Author Topic: Memorial Day and Me (Read 321 times)

Voss · « **on:** May 27, 2002, 07:59:47 PM »

I had intended to sleep in today. That's what Monday is for on Memorial Day, after all. That, and an afternoon barbeque. It was not to be, however.

I awoke at 6am to the sound of screeching cars, an impact of a speeding car and a parked truck. The sirens came way too quick, though, and then there followed gunshots. GUNSHOTS? Turns out it was two backfires from the wrecked vehicle, but I didn't know that at the time.

I dove for the closet and pulled out my brand new Barrett. I headed for the front door, only to see one of my husky neighbors club a gunman with a baseball bat. Officers were already on the scene, and after quite a bit of discussion around the neighborhood everything quieted down. No actual gunshots were hurt in the incident. Turns out it was a crank warrant. Someone didn't want to go BACK to jail. (yawn)

I knew I would never get back to sleep, so I put the coffee on and grabbed a shower. No sooner was I finished with my first cup, when my beautiful cousin (recently divorced) knocks at the door. She has been given possesion of her ex-husbands truck and Bass boat and wants some help hitting the lake. Now, this kind of interrruption I can handle!

So, we head off to Beaver Lake. My cousin wanted to get some sun, on the lake, and was more then happy to let me do some fishing ('just find a spot without bugs'). No problem!

I put in at a south-side ramp and made for mid-lake. I turned west and hit a tributary that I knew had some great Bass hideouts. I dropped the drift anchor and hooked up the Rapala (Fat Rap) on my medium spinning rod. Spotting a good area with lots of submerged trees I cast right into the middle of it. For the next thirty minutes I couldn't hit anything but bluegill, perch, and smallmouth too small to even consider keeping. I was really disgusted, but I couldn't move the boat as my cousin was getting some really good sun (in the buff I might add, but she's my cousin). So, I decided I'd cast into all of the improbable areas, too.

On the very first cast I felt a tug so powerful I knew it had to be a bass. A big one too. I hadn't seen anything this big all morning, and the fish had almost immediately pulled out twenty yards of line. I set the hook, and could see the fish breach the surface some one-hundred feet further down the inlet. I increased the drag, and started playing for keeps. It took about ten minutes to land this fish. I haven't ever had such a good fight from any Bass, and it is a personal best, but it wasn't Largemouth.

It was a nine and one-half pound Smallmouth. I didn't even know they came that big! Cool.

So, we ended the day early and headed back to the family barbeque. I had released the fish, but that was okay. We had enough ribs to go around.

It turns out that was the first time the boat had been in the water. It's not really a good sun tanning boat, so my cousin is going to let me keep it (as long as she gets to come along from time-to-time), as she thinks her ex may try to steal it. Ah, well! It looks great in my driveway.

Well, you know where I'll be this summer! Table Rock is looking really good.

Elfenwolf · « **Reply #1 on:** May 27, 2002, 08:06:36 PM »

Voss, and I thought the stuff I write is roadkill. My <~~> to a true master.~~

sshh · « **Reply #2 on:** May 27, 2002, 08:10:47 PM »

So it seems you didn't finish your story. Whats the name of that poor ex ? Err I mean AH handle... You live in OR right ?

mason22 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 27, 2002, 09:24:32 PM »

pictures.

just get a disposable for the boat. ahhh, the lake.

we just spent sunday an monday all day on the lake. i'll tell you i've seen more ignorant people in the last two days than i have in a lifetime.

but the free boobies were nice

too bad fatty keeps forgetting the binoculars!!

Tumor · « **Reply #4 on:** May 28, 2002, 02:05:20 AM »

Beaver??? Voss? You're an ARKANOID? (pretty much explains the cousin thing eh? hahaha)

Where abouts? I lived in Springdale a number of years way back. Family still there (Pop has a big-ole pontoon boat out at War Eagle). We used to hit Table Rock ALL the time when I was a lil'feller (we lived in Nixa MO back then).

Voss · « **Reply #5 on:** May 28, 2002, 09:36:46 PM »

Tumor, my family has been in Springdale since 1947. My grandfather was the first certified automatic transmission man in Springdale, and the first certified auto A/C repairman in Springdale. He was killed on the Hog Trail before I was born. The Fire Department and Police are well stocked with family. I bet your father knows someone in the family, since he's been around that long.

I had to wait until my adult years to return to the promised land, but now that I'm here (and divorced myself) I'm very happy. Occasionally, over the years, I've made trips here to visit my grandmother, and fish with my Uncles at that pond between Wheeler and Tontitown. I think it's an older Representative of Arkansas' (i.e. the Henshaw's). That little pond has Catfish, Carp, Bass (every species save White), Bluegill, and Crappie. Anyway, if you ever come back check out the pond by heading south out of Tontitown, on Wheeler road, until you see the white statue of the bull. Awesome fishing hole, but too small to put-in at.

I'll be hitting Table Rock, until August, after which I'll be taking it easy at the pond. We've got a really full charter schedule this summer, so August will see few fishing trips. It'll probably be too hot anyway.

My Mom and Dad brought my oldest brother and his family up for the week (from Florida), and we just hit War Eagle today.

Anyway, if you're this way anytime soon, post ahead of time and I'll meet up with you. Maybe, we can have an impromptu AH/WB barbeque. Those guys in Kansas are too good to come here, but we've got plenty of fliers here already.

Oh, and sshh... This guy wasn't too bright (at all). He left a beautiful, faithful woman, a healthy young son (a reverant family I might add), a 120k house, a brand new Dodge 3500 V10 (38 miles on it), and a BassMaster VT20, for an ugly, fat woman.

Tumor · « **Reply #6 on:** May 29, 2002, 12:16:47 AM »

I vaguely remember hearing about that pond your talking about over my Tontitown (Did ya make the Grape Festival?? lol). I never made it out to the pond though, back then I was always heading over to Hasty (over by Jasper) where my Grandparents live and fishing out of a canoe on the Buffalo. Never caught a freekin 9lbs brownie though lol. Biggest I ever yanked out of the River went just under 4lbs.

Did you ever go to school in Springdale? Didn't quite catch whether you actually ever lived there or not previously. I lived there from hmmm... 1975 - 1981 and my parent's moved back in 1984 and have been there ever since. I'll be elegible to retire from the USAF in 4yrs, just now starting to think over the possibility of moving back home, dunno yet. Guess it comes down to where the money's at for my post military life lol. Springdales not a small town anymore (ok shaddap you big city types lol) which is what I'll be looking for. I remember when there were actually a few miles of nothing between the city limits of Rogers, S-dale and Fayetteville... sheesh.

Voss · « **Reply #7 on:** May 29, 2002, 08:48:59 AM »

No, I never lived in Springdale. I live in the liberal city of Fayetteville now, but as a child I was moved all over the world (military brat). I learned to hate the biger cities after living so close to Miami, and in the city of Jacksonville.

You won't recognize anything when you get back. My great-grandfather had purchased the land just south of Johnson, which he sold. Now there's a lot of department stores, and the Bio-Tech Grape Vineyards.

Most of the places that I've actually found 9lb Brownies are thought to not have any fish at all.

In four years we'll have the new private field finished out by Highfill. It'll be five-thousand feet of runway and, hopefully, enough pilots in residence to keep it active.

There still is a few miles between Springdale and Rogers. That's what they call Lowell.

Hmm, I think Daisy BB is dead and buried, but maybe not. I haven't seen any activity there in quite some time.

Tumor · « **Reply #8 on:** May 29, 2002, 02:50:02 PM »

I was back last summer for a couple weeks. Your right, I didn't recognize much of anything, except Harps Grocery stores are still in the same place haha.. And the schools.

My sister lives in Lowell, Mom and Dad both work over at WRMC. I've got this sinking feeling I may be moving back to AR when I retire but if I do I might try Harrison, or If I can figure out how to work from Home I'll head out to where my Grandparents live.

fdiron · « **Reply #9 on:** May 30, 2002, 03:03:54 AM »

Sounds to me like you want to have sex with your cousin.

Voss · « **Reply #10 on:** May 30, 2002, 08:47:54 AM »

Get help, Iron.