One of the infuriating things about my buddy Eric was that he ALWAYS beat me trouting. We have trouted in some pretty out of the way places back home, scrabbling over deadfalls, walking through the thick woods where there was no path, one day, maybe more, taking off our or at least my shirt(s) and wetting it in a bog hole to get cool. And I loved it, its a peaceful experience just being out there with no noises but birds and insects. Well except for getting the crap scared out of you when a snipe flew up in your face! Holy god they startled ya!
I remember one summer trip in particular, Eric and I got up about 6 and headed off in the country, making our way to Smith’s Long Pond. I know he definetly beat me again that day, can’t say how by how many, but I think the most memorable part was Vince Smith looking at us when we walked out the path and said “Trouting? TODAY? I looked at the thermometer on my patio at about 3 o’clock and it was 34 degrees!”. You can only imagine how hot we were after beating through the woods. And we both had raccoon faces after from our glasses blocking the sun.
Once though and only once I beat him. It was different than those trips because it was an ice fishing trip to Island pond. I’ve never really had a lot of luck ice fishing, but it was always a great day to get out for a boil up if nothing else. Island pond could also be reluctant to give up trout at the best of times, but because they were so good, we kept trying. This one day, we were fishing down the end of the pond, and I can recall beating him vividly. The tally was pretty easy to take though, I got one, he got none.
Raised in outport Newfoundland in a town of 65 people, I pursued a post secondary diploma in Information Technology right out of High School.
I’ve always been a geek at heart, but yet I love the rural life I grew up with. Fishing, hunting, camping and the great outdoors are still loves of mine, even if I don’t pursue them as often as I once did. Sports were always a big part of our lives, and I played many (badly) and loved them all.
Yeah nice photo of angle pond and i do remember all that. Do you remember the trip to whale back pond when i outfished you 33 to 3 ? You were casting to the same spot as me and using the exact same colour and type of spinner….a williams which was my favourite in those days. I remember going to handy andys in clarenville especially to get those great spinners!
Years ago I travelled NFLD selling auto parts and I recall eating at a cafe in Clarenville, they had an impressive painting on the wall of the Newfie Bullet plowing thru the winter snow., wonder it is still exists>>???
I’ve seen the picture many times, not sure where a copy may be found now though unfortunately.