Sunday, June 17, 2001

Fishing with dad

Contributed photo

Alan Zinser (left to right), Amy Jo Gibson and Vernon Gerbersman fish at Lake Adel outside St. Louis, Mo.

For many of us, our fascination for and love of the outdoors were handed down to us by our fathers.
   From simple lessons of how to bait a hook or reel in a fish, to more important themes of respecting nature and appreciating the outdoors, children will continue to reflect on their fathers when they remember how they came to love fishing and hunting.
   For the past three weeks, the Caller-Times has solicited help from readers in sharing their own memories of fishing with their fathers. Here are a handful of those responses, in words and images, from thankful fathers, sons and daughters:
  
   The wind felt good that morning as I throttled down and took off from the

Stonecipher

boat ramp. Thoughts of past fishing trips with my dad kept racing through my mind.
   Since I was a small child, Dad had always taken my brother and I fishing. What great times we had.
   My brother was keeping a close eye on Dad, who was sitting in the back of the boat in his wheelchair. There would be no Baffin or Land Cut trip this time, because Dad could not stay on the water too long.
   We didn't realize it at the time, but this would be Dad's last fishing trip. He had been diagnosed with cancer two months before. But this morning, all the medical problems were forgotten. Dad had a big grin on his face as we motored down the Intracoastal.
   Dad caught a couple of keeper trout that morning, but with his excitement, you would have thought we had caught a boatload. I noticed on the way back a big smile on Dad's face.
   This will be my first Father's Day without Dad. I miss him deeply. The memories of that one brief morning of fishing will be with me always.
   - Larry Stonecipher
  
   One day, my Uncle Scott, my dad and I went down the highway to Padre Island.

Andrew Ponton

   When we got there, I had to adjust to the powerful scent of seawater. Then we untied the boat into the water, and I got to drive out to the ocean.
   We drove, speeding like a rocket, all the way there. Then we went to his dark brown cabin.
   After we got to the cabin, we loaded up the boat and set off to catch some bait.
   Then we went farther out toward the dark blue sea.
   Then we went to try to catch some big redfish. After a while, I caught two rainbow trout. Then we went back to catch some more bait. Then I caught a long redfish. It had a black dot on its tail.
   This was the best day in my life.
   At 4 p.m., we headed back. We will go there again a lot of times.
   I went back to the house and told my story. I look forward to going there again.
   - Andrew Ponton, 9
  
   (Trey and I) were up at 4:45 to meet a fishing guide for a morning of

Chuddy Crocker

fishing in Redfish Bay. We had fished Hog Island and several other good producing areas, and had about six good fish.
   As the tides and angle of the sun changed, we moved to the California Hole, due east of Aransas Pass. Our experienced guide cut the engine upwind and quietly poled to the hole. We anchored and baited with piggy-perch, clipping off the front dorsal fin to cause movement and blood that attracts predators.
   We were catching fish when Trey's pole went down hard, like a big redfish. In the 15 minute-fight that ensued, the big fish ran for the anchor rope and tried every knot.
   I knew the line would snap. At last, he was boated, revealing an 11-pound, 2-ounce trout longer than Trey's leg.
   In 40 years of fishing saltwater, it was the largest trout I have seen caught on a line.
   - Chuddy Crocker, father of Trey Crocker
  
   Let's go fishing!

Bob Valenzuela

   Oh boy, we are going fishing! Now to tell all my friends about our fishing trip, but wait: where are we going fishing- Baffin Bay (our favorite fishing spot), Corpus Christi, or maybe Rockport? Will we spend the whole night fishing?
   Who cares, as long as we go?
   Our trip started with an airplane ride to Orlando. Then a truck ride to Canaveral National Seashore.
   Next, to Kennedy Space Center for a day of surf fishing in the exquisite water. It was very blue, and the surf was rough and scary. We fished all day and caught some small shark and a whole lot of whiting. I liked this place.
   Next day, we drove to an island called "Islamorada" in the Florida Keys.
   We were extremely tired, so we spent the night in a hotel. At 6 a.m., we went fishing on a chartered fishing boat called the "Skipper," with Captain Paul and his mate, Donnie.
   We fished all day and caught 25 (dorado). Boy, were we exhausted by the end of the day.
   Thank you son, Mike Valenzuela, for a very memorable fishing trip on May 21, 2001.
   - Bob Valenzuela (Riviera)
  
  
   I am an avid fisherman here in the Lower Laguna and have two sons that love to tag along.

Larry Clavette Sr.

   I set out one morning for some tailing redfish action, and my oldest son, Larry Jr., wanted to tag along.
   He just turned 9 years old and was very much into fishing. So we headed out early in the morning, and throughout the day landed some nice fish.
   Just before we began to head in, Larry Jr. hooked up with a whopper! The fish hit so hard that he nearly had the pole jerked from his hands.
   He fought this fish for nearly 20 minutes. When we finally got the fish into the net, Larry Jr. was completely exhausted, but ever so proudly looking at his catch.
   A 28 ½ -inch Red!
   (Makes a dad stick his chest out with pride!)
   - Larry E. Clavette Sr.
  
   I guess you could say my father was an equal-opportunity dad. He believed in sharing his skill, knowledge and love of life, irrespective of his children's gender.
   My sisters and I learned how to shingle a roof, drive a nail, paint a house, and change a faucet in the house or oil in the car.
   He also taught us to fish and hunt.
   My younger sister and I won nearly all the tournaments in the Aransas Pass/Ingleside area for kids until we got too old to compete.
   We traded off winning first and second, or tying, for years. I'll mention my sister and I were sometimes the only girls entered.
   My father often recruited my older brother and his friends to help us as he couldn't be two places at once.
   We won fishing poles (with gold reels), clock radios and many other items my family could not have afforded to buy.
   But standing there, hearing our names announced as winners and seeing our Dad's proud face, was worth much more than any prize.
   I still fish and, as my dad taught me, I release what I can't - or won't - eat.
   My husband and I fish together, and my dad introduced my husband to hunting deer, turkey, etc.
   I started taking my son fishing as soon as he could walk. My husband takes him hunting.
   He has learned what my dad taught my husband and I: You eat what you catch or shoot, or let it go.
   Fathers introduce daughters into the outdoors as well as sons. And they teach us well.
   At least my dad did, and if my son has daughters, he dang well better teach his.
   - Judy Harvey Barker
  
   My father, Frank Moloney, used to say that a fisherman would have 10 days of fishing he would never forget.

Jim Maloney

   I'm still working on my 10, but I've had three with my Dad that will never be forgotten.
   The first consisted of a day fishing for walleye on Lake Erie. We had been trolling in rough waters all day long, to no avail. Finally, about 3:30 p.m., the guide suggested we anchor in the lee of an island and try for perch. We immediately began to haul in fish, with my side of the boat, shared with my brother, Bob, and brother-in-law, Dave, catching 10 perch for each one caught by Dad, our neighbor, Bob Forester, and the guide.
   Needless to say, there was quite a lot of good-natured ribbing going on.
   The second time, again on Lake Erie, Dad, suffering from emphysema, hooked a heavy fish and had trouble landing it. After quite a struggle, I unhooked a heavy rock snagged on his hook. Dad did not appreciate the mounted rock, suitably labeled, "Caught by Frank Moloney" when we presented it to him later that year.
   My final remembrance was a day in Corpus Christi Bay, guided by John Mendleski. Try as we might, we could not entice any of the many redfish we saw to hit. Nevertheless, we had a great time enjoying the day and trying.
   - Jim Moloney
  
   My dad had four daughters. He gave us boys' middle names and taught us that we didn't have to be limited by gender.

Amy Gibson

   He gave us the gift of individualism and idealism. He taught us the benefits of physical and mental effort and modeled creativity in building outdoor projects.
   Projects included teaching me to use power tools to build a tree house with a hinged trap door and digging fence postholes and applying creosote to lumber for a pony pen.
   Together, we formed a concrete retaining wall for a lovely garden and whittled a small wooden block, tapering the ends so the block could be sent spiraling when hit with a paddle's edge.
   And we built a dock at the lake from which we strove to swim across and on which we sat side by side, quietly fishing for minnows with a single hook on kite string, baited with bread balls.
   I love the outdoors. Thanks, Dad. I've followed in your footsteps. Happy Father's Day.
   - Amy Gibson
  
   My dad and I often go fishing because he only has three girls and I'm the oldest.

Erica Longoria

   This particular day was my birthday, and I asked Dad if we could go fishing. He said yes. He never says no.
   We went fishing at Trainer's Pier in the Humble Channel area. My dad and I were sitting down on the pier and both of our lines were out. I felt a little bite on my line.
   When I started reeling it in, it got heavy, so I told my dad to hurry and come quick so he could help me reel in the fish.
   After we reeled it in, my dad couldn't believe his eyes. We took the fish to the bait stand and had it weighed and tagged.
   My dad and I were surprised that I caught a 31-inch redfish, bigger than any he'd caught himself.
   We both were very excited. On the way home, I told him that I was glad he had taken me fishing.
   I just wanted him to know that he's the greatest father anyone could have, and to have a great Father's Day.
   - Erica Longoria, 10
  
  

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