MY FIRST FISH IN 20 MONTHS

For those that don’t know me I’m a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair, and an avid tournament angler that’s trying to get back into the sport of bass fishing. I have organized many tournaments in the past specializing in charity tournaments for the Children’s Miracle Network and the Paralyzed Veterans of America. A few years back I set my sights on tournament fishing as a living for myself and after a few years of donating my entry fees to the winners I was beginning to pull it all together when my finances caught up to me and I found myself with no money and a handful of medical bills. So, I had to sell the boat and pay off as many bills as I could and spend the last year just paying bills (didn’t wet a line since Sept. 2004)

It’s been 19 months and who knows how many days since I wet a line and with my new boat backed up in production I’m just going nuts. So I talked a guide Mike Stein into taking me out on Lake St. Clair for a couple of hours.

We got a late start but at this time of year it’s not necessary to be there at the light of dawn. The first couple of spots we stopped at the water was a little dirty and so we headed to what is known as “The Mile Roads” a popular area that can hold fish just about all year round. After a short run we made it to the spot and as we come down off plane I can tell already we have made a good choice, the water is much cleaner and the wind is down. I pull out my favorite St. Croix rod with a tube tied on and make my first cast, what a feeling just to watch the bait go out and hit the water again, the anticipation is over whelming; I look around and then at Mike and I say “It has been way too long to have this feeling”

Then it happens, tap, tap, tap. It’s like an old friend tapping you on the shoulder; you know who it is with out turning around. I’m so rusty I wasn’t ready for him, my hart starts to race, then there it is again, tap, tap, Slam! I set the hook, the rod bends so hard I started to think “Oh no it’s a muskie” but then he sticks his head up and there he is a smallmouth that has to be at close to 4 pounds.

He looks at me as if to say “We meet again” then he goes back down and quickly turns left with a big run, the drag starts to sound off, first with a little zip, zip, zip, then he breaks in to a full sprint and the drag lets loose and starts to scream. All I can do is hang on to the rod and watch; it feels like I’m in a dream, and then he comes up and jumped at least a foot out of the water with a dance that would make Fred Astaire proud.

Then it starts to come back to me, I swing the rod to the right and drop the tip of the rod, the fish turns right and starts another run at which time I start reeling hard using his speed to steer him away from the rocks and weeds while gaining ground.

The fight lasts for another 3 or 4 minutes ending at the side of the boat as I raise his head and Mike scoops him in the net. I drop my arms down and try to catch my breath and realize that my arms are worn out. Mike pulls the fish from the net and as he does the hook falls from the fish’s mouth, we look at each other and he says, “It was meant to be my man” Still trying to regain my composure he hands me the fish and says “Smile” I look up to see him holding a camera, I stuck my chest out lifted the fish, the only thing I didn’t have to think about was the smile plastered on my face!

It took me about 5 minutes to stop smiling and realize that there are more fish where that came from and quickly I grab my rod and get my bait back in the water. We caught another dozen fish before we had to call it a day but none compared to that first one.

I thought this would be enough to keep me satisfied till the boat gets here but I have to admit I’m ready to head back out tomorrow!

SEE MORE PHOTOS HERE