Imagine this…
Your drive through the picturesque Mississippi River Valley ends at Everts Fishing Resort. The time is 7 pm with the sun setting in the West over the Mighty ‘sippi.
You and your friend walk over the fabled Everts arched bridge to the dock where your outdoorsie looking guide greets you. Your cold drinks are place into a supplied cooler along with your sandwiches and snacks.
While your adjusting the straps of your supplied Float Tech PFD’s, your guide is talking about boating safety and some history of the Upper Mississippi River, the 9 foot channel project, the lock and dam system and the fish that swim in the river. Then it’s off to Lock No 3 to raise us up to the next pool.
From there we boat past eagles, herons, deer and many other animals along the banks and in the air. Treasure Island Nucular Power Plant can be seen a short distance away. We pass many pleasure craft and anglers all heading in for the evening. Although our trip is just starting, most others are done for the day.
We boat into an area that reminds you of a scene from Jurassic Park. Your thinking that you really shouldn’t be surprised if a Taradactil came flying by…it just fits the area.
After we anchor, we set up our rods and sit back to enjoy a beaver that’s swimming by. Sometimes he gets so close we can see his nostrils. He seems a bit upset with us intruders because he slaps his tail on the water as he’s diving under only to resurface further down stream. We hear some grass moving and are watching the area the noise is coming from. What is it? A deer, fox, racoon, possium or a turtle?
Suddenly the back right rod is acting funny. It certainly isn’t what you expected from a large flathead catfish. As you set the hook, your thinking “man is this a small fish” and have a bit of disappointment in your mind. Once it’s up to the boat and netted you can’t believe your eyes. The big smile for the photo comes easily to your face and then the fish is released.
Your guides says disgustingly….”Practice Fish”.
The few rays of sun that are left are getting fainter and darkness is setting in. You’re just starting to feel comfortable with the area. Then your guide says it’s time to move.
We reanchor and set up the rods again…you’re thinking about a sandwich and just as you take the first bite, the line out alarm starts singing. You grab the rod, feel the fish and set the hook…hard. You’re expecting the rod to go back to the 1 O’clock position, but instead it stops at 11! There isn’t any drag on the reel…it’s locked down and it’s a fight between you and the fish. You plant the rod in your stomach and grunt each time the rod bends more. You’re thinking “What the hell is down there!”
As you work the beast under the boat, the locked down drag is actually slipping and the rod tip is bent into the water. Slowly he’s coming up. When the flathead finally reaches the surface you realize your still hunched over from trying to keep pressure on. Your guide nets the fish that you didn’t think would fit into the net and holds him in the water while you catch your breath and pop your eyes back into their sockets.
The guide lifts the monster of the night over the side of the boat and removes the hook. Give you a little bit of instruction on how to hold a large fish as you sit in the “trophy chair”. He snaps a few photos asks if you would like to kiss him and back into the dark depths he goes.
The night is still young and you might move to a few more spots. At one point you realize that the stars are very bright out here and you spot a satilight tracking across the sky. While watching that, a falling star catches your attention.
Once the night is over and we are into the A.M. it’s time to head back. The river is completely different from the boat ride up that we had just hours ago.
We pull into the lock and chat with the lock operator on how the night went while we are dropping back to the lower pool. Then it’s a short 2.1 miles back to Everts where we stop in the bait shop to talk about the evenings fishing, grabbing a soda and think about a pizza before the ride home.
On the ride home all you can think of is your wife isn’t going to believe these photos much less your coworkers!
Now I wish I could say every trip works out this way. Fishing is still fishing and we do have our no catfish guarantee (see website for details).
Gift Certificates for a trip you or your spouse will never forget are available at Everts Fishing Resort near Redwing, MN or on line at my website
Have a great Holiday Season and come on Spring!!
Hope the show goes well.