I really miss that lure

Tim Poorker
Posted 6/26/03

One thing I have learned about fishing lures is that you can never have enough. The mere nature of their intended purpose lends itself to the fact that it's highly probable you're going to lose some of them. Over the years, I have had more than my share of the sometimes flashy and always colorful artificial baits come and go.

I vividly remember one particular lure. Although I can't recall the brand or the name of the lure, I do remember what happened the very first and only time I used it.

Immediately after buying it for a couple of bucks at the old Coast to Coast store in Milaca, I couldn't wait to try it out. The thing just looked ³fishy." It was colored a pale green with black eyes, about four inches long and it resembled a "Rapala," only this one had a curved body, somewhat like a ³Lazy Ike" lure. According to the package insert, it was supposed to have an exaggerated side to side wobble that drove fish crazy. In fact, it was ³guaranteed to catch fish, or your money back!" How could I go wrong?

Anxious to cast it, experiment with it and determine its "fishability," I drove directly to the river. It also gave me yet another reason to go fishing.

Carefully, I tied the new lure to my line and cast it in some backwater near a clump of water lilies. The lure landed just in front of the vegetation and as I began to retrieve it I remember thinking this thing lives up to what the package insert said. I was impressed with its action. It wobbled and wiggled wonderfully. I admired my new bait for all of three seconds and then, to quote Jeff Foxworthy, it was sheer pandelerium.

There was a tremendous swirl behind my lure and I watched in awe and dumbfounded helplessness as a big northern rocketed out of the water with my new green lure dangling out of its wide-

open and toothy mouth. As it splashed loudly back into the river I realized it had cut my line with its teeth. Gone was my fish, new lure and all of my hopes for it. All in a matter of seconds.

And I couldn't even cash in on the guarantee because, after all, it did catch a fish. I have yet to find another one like it since that fateful day. I really miss that lure....

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Eight things you can

learn from your dog

This item came across the Internet recently (no credit given to the author). I thought it was worthy of sharing. Some of these reminded me of John Thompson, especially number 5:

1. When your loved ones come home, run to greet them.

2. Eat with gusto.

3. When it's hot, drink lots of water.

4. Take naps.

5. Don't bite, just growl.

6. Give unconditional love.

7. Stay close to your loved ones in times of distress.

8. When you want something badly enough, go dig for it.

There you have it. I think we can all learn something from our dogs if we just pay attention.