STORIES PAGE
The Fishing TRIP
What do a Retired Electrical Engineer, a City Mayor, and a Plant Engineer have in common? You got it. They once went on a fishing expedition with me
to Sandy Pond. Of course it was before the Electrical Engineer ("J") was retired, the Mayor ("K") was in politics, or the Plant
Engineer ("D") had a plant.
The plan. I would take my boat and leave from the marina near Massena. I would pick up "J" and "D" at Cole’s Creek Marina about
10:00 AM and then Lake Ontario weather permitting we would dock at Sandy Pond well before dark. "K" had to work during the week, so he would drive
his vehicle down Friday and fish the weekend. I would leave my boat there and we would all ride back with "K'.
"J" was a neat freak. He was a good fisherman. Always carried his
load, and paid his share. He was a good cook. He was also known to partake in a drink or two. He was in a live-in relationship. "D" was married but
considered himself a ladies man. He was pretty tight with a buck, drank a little, but smoked a lot. (Not tobacco). If it wasn’t macho, he didn’t
subscribe to it. "K" was a hard working family man liked by all. It would be days before he arrived. This is not to say that I was a saint. There
were people known to the three of us who were giving odds that the three of us wouldn’t last until the arrival of "K", let alone return together.
I arrived at Cole’s Creek Marina on time. "J" & "D"
were late. One had glassy eyes; the other had a slight slur to his speech. Each, were delivered by his lady. The girls didn’t know whether to sigh or
smile. I thought, two people are going to enjoy this fishing trip, and they aren’t going. We finally were under way. I had the wheel all of the way
to Alex Bay. We were running late. We had the late start, plus I ran a slower, smoother course to keep a headache or two to the minimum. At Alex
Bay it was decided we would dock and look around and then make for the city dock at Cape Vincent to stay the night. I am not really sure how it happened but
by the time we left Cape Vincent, "D" was lucky to have $2.00 in his pocket. They both appeared hung over that next morning.
We entered Lake Ontario. On the NW side of Stony Island we started trolling a couple flat lines. I made the cut near the end of Stony and took a
southerly course. I suggested we shortened the flat lines, as it was getting shallow. I slowed and lifted the out drive, as the bottom was rocky.
"D's" fishing lure became snagged on shallow rocks. "Turn around", he said, "I just paid five dollars for that new lure". I
said, "I paid over ten thousand for this used boat.” I am not turning around. I will give you a lure from my box if you loose it." He jerked the
line and lost the lure.
Between Stony and Sandy Pond we never had a release. (Down rigger explanation for a bite.) Yes, I gave "D" a lure. Of course, because I did not
turn around and retrieve his lure, he had a reason why he did not catch a salmon.
As we went through the channel between Lake and Pond, I told "J" and "D" that it was clear sailing from there. I said, "I know
this Pond like the back of my hand."
In front of the Wigwam Hotel I hit a rock shoal and damaged my prop. ("J" will never let me forget it either.)
We were close to camp, so we docked and unloaded. I called a Marina, which had the facilities to pull the cruiser, and install my spare prop. The cruiser
limped to the other side of the lake. It also needed a new shaft bearing and seal, and a lower water pump impeller. (Good old credit card) No fishing that
day or the next.
"D" and "J" wished to explore. There were 3 or 4 taverns on my shoreline that served drinks. They were in walking distance. One or two
had bands. I stopped at the closest. Not enough action for "D" and "J". They continued on. The next morning they talked of rowdy places,
a couple of (ladies?), and a drug sniffing dog that tried to follow "J" home. (Probably the scent from walking next to "D".)
By the time the "Wet Dream" had completed repairs. Lake Ontario turned rough. We fished the "calmer" Pond and caught Northern Pike by
the cooler full. "K" arrived and helped with the fishing. While we divided the cooking, cleaning, etc. with no hassles. "J" was relaxed,
I was me, and "D" couldn't be tight, he was broke.
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