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Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Fishing (06/07/04)
TITLE: Lesson from a Mudfish
By Richard Helms
06/14/04
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Living most of my life here in the Panhandle of Florida, fishing has always been a great part of my life. Back before boat traffic became so dense that pollution was a factor, it was not uncommon on a Friday night to go with my grandfather and dad on the boat for an evening of looking for flounder with gigs and a light. Along the way, with that old gas lantern hissing on the front of the boat, we would catch blue crab, mullet, I guess if it came within range of our gigs it was fair game! As young kids, it was pretty exciting watching those crabs waving their claws at us, we just knew that one was going to get us. Those times were and are still precious to me, only now I am the grandpa.

As a young boy, I would also go out fishing on clear hot summer days. With hardly a breeze blowing in the channels and island of Okaloosa Sound summer could become absolutely miserable. My grandfather had a way of curing that too. We would come to one of the islands and set out the anchor. Reaching over the side of the boat, we would pull out some of the fattest, and tastiest, oysters you could ever imagine. Reaching in to the little cooler that always made its way in to the boat were those extravagances of youth that would allow us to while away the time. Soda crackers, soda pops, an oyster knife with a bottle of ketchup, and of course some dry towels. With the swift movement of experienced hands, Papaw kept me well fed and happy on those days. Drifting in to the hot part of the day and he would begin telling me stories from the Bible. I learned how to tie barrel knots to the tune of the six days of creation. Stories of Jesus and the fisherman that followed Him would set visions in my head of how wonderful it was to be able to walk on Galilee with Jesus. Many lessons would pass from Papaws lips, lessons that I will never forget.

Recently, I learned another lesson that made me realize just what made Papaw so fascinating to me. Fishing in a bass tournament on the Choctawhatchee River, my partner and I were nearing the end of the day’s fishing. Retrieving a spinner bait, all of a sudden it seemed as though my hand and arm were being pulled out of socket. What had I gotten in to? It didn’t take long to see that a large mudfish had decided to join me on this trip. Now, a mudfish is known properly as a bowfin. We also call them souped up catfish. Black, built like a catfish, but instead of skin they have scales. They also have teeth!!! Fortunately for me, this one was bent on not making it to the boat. I say fortunate for our boat oar could have easily fit inside the mouth of this big monster. Needless to say, he destroyed my spinner bait and I was excited as I could be. That was fun! Quickly, I tied on another spinner bait and three casts later got another strike, but the fish did not stay on. Before I threw the bait back out, I made my discovery. The plastic cover on the hook had never been removed, the hook had not been bared. You cannot catch a fish without baring the hook! My partner would not let me live that down.

Oh, and the lesson I learned that day is simply this. My Papaw learned early on that you cannot catch a young boys heart without baring your soul. My friend, bare your soul, and become a fisher of men.