Hook, Line & Sinker

 

by Nancy Nelson 

It was one of those rare spring days. The lake was a sheet of glass with not a hint of breeze or wind.  A clear blue sky was overhead and the sun was trying to break through a fine fog rising from the surface of the water. If you could describe an April day as glorious, this day was glorious!  April had been a roller coaster month for weather. There had been some perfect sunny warm days that you would expect later in the spring; there had been days of light snowfall and days of freezing rain, and lots of typical days of April showers ahead of May flowers.  But today was just a perfect day to be out on the lake!

Isidoro had gotten lucky once again. His television show would air on May 10…opening day of walleye season. The gods were with him this April morning.

At the public boat launch, he spoke rather sternly to his camera crew. “As you are aware, this episode is all about walleye fishing. The season on this lake begins May 10 so we are a bit ahead of time. I want this episode to coincide with the opening day but I am not willing to pay fines if the conservation officer happens to be out on the lake checking everyone’s catches and licenses. So far, we appear to have this part of the lake to ourselves.”

Isidoro looked deliberately at Fabio, Emilio, Enzo and Claudio. Fabio usually manned one boat with Emilio on camera and Enzo would steer boat number two while Claudio manned the second camera. “Fabio and Enzo, you must keep your eyes open to our surroundings and give us enough warning if you see any sign of game wardens. How about two quick whistles as soon as you see another boat approach?  We need to get our rods, spears and nets pulled in and away before the game warden pulls up on us.” Isidoro had been caught and fined several years prior when he had filmed episodes out of season. To be successful with his show, timing was everything so he had to bend the rules a little bit. How much interest would his show generate if all the fishing competitions were over before his show aired? His sponsors would dry up completely. He counted on their financial sponsorship as well as all the latest angling gear he was given to promote. Endorsements and sponsorship were invaluable.

Isidoro knew live bait such as minnows and night-crawlers increased the chances of getting bites but today Rapala was paying the wages for himself and his crew. He’d make them proud and do whatever it took to make Rapala look superior, thus the net and spear in the bottom of the boat.

Hook, Line & Sinker Cont'd