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Fishing with my dad was always an adventure, especially when the fish weren't biting. He was a master of practical jokes and knew how to keep us entertained, even on the slowest days.
The Carp Prank
One memorable day in Dunkirk Harbor on Lake Erie, the bite was slow, and my dad decided to liven things up. Equipped with scuba gear, he noticed a dead carp floating around. The fish was massive, at least twenty pounds and half rotten. With a mischievous grin, he slipped overboard, grabbed the carp, and swam towards a friend's boat anchored nearby.
We watched in anticipation as my dad hooked the dead carp onto one of their fishing lines. The unsuspecting anglers, half-asleep, sprang to life as the fish pole bent under the weight of the rotting carp. One of them set the hook, and my dad put on a show, fighting the 'fish' for a few minutes before letting the current take over. The excitement in their boat was palpable. One guy was ready with a net, while the other reeled furiously.
Suddenly, my dad surfaced behind their boat, nearly choking with laughter. We couldn't contain ourselves either. When they finally pulled in the dead carp, the look on their faces was priceless. As they realized my dad wasn't in our boat, one of them shouted, "Bob, you a**hole!" The entire harbor erupted in laughter. To this day, I can still hear the echoes of their laughter when I think about that moment.
Unbelievable Harbor Antics
The funny moments at that harbor were almost unbelievable. We once watched a guy back his boat, still attached to the trailer, into the water. Another time, a drunk boater capsized, and we had to pull up our anchor to save him from drowning. There was even a time when a man on shore hit a boater with a heavy lead sinker, and the boater retaliated by tossing the man into the lake.
Dad's Unique Humor
Dad had a unique way of commenting on fishing mishaps. If a fish swallowed the hook deeply, he'd say, "Uh oh, an ahole job." One day, I reeled in a fish with a hook and line hanging out of its butt. Dad yelled, "Holly crap, look at that, an ahole job! I think you're letting them bite too long."
The Scuba Diving Incident
My dad's friend Jimmy had a tracheotomy and breathed through a hole in his neck. One day, they convinced him to try scuba diving. They taped a cork into his tracheotomy hole, but it only worked for a few minutes before the back pressure blew it out, and Jimmy almost drowned. Fishing can be dangerously funny sometimes!
Weather Woes on Lake Erie
Weather on Lake Erie can change in an instant. One time, my dad and a friend were caught in a sudden storm outside the break wall. The waves grew to eight feet, tossing their sixteen-foot boat with its eighteen-horsepower outboard motor like a toy. My dad's friend, who couldn't swim, wrapped himself in every flotation device on board. When they finally made it back, he vowed never to fish again.
Fishing with my dad was always a mix of excitement, danger, and hilarity. His ability to find humor in any situation made even the slowest days memorable. So, next time you're out on the water and things get slow, remember to have some fun!
Gear Up for Your Fishing Adventures
Scuba Gear: Find high-quality scuba gear on Amazon
Fishing Poles: Check out top-rated fishing poles on Amazon
Flotation Devices: Stay safe with these flotation devices from Amazon
Fishing Hooks: Explore a variety of fishing hooks on Amazon
Don't forget to gear up and be ready for anything on your next fishing trip!
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