inch Northern Pike
not big - but no small fry either – two pounds is my guesstimate
as it wrestles to unhook itself from minnow imitating Rapala
similar to one I used some thirty years ago
My own successes were limited to Perch and Bass
an occasional Red Finned Sucker
the high point being a four pound Largemouth
I caught up at Constance Bay while trolling with a Red Devil
not far from where we are now
Upon closer examination
I note the young fisherman has a dilemma
the lure is halfway down the fish’s throat
and with rows of needle sharp teeth to contend with
he hesitates even with pliers to free the hooks
so together we work to solve the problem
Recalling a trick I learned from older fishermen
though never had opportunity to apply
I squeeze the Pike firmly by its eyes
explaining to the lad that this will stun it
He then holds its mouth open for me at the very front
where there are no teeth
as I carefully work the embedded hooks free with the pliers
I ask him what he’s going to do with the fish
“keep and eat it” he replies with a grin
I smile back and then turn towards the beach
but not before offering my congratulations
recalling also that Pike are supposedly quite bony
and if not cleaned properly make for poor eating
as I’m sure the young fisherman will soon discover
© 2003
Illustration courtesy of the book, The Art of Angling, by Loates Visual Arts
1,130 hits as of March 2024
08/27/2013 Author's Note: Later, in October the same year, I landed a 10 pound Chum Salmon while visiting friends in Comox on Vancouver Island. I rarely go fishing nowadays, so for the record, the salmon is the biggest fish I’ve caught so far.
Posted on 08/27/2013
Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by George Hoerner on 08/28/13 at 12:13 AM Oh Chris, how you bring back memories. My stepmother was from Canada. I used to spend my summers between Kamsack and Swan River. We used fish a lot in lake Madge which is just north and I think a little east Kamsack. My brother and I would take the train from Detroit to Toronto, change trains there and again in Winnipeg and finish the trip at Swan River. We would stay on her sister's farm until my father would drive up in late July and stay and visit and fish until sometime in Aug when we head back to Detroit for the beginning of school. I learned how to ride bareback up there since they had horses but had no saddles, just bridles, so when we rode it was bareback. The fishing was great but I'm going back to the early to mid 50's. Thanks. Nice write.
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| Posted by Ken Harnisch on 08/28/13 at 04:56 PM As someone who has never fished (being a NYC boy), but who has always been fascinated by the art and science of fishing (thank you, Mr. Hemingway), I found this poem to be both educational and enlightening, Chris. And I like how the "older" experienced hand at the end knows the "younger fishermen" is about to learn his first lesson in which fish is and isn't edible. That brought it all home for me. |
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