He had a 18' cabin cruiser and needed every inch of it for his family. He would sometimes have two to three fish on at once and it was amazing to see him in action pulling them to the boat and netting them.
His system was to let his oldest boy and wife play the fish while he pulled one in. He then took them in order of most important at the time. Sometime the kids fish would get loose or break the line before he got to them, but it was a real production line and fun to watch.
We often took a boy with us that lived across the street that had no father. His name was Mike. He was a couple years older then me and the first meeting with him was when his grandfather who lived with him and his Mom and sister was encouraging him to give me a whipping. I can't remember why, but I believe it may have been because the grandfather was a bit senile.
Anyway, after our confrontation that my dad broke up he became a regular fishing partner for a number of years. He also went hunting with dad as he was older and I had to be 14 before I could go. It always hurt me a bit that I couldn't go with them. However, I hardly ever missed a fishing trip.
What good memories I have of those days. I hope to tell you about some fishing trips I took during these times when I write again. Actually, most of what I am writing here comes right from my life stories that I have been writing for my children and grandchildren so they will know also what I did as I grew up in the Great Pacific Northwest.
see page one of this story>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
