Over the last 5 years,(correction 20 years) I’ve taken my brother in law out fishing a number of times. The guy gets skunked everytime or if he’s haveing a good day…may get a small sheephead.
Couple examples: Went eye fishing in the fall on the Croix a few years back. He had the honor of netting my 5 lbs eye…He never had a bite. The last two years I took him out catten 3 times. He caught one 3 lbs channel cat. No runs, hits no errors. It seems like when thier’re biteing, I can mention his name and the fish just turn off. BIL’s biggest fish todate was a Canadian Northern tipping the scale at 7 lbs caught when he was a teenager.
This last week the fishing slowed in our area. A number of folk were reporting few runs and when the did get a run it was a smallish flat. I figured that the spawn had started and fishing had slowed…although I hadn’t notice belly’s full of eggs or battle/nesting scares.
I was also concerned that I didn’t make it over to the cotton wood tree to sign in last night. Left my cell phone at home too. I thought being the weather was so nice a number of flatters would be out…but we waved at one eye boat the whole night.
We set up early. I explained that the spawn must have started and that fishing had slowed…As he pointed out…what’s new? That’s the Carbert Curse.
9:15 we have a run. BIL does a great job of reeling in a 13.
CURSE BROKEN!
We got some pictures (below) got her back into the water and I spent the next 20 minutes retying because the fish got into all four lines! 
While I was getting the lines ready…BIL was pretty darn happy that we actually had a fish in the boat. Actually, he was so excited that I couldn’t get a word in edge wise to tell him to pass me another bullhead. He was worse than a woman that just found $500 in front of a shoe store! 
Love watching a newbie catch their first flat
9:45: A good run! Now my experiance BIL picked up the rod and set the hook like a pro 
My St Croix custom rod from Hooked on Fishing in Rochester was doubling up pretty good. I said “Mike, this is a much better fish”. By this time I don’t think I had to tell him that. With the butt of the rod into his leg, he was having a hard time bringing her to the boat. When it did come into veiw and gave us the ol’ catfish spray…
; well, I can’t repeat the words he used.
40 pounds and some change! After the pictures and a little revival…(brother in law revival that is )) He was talking like a two year old girl…The guy was pretty pumped!
We ended up the night with 5 fish boated and one “I feel him, now I don’t” hook set. 13/40/27/and a couple 5ers tossed in to keep us awake.
It was a great way to end a curse that’s been plagueing him for years. I know what the talk will be on Monday morning at his job!
and what a good way to break a curse. 
