Last Updated on May 11, 2018 by Terry
Fishin’ and Borryin’, Borryin’ and Fishin’
They can go hand in hand
“No let me tell you a little story ‘bout a man named Jed.” That could easily be what one would think of as my friends and I re-live some of our past adventures. You just simply cannot make these kinds of stories up!
Back in the mid-1970s, a couple of my fishing buddies had determined they were as good as any bass fishermen around and decided to participate in an upcoming tournament on the Arkansas River. Let’s just call them Barney and Ebb. (I’ll be Gomer.) They needed to go for a practice day to locate some active bass and ignored the fact that the Corp of Engineers had posted small craft warnings on the river during the time that they both could get together and go.
That morning, they launched Ebb’s old school Ouachita fiberglass bass boat. Yes, the Ouachita brand was a major player back then and made fiberglass boats. They found an abandoned obscure launching ramp just off of East Washington Ave. in North Little Rock. After not having been accosted by bad guys living in that area, an area that most folks would avoid, they motored downstream to the mouth of Fouche Creek. They were fortunate to discover some water flowing through a rock jetty and it was loaded! Bass love moving water. They caught five or six over 4 pounds with the largest being just about six and a half pounds. Yea, it’s a little fishy that they could not agree on exactly how many they caught, I’m not even sure which one caught the big one.
But they made a smart decision at that point; they agreed that since the tournament was the very next week, they should leave those fish alone and try somewhere else. They motored further downstream to some backwater just above the dam south of town. After fishing and catching for several hours, they noticed sun down was rapidly approaching and it was time to head back to their truck.
Right about then the story took an interesting turn. The champion bass assassins had fought the swift water too long and used extra juice from their battery. Now it was too weak to start the big motor! After giving up on starting the motor, it was plumb dark and they were many miles from the ramp with a rolling river to navigate. They were near a new launch ramp under construction and some nice person had left their welding truck at the site. Since it was under construction, none of the other facilities had been completed and the area was closed to the public. You know, no one around.
They decided since they only needed a battery to start the boat motor, and the truck had one, they could simply and harmlessly borrow it to start the boat and put the battery back. I mean come on, what’s the harm in that? Everyone knows people were nicer back then and it was a given that the owner wouldn’t care. Only problem was that the battery was bolted into the truck and being unprepared as usual, they had no tools to remove the truck’s battery. Our two heroes were not going to give up that easily. Since they were already in the borrowing mood, surely this guy had some tools they could use. They began looking around in the truck for tools and low and behold, the key was in the ignition!
Sometimes these adventures just keep getting more interesting. (as in compound the stupidity.) They went from borrowing the battery to borrowing the truck to drive to NLR to get their car and boat trailer. As B & E headed out toward the main highway, they suddenly noticed that the construction road was blocked by a cable between two poles. (NO, not Breaking and Entering, Barney and Ebb!) After studying the problem, it was decided that attempting to pull one of the poles out of the ground and lay the cable down was the next logical plan of action. After considerable effort the pole was removed and they were on their way. Then as they were smiling and driving toward the main highway, Barney glanced at the gas gauge and noticed that it was bouncing on empty. They were facing a near twenty-mile round trip with no place open to resolve the problem. But luck was with them (or angels) and when they arrived at the main road there was an old store with a trailer behind it. It was unfortunate that no one was home but they had a phone booth outside. For any millennials that might be reading, this occurred over twenty years before cell phones. Barn called Mrs. Barn and ordered (begged) her to jump in her car and come to their rescue as the two travelers were certain that the borrowed truck would not make it to NLR and the cops might catch them and wind themselves up in jail. Mrs. Barn was not very happy but agreed that coming to get them was in everyone’s best interest.
Suddenly a new and interesting event happened, a beat up old worn out car pulled up to the trailer house next door with a young couple in it. Barney quickly explained to them their dilemma and asked if they would give him a ride to NLR and his car. He made sure they understood that he would gladly pay for their gas and trouble. They agreed, so he called his wife back before she had left the house. That piece of good luck most assuredly saved him a good chewing out later. Ebb now would take the borrowed (stolen) truck back to the river while Barney left with the couple to get his vehicle in NLR.
After a few miles and as they were heading toward town, he realized that there was no one around, it was the middle of the night, and he was with two people he had never seen before in his life. He suddenly had a minor cold chill advancing up his back when the guy turned to him and asked if he had any drugs on him. In all honestly, he gave the appearance that any type would be beneficial. But, being the man that he is, he thought of his wife. How will she be able to go through life without him? It was very obvious that the gypsies were planning on doing away with him after they robbed him of everything he was in possession of.
Don’t ever mistake Barney for someone who can’t think fast during a crisis. He began explaining to the fellow that he usually had plenty but his buddy Ebb had smoked all he had while fishing. Barney remembered that the bad guy had seen Ebb and it wouldn’t be a stretch to believe his story. After what seemed like an eternity the misjudged guy smiled and said “ok thanks.”
Upon arriving at his car and trailer, he gave the couple some money, locked his doors and headed back for the boat. (And Ebb) He swore an oath that night that he would never fish the river with small craft warnings again. And he kept his promise for a few years until some other form of having fun came along when the river was high.
Oh yeah, the best part of the entire adventure, due to high water and swift currents, they cancelled the tournament two days later! So, the two of them had all that fun for nothing.
Ole Barn still has one regret that he talks about occasionally; if he knew that the tournament would be canceled, he wonders just how many big bass they would have caught near that jetty? Nine or ten he reckons!
Don’t miss other adventures from McHenryCreekFishers.com.
