CABIN FEVER!!!

Sounds crazy, but I have very fond memories of shoveling snow
for my great uncle. After the work was done, time for a few cups
of hot coffee and some homemade cookies. And our conversations. Obviously, it was the coffee and conversation I enjoyed. And
coffee and cookies are still a favorite snack anytime...


January is the time when thoughts begin to turn to outside activities, fresh air and good company. Whether we talked about an April outing in search of crappies in brush piles, or tales of trips before I was born fishing on the Mississippi river, where my father would sometimes stay and fish with them.
Their Mississippi exploits stories were legendary to us. They employed a number of "techniques" many of which were creative, and a few of which were downright illegal. There would be substantial fines assessed after being caught were the cost of such activities, and there WERE fines! (But, I think he paid for everyone's). I certainly don't condone any illegal means of taking fish, and it should be noted my uncle was always a responsible outdoorsman on all of the trips we took together.




All this reminds me of an old fishing joke...

Three guys regularly went out on the lake to return with the boat full of fish. they never failed. Word got around that they must have been doing something illegal to have such consistent "luck." So, one day their friendly game warden invited himself along.
"Sure, get in the boat. here's a cold one." "No thanks. Sounds good but I AM on duty ya know" "Suit yourself"... they cruise leisurly out to a nice bay off an inlet where they open a wooden box full of Dynamite sticks. "Fishing with explosives is again the law" spoke the game warden. the fisherman without saying a word pulled out a stick, then carefully lit it... handing it to the game warden, he offered the follwing instruction "Want to Fish!?!

Back to our coffee and conversation... I heard about the time they lost most of their gear when their canoe capsized on Lake Shelbyville...it wasn't a total loss: the whiskey bottle didn't sink! They also tubed and canoed the Kaskaskia river south of Shelbyville without incident. He told how they got his daughter up on water skis on the Mississippi behind their fishing boat with a 22 hp motor!

By the end of the morning, we were psyched about the upcoming season. Discussion about readying gear would naturally follow. Of course. Reels need to be cleaned and lubricated, old line stripped off and replaced, hooks sharpened, and tackle boxes organized. We'd discuss what to use in what situation: "cane poles for crappie fishing in the brush; and for bass and panfish those new ultra-light setups are sure fun!" I became the heir of some of his old fishing gear, like an old Pflueger baitcasting reel with 'buggy whip' steel casting rod.

It all adds up to one thing: cabin fever!!! Every winter, it sets in. 

He's been gone a number of years now...but his spirit of adventure,

enthusiasm for fishing (and occasional mischief) are thriving!