When was the last time ya'll went fishin? Layin on the crik bank with a pole danglin a baited hook, of chik'n liver, in the river whilst the sun is shinin brightly? The warm air of summer is bathin the entire riverbank with the "snoozin" warmth that kinda rocks ya'll to sleep.

What about the "bite" that happens just about the time ya'll doze off and it most makes ya'lls heart wanna attack. What in the world would a huge catfish this size be doin with your bait? Mr. Catfish takes off for greener pastures-with ya'lls hook firmly attatched to his'n ole ugly mouth. Travelin at about 35 mph and he hits the end of ya'lls nylon cord used for fish'n line. When a 50# hog like him is hooked something has to give and it ain't the line, the pole, you OR Mr. Catfish! [ I suppose ya'lls are wonderin how I know the fish is a Mr?---he has whiskers!] The chik'n liver is already lost and now ole Mr. Catfish is well on his'n way to bein a "free cat". Of course, those cheapo hooks that wallyworld sold ya'lls are now sraighten'd out like a wire!

We know this old fish--in fact he has a name---Old Hank! He's got a crooked eye on'm that was caused by a .22 cal bullet about 10 years ago. Naw, I didn't shoot'm---but a neighbor did! Said he got tired of see'n that big old hog swimmin in the shallers of the river and stickin his'n old tounge out at'm. Figgered he'd make a good meal or two for that family of 9! Course, neighbors chikn's seemed to turn up missin every little whip-stitch too. Lots a fethers around that house along with chik'n bones too. All that wasn't too bad but when those kids started wearin full indian headress made from those "et" chik'ns it kinda added a little extra to the thought of losin chikn's. The worst part of the whole thing--those folks wern't even Indian!

Another neighbor once told me that mountain lion wasn't too bad for grub cept'n the longer ya'll chaw it the bigger it got! I told'm if'n I had a share of those big cats he could have mine and I'd take chick'n instead!

Jesus Christ is waitin for the Father to tell Him---"Son, go get my people"! Are ya'll ready for Him? Old hoot gibson. Matt.24:44

-- old hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), February 23, 2002

Answers

Good to hear from ya again Hoot!!!

-- Pat (mikulptrc@aol.com), February 23, 2002.

Wow! Hoot is alive and well! Welcome back! And on the other account.... Yep, could be today! Would sure be nice wouldn't it!

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), February 23, 2002.

Good to see ya back Hoot!

-- woodsbilly N/C Pa. (coleenl@penn.com), February 23, 2002.

Nice to see you hoot.

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), February 23, 2002.

Welcome my brother in Christ! Big smiles to ya! In His Grace, Sissy

-- Sissy Barth (iblong2Him@ilovejesus.net), February 23, 2002.

Howdy Hoot,It's starting to look like countryside again. :>)

-- Daryll in NW FLA (twincrk@hotmail.com), February 23, 2002.

Jesus H. Christ! Here we go again!

-- Redneck in WA (nospam@aol.com), February 24, 2002.

Hoot's back. This IS a good sign. A new openess on the ole forum vs. a bit of subjective, capricious restriveness on postings imho.

Kudos, Chuck!

-- zeb (wrangler@jridgeranch.com), February 24, 2002.

Hoot,

It's so good to see you back on CS again!

-- Kristin, in La. (sevenstonestile@earthlink.net), February 24, 2002.

It is good to see you here again Hoot!

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), February 24, 2002.

Welcome back Grandpa Hoot! Now I am really happy. Two great story tellers Hoot & George all on the forum. Hopefully I won't laugh myself to death!!

-- Michael W. Smith in North-West Pennsylvania (kirklbb@penn.com), February 24, 2002.

Hoot, I have been reading your stories here (archives) and reading your stories on other forums. I really enjoy them!This story reminds me of how I spent last summer. Thanks, George

-- george nh (rcoopwalpole@aol.com), February 24, 2002.

Hoot!!!!!!!!!! Oh how good it is to see you again brother! Seems like we both decided to come back and try the forum again at the same time. I look forward to reading your posts. I was just a little sprout when my granny took me on my first fishing trip...maybe 4. We didn't have none of them fancy reel things just old cane poles. Papa would go down and feed the catfish every evening at the same spot so granny thought this would be a good place for my first attempt at fishing. The water would just be a boilin with catfish when papa threw out that feed. Granny had 3 or 4 poles of her own she was watchin and I had one. All of a sudden my bobber went under the water and there was a mighty pull on my pole. Well can ya'll guess what happened then? Yep....I started screaming for all I was worth, dropped the pole and ran and got into the truck :o). Granny scrambled to grab my pole(the whole time she was hollerin at me to get my tail end back down there)and it ended up being a catfish as big as I was. I figured out right then and there that I didn't want anything to do with something that big and ugly, and so ended my fishing career :o).

-- Amanda (mrsgunsmyth@hotmail.com), February 24, 2002.

Oh Hoot, so good to see you back - now I know that the forum is returning to normal. I used to go fishing with my Granny. She would get so excited about catching fish (even in her late seventies). One day we were at the pond and Granny was fishing for sunfish (perch). She got a bite and she yanked that ole pole so hard that the fish came flying out of the water and the line (and fish) wrapped around a limb over her head. Was the funniest thing you ever saw! My Granny was a spry old lady who read the Bible (that's where I learned what I know about the Bible) every day. I stayed with her alot when I was young and she made me learn Bible verses. Of course, after she died I kinda left the church. Maybe one day .. who knows. Good to see you back Hoot - you remind me of my Granny and her Bible stories.

-- Cindy (colawson@mindspring.com), February 24, 2002.

It made my day to see you posting again! God bless.

-- Sharon (spangenberg@hovac.com), February 25, 2002.