take it easy

Somehow I survived the deluge in Burlington. Went to a party held in a park and the rain and wind were so fierce the party tent that was set up to protect us threatened to take flight. We had dinner reservations at Sweetwaters so we had to leave, just as people were scrambling to restake the tent...

The p.i. is under control and it was a busy day at home. I finished up an article about my escapades with the Lewis Island crew and emailed it to the New Jersey section of the NY Times. Hopefully they'll consider it. Paid some bills, went for a work out at the gym and a five mile run along the towpath. All throughout the day though I was thinking about fishing. I never knew I would ever be this interested in hauling for shad. All day I wanted to get out there as the sun starts to set and gold flecks glint off the Delaware. It's truly weird, because being from Harrison, NJ, I had always wanted to move to the country. I get to the country and I don't do anything countryfied. At least now I've begun to enjoy this beautiful place. Better late than never.

Today was quick and easy. We were finished by 7:45. There were few holes to repair and we still only had 150 yards of netting, so it loaded quick. Steve said we're putting on the rest tomorrow. The nettles in some places along the path were hip high, but the path was dry and the footing was sure. John and I just towed up the boat; we did not row. He took me through the interior of the island along a path and pointed out a little garden still kept by a long time friend of the deceased family patriarch, Fred Lewis. He pointed out where a barn once stood and where some of their pets were buried. He said that at one time there was another fishing crew on the island further upstream. As we waited for the boat he pointed out a plaque commemorating Fred Lewis.

We hauled in a lot of cat fish, a few large mouth bass, suckers and a walleye or two, but no Shad. Steve said we would have to put on my netting to get out further into the water to catch them tomorrow.