The Old Mans Lucky Lure
The Northern Pike is one of my favourites, I have been fishing for Pike for as long as I can remember.
I started fishing with my father when I was barely old enough to hold a fishing rod. By the time I was ten I was fishing on my own and loving every minute. That was the same year my uncle Dan, who was six months my senior and should have known better, and I decided to raid the old mans tackle box and borrow Lucy his lucky lure.
The taboo Red Dare devil in hand Dan and I worked our way down to one of Ontario’s many hidden lakes, our secret spot tucked in behind the family cabin.
We spent most of our summers growing up around that lake and I could probably write a book about our adventures, as there were many. Dan and I tied up our lures and full of youthful confidence began to cast.
It wasn’t long, maybe five or six casts, and I get a hit. WHAM! Typical of the mighty Northern he hit hard and bent my rod to its limit.
“ Bring it in slowly Jack, be careful, give him some slack”, Dan yelled, doing his best to keep me calm. Then SNAP; there goes my line, my hopes and worse, Lucy, the old mans lucky lure.
Dan, knowing quite well that I was in a jackpot, laughed anyway and even went so far as to rub it in. But like a true angler he continued fishing casting in rabid fire now. And it paid off, another strike and Dan’s line was all over the lake.
Now it was me doing the hollering as Dan played out the monster fish and after what seemed like an eternity pulled the exhausted pike onto the beach and into our excited grasp. Then our awe quickly turned to disbelieve. Not only did Dan catch the biggest pike ever pulled out of Horseshoe Lake but also embedded in the pikes side was Lucy, my Dads lucky lure.
The family still talks about the big pike caught that day and Dad still has Lucy.He can often be seen holding and admiring that dented scratched up tooth bitten lure and telling anyone who will listen about how lucky it is. Another of the old mans believes is that its better to let a sleeping bear lie, and I agree.
Jack Jr.
