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Got up early to fish at the local state park. Since I am probably the worst fisherman in the state of Illinois, I decided to lower aspirations. Two goals today were not to fall in the water and not to draw blood from my fingers. Well.... I did not draw blood. However, I did get wet. Here's the story:

I was walking back to the car after getting skunked as usual, when I thought I'll hit the creek that feeds into the lake. It was on the way, so what they heck. I changed lures and started to cast when on the second cast something hit hard. and fast. Set the hook and started the reel. I was surprised as all get out. The fish was fighting but I was getting him when all of sudden everything came to a stop. the rod bent about in half and the brake was singing. I could see the fish on the sand bar flopping around but I could not budge him. I put the rod down and grabbed the line and started to haul it in. It quickly became obvious as it got closer to shore that I was hauling a 3 ft piece of wood with it. Anyway got both to shore. The fish ( walleye ) spit the hook and start flapping towards the sloping bank and freedom. There was no way I was going to let that sucker go and I grabbed it. Of course, now me and the fish are both going down the muddy and slippery bank into the water. Thankfully the bank was not that steep and I stopped about knee deep and I still had the fish. Hurray! My first fish of the season. Any way I flipped the fish up the bank and got out of the water wet and muddy but with a grin of my face. This was something you see on the internet. Got myself together, took a picture of the walleye ( about 14 inches) and let him go. I said to myself, maybe there is another one out there. Sure enough on the third cast got another one but smaller and no log and I did not go swimming. I called it a day and went home to take a bath(again).

Oh, I also snagged a beaver today but that is another story.

All and all, a good day.

All in all, a pretty entertaining story, Wiz. Seems like it was a wash between you and the Walleye; everyone came out of the battle alive and clean.

But this is the story I want to hear about now.

The Wiz wrote: ... I also snagged a beaver today but that is another story.

That's one you'll always remember. Good for you. Great story.

Great day... I would like to hear the beaver tale as well.

Funny that you would go through all that to catch him, only to let him go. I'm glad you did, sounds like he deserved to live..................

The beaver story is not as exciting as my almost swim, catch, and release. The account as follows:


This incident takes place about three hours before the almost swim and on the same creek. A road goes over the creek with three culverts handling the water. The water is high and fast due to a couple of days rain. I was fishing from it, letting the current take the lure and push it toward the bank that nobody can get to. Nice overhangs and hiding places. While doing so, I spotted movement to my right, next to bridge and on the bank. It was a beaver gathering grass and sticks. Now, I was use to seeing the beaver going up and down the stream all spring but I was never this close before. I slowly put the rod down with the line still out and got my phone out to take pictures. I started taking pictures as it left the bank and start swimming down steam on the same bank side as my line. I was so engrossed that I forgot about my line being out until I hear a scrapping sound at my feet. My rod was being pulled into the creek. My first thought was a fish had grabbed my line but soon realized that the critter had been snagged by lure. I had grabbed the rod and with the brake was still on, it was clicking like all get out. Before I could react the lure pop free and came winging back at me. Luckily I was to far away for a hit. As for the beaver...he just kept on trucking with the sticks and such in his mouth. And that folks, as Paul Harvey use to say, is the rest of the story.

Congratulations on getting fish.