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Put another blog on the fire...
8/2/2005 6:40:47 PM
Dear Blog:

It's been a while since I've made an entry. So much to catch up on.

Over the 4th of July holiday some cohorts and I went up to the N.W. Angle. My first trip to that section of The Woods. Tough week for me and my partner Happy Hooker. Didn't boat a muskie. Didn't even have one on our lines. I'd been to Sabaskong Bay a number of times before and while this is similar to Sabaskong it is different. Much more wide open water areas. Not as many small islands. Fished weeds, rocks, the usual stuff and only saw 3 fish in a week. H.H. did get a couple of blow ups on a surface bait and a nice pike, but it was a tough weeks fishing.

It was tough for me emontionaly also. This was my first trip to Canada since Mary passed away. Although a different area than where she and I went it was so similar as to bring back so many wonderful memories of our trips to The Woods. Very hard to be there without her. But I'm glad I went, I had always wanted to see the Angle and now I have.

Last week I went with other cohorts to Lake Vermilion. This was more of a family trip rather than just the guys. Had a good time. But still couldn't put a muskie in the boat. Must be snakebit or something. I partnered with a guy from my M.I. chapter. He had a solid mid 40 inch and girthy on the line and lost it, later that day he lost 2 other fish, and saw 3 more one of which he said was huge. I did manage to see more fish on this trip than last year (none) or my trip to The Woods. I lost count over the week but saw maybe 8-10 fish. All were nice 40 inch class fish and solid, no small fish but no giants either. They seemed only to move on bucktails. We couldn't get anything to move on glidebaits, topwater, or cranks.

Did have a unique experience while there. My partner and I managed to save 2 lives. We had just passed a very small lund with a man and woman in it and I looked back only to see him in the water and her hanging on to the side of their boat while it was still circleing. They said that they had got caught in the wake of a pontoon boat that passed them after we went by and tossed out of their boat. Of course they weren't wearing life jackets and the man was exhausted when we reached them. I don't think he would have made it more than a couple of more minutes. I pulled my boat in close and Dick, My partner threw him the floating seat cushion and used my boat hook to pull him to the side of my boat. We tried to pull him in but he was to large for us to get into the boat. Dick and I are large men but this guy made us look small. I got him into a life jacket and helped him hang on to my boat and the using the trolling motor we got close to their boat and Dick jumped in and shut down their motor and helped her into their boat. Meanwhile a restorted Chris Craft came by and they had a boarding ladder and we used them to get the guy back into his boat with her. They were in scared out of their minds. The first thing they did was put on their live jackets. I offered to tow them back to their resort but they turned me down. Neither was seriously injured so we let them go. Never did get their names and they didn't ask ours. All I know is, if I hadn't spotted them when I did one or both wouldn't have made it. If her strength had give out she would have been sucked under the running boat and cut up in the prop, and as I said he was so exhausted that I don't think he would have lasted much longer before going under.

Since Mary passed I've struggled with questions about life and death and my purpose here on this planet. I've wondered how I would go on without her and if there would be any kind of future for me. Well, I view this as a sign from God that he still has things for me to do. I don't have a clue what they are but now at least I know in my heart that someday I'll find some happiness again.

To those who have never suffered a loss and haven't experienced real grief in their lives, they might think that my taking this as an answer to prayers as a bunch of bull. "I just happened to be in the right place at the right time," they'll figure. But to those who have, they know the emptiness that comes with grief and the search for meaning and understanding that one deals with during such times. They will understand that 3 people were saved that day, the 2 in the water and myself.

Put another Blog on the Fire
Cook me up some bacon and some beans

Posted by mm12463 on 8/15/2005 7:14:17 PM
Wow Paul - talk about eventful and Esoxaddict is right...you've done something most of us will never be a part of. That's a good thing and you can blow your own horn on something like that anytime. Just amazing.

Posted by esoxaddict on 8/12/2005 3:44:03 PM
Fishpoop,

You've done something far greater than most ever will -- you saved a life, man.

Most of us will never do anything that means that much or impacts someone else's life that much.

I'm sure those folks will remember what you did for them for the rest of their lives.



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