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February 5, 2012

Reflections: Images on the pond

By Ed Hungness, Local columnist ----

The wind howled and the snow blew sideways. The frozen lake was a sea of white, except for a few ice shanties that dotted the landscape. It was a day to stay close to the hearth and the coffeepot. With the cat asleep on my lap, I stared at the flames dancing in the fireplace, and my mind drifted back to a long-ago summer afternoon spent with my father.

I stood at the edge of the bank. The sun's rays warmed my face and cast a long shadow behind me. Cane pole in hand, I surveyed the pond. Armed with a short-shank hook, red and white bobber, stringer and a Campbell's Soup can full of red worms, I had everything I needed.

A dragonfly buzzed low over the water in search of its dinner. Hidden in the rushes along the shore, a bullfrog croaked and one quickly replied from the other side. A water snake was making its way from left to right across the middle of the pond. I wondered if it was a water moccasin.

The bank was lined with cattails. I read that the Indians once used them for torches to light their camps at night. Dried and dipped in oil or animal fat they would make a fine torch. A yellow finch perched on a shrub looking for a tasty bug to pounce on. A snapping turtle sunned himself on a half-sunken log. I sure wouldn't want him to grab my toe if I were swimming!

My dad had walked down the path to cast from the river's edge. Even though I was only 10, I felt all grown up being left alone at the pond. Dad and I were fishing buddies, and he knew he could trust me to be on my own. I also trusted him and knew he would come back and get me when it started to get dark.

I wanted to impress him with my catch, so I baited up and flipped my worm out to what I hoped would be a lucky spot. Bam! As soon as the bobber hit the water, down it went. I gave the line a jerk and up came a hand-sized sunfish. Its belly was plump with eggs, yellow as the sun and trimmed in turquoise. Quickly I threaded it on my stringer and rebaited my hook. As I flipped it out I realized this was definitely a hot-spot. Bang! I got another one, but bigger!

The afternoon passed quickly, and my stringer became heavy with sunfish and bluegills. As the sun dipped low behind the trees, I saw Dad coming up the path from the river. He had three good-sized bass on his stringer and a smile on his face.

Together we walked back to our car, two fishing buddies, each proudly carrying his catch. On the way home, we stopped at the country tavern to "wet our whistle." Dad had a draft beer and a cigarette, and I drank a grape soda and enjoyed a candy bar. We knew Mom would be delighted with our catch. It was a special day; one I've always remembered.

Ed Hungness and his wife became full-time residents of Fife Lake in 2005 after Ed's retirement. He can be reached at edhungness@yahoo.com or by mail at P.O. Box 57, Fife Lake, MI 49633.

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