mastercraftsman

There was a fishing tournament here today and folks from all over, who are on the national striper circuit were all over MY lake. Well, normally it feels like mine because almost no one around here goes out in the winter. Lake Norman has over 575 miles of coastline I am VERY familiar with. I had to turn my VHF off because I lost interest in all their banter about who was doing what. Did my own thing, as always: good tunes, good coffee, fresh air and sun, analyzing my color sonar and, through my old worn binocs, the eagles that I should name. Didn't dare set a longline (100 hooks) to haul back tomorrow, because of all the nosey ass fuckers looking back at me through THEIR binocs. So, only three fucking fish. Threw them back.
A few hours ago I'm passing Birkdale Village, and notice all these out of state rigs gathered at the wiegh-in site. For some reason I'm curious. Immediately amongst the crowd and media, who travel around the country to events far and wide, I was recognized as an outsider. Also recognized as "that guy with that chrome plated boat." It's just polished, but anyway it truly made my day. Team after team came up to weigh in with only one fish, maybe 6lbs at best. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in gear and boats. Dudes (and a few ladies) dressed like walking billboards, NASCAR style. Folks who do nothing BUT fish. And that's the best they could do? Damn.
I made some small talk about techniques and areas as I left, bursting out in laughter and thinking how all my old commercial fishing buddies would have had a field day. Yeah you guys, I wasn't laughing at your stupid jokes.

Some would say if you can't beat 'em (I might have), join 'em. Well, not this guy....