Now that another fair week is in the books we have to face the fact that summer is starting to wind down. In reality there is still plenty of good weather ahead. I’ve said many times that fall is my favorite time of the year, but let’s put that thought on hold for a while and enjoy what summer we do have left.

While I was growing up the end of fair week meant that it was time to put the shoes back on because going barefoot was no longer an option. In the beginning of summer as soon as school ended mom would take me to Earl Peterson’s barber shop on the Northside and I’d get my “flat top” haircut for the summer. I can remember sitting in the barber chair as my hair was falling to the floor in chunks (been looking for it ever since) and looking at the pictures of all the different haircuts on the wall. I always thought I’d like to have the haircut like the guy sporting the “Hollywood” haircut because it made the guy in the picture look so cool. Mom would never go along with it though, I guess she just wanted to get her money’s worth.

Once I was streamlined on top I’d shed my shoes whenever possible and let my feet “breathe” the summer air. Unfortunately it seemed like I always had to teach myself to walk all over again. After stubbing my big toe severely at least once on each foot I was ready for summer walking. Trekking through the grass was always somewhat of a challenge because there were always a few surprises that were lurking in the depths of the grass. Stepping on a honeybee was never a fun experience or finding evidence first hand (or foot in this case) that a neighbor dog had visited was always special.

Shoes were in order for any neighborhood baseball games and hiking down to the “crick” on an adventure was usually shoes optional although finding a thistle would make you wish you had worn them.

Our family never really took any family vacations, so whenever one of my friends like Kim Dilling would head north with his family for a week of fishing it would seem like forever before they came home to tell about their vacation. They’d come back and I’d listen intently to the stories of all the fish they had caught and only imagined what that would be like. Although I was never jealous of them I’d always long for our family to be able to take one of those vacations.

My Uncle Ben and my Aunt Marcie had no kids so they would sometimes take me up north with them. Whenever I would see Ben coming down the road to our house my heart would skip a beat because I’d be hoping it was to ask the folks if I could go on another fishing trip. I would listen to their conversation and weigh on every word for just a hint of a fishing trip. When a trip was planned I can remember being the first one up in the morning and standing in the front yard with all my gear packed and in order. I would stand there just looking intently down the road for any hint of their car.

There were a few times when I’d ride in the back seat with “Skippy,” their dog, who I figured really didn’t much like anybody, especially kids. If you’d try to pet him he’d growl and snap at you while Uncle Ben would laugh to see me jump and then halfheartedly scold his loving dog. They didn’t have any kids of their own so Skippy was their baby, and sharing the back seat with him was my nightmare.

One time we went to Borden Lake, which is by Garrison, and I can remember catching some dandy crappies and northern. Ben liked to troll for northern and the rules were simple. Sunny day: use a red and white Daredevil, and overcast: use a black and white. If the action was slow we’d tip the spoons with a Pork Rind or a Pork Frog. One of us would usually use a “Strip-on” with a sucker. Ben said this was a good way to test the fishing and see which bait they wanted. If live bait produced more fish the other would switch and vice-versa. Now this was a method of fishing that was used long before depth finders and sonar flashers were a necessity for catching fish. It’s actually a method I still find effective today. Although I have a fish finder, I still like to follow the weed lines and vary the presentation until I find what seems to work best.

I can remember sitting with my pole pointed straight off the side of the boat while waiting for that “lunker” to hit my lure. Uncle Ben, being the prankster that he was, would wait for me to be deep in thought and turn the boat so my line was within his grasp and then he’d give it a few good tugs. I’d jump and set the hook and of course there would be nothing there. Ben would chuckle and Marcie would laugh that infectious laugh of hers and after the initial shock I’d have to agree it was a good one. It’s something that I did pass on to my boys and have also used on the grandkids from time to time.

One thing I like about fishing is that nothing is written in stone when it comes to catching fish. Whatever works one day may not work the next, but that’s part of the fun and the challenge of fishing. If you put pressure on yourself to catch fish then it is no longer relaxation. It’s stressful and fishing is about getting away from that, even if it’s only for a few hours.

MUSKIE TALK

There will be no August meeting of Southern Crossroads Chapter 54 of Muskies Inc. Come visit us at our booth at the Steele County Fair starting Tuesday 5 to 9 p.m., and Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 9 p.m. We need your support. We have an I-Finder and Cabela’s gift card raffle.

Check our Web site at www.michapter54.com. Our next meeting will be Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Eagles in Owatonna. Our meetings are the second Wednesday of the month. Visitors interested in musky fishing are always welcome. Muskie hunters, bring a friend, and join Muskies, Inc. With high gas prices, help us improve musky fishing in Southern Minnesota.

Observation:

It seems as if Brett Favre is getting more press for doing nothing than the rest of the players in the NFL. Does anyone know how the Vikings training camp is going or who is in the running for jobs? Of course not, all the press seems to be about a guy who retired then unretired then can’t play unless he is traded. I say let’s move on with the football season and talk about the guy when he plays a game.

Until next time, play safe, good fishin’ and enjoy the outdoors.

Please continue to show your support for those that have chosen to proudly serve their country.