5 minute freewrite 2738 prompt the right location

This is my post for #freewriters 2738 prompt the right location hosted by @mariannewest

Well, we survived our first day fishing together. My sister showed up this morning and said she had everything worked out, and we could fish and not have to be back by 1pm.

The river water has been very low, and years ago, when it was like this, I caught trout way out on the southwest corner of Long Point flat, so I wanted to try it first. We never had a bite out there, so I went closer to shore, up on Long Point flat, and nothing was there either. Next, I tried behind Nancy's Creek Canal Island, and we did not catch anything.

When trout fishing, finding the right location is the secret. I knew my sister was a little upset because each time we stopped, I would throw 2 baits, and if I did not get a bite, I had her pull the anchor, and we moved to a new area. If there are trout there, throwing 2 baits will tell. I knew she was thinking we were not staying long enough, but she did not say anything.

We tried the sleuth that runs toward Nancy's Creek Canal and up on top of Long Point Mudhole flat, but still, we did not get a bite from any kind of fish. I wanted to try the ridge, but before I got to it, I could see rolling grass on the bottom of the river. I told my sister that if there are any trout left, and with the seagrass gone, this is where they would be. My sister caught a ladyfish, I thought, well, at least we caught a fish, and my first bait was a trout. I knew I found where they are.

My sister is not very good at rowing, but she told me she would do it. I ended up doing all of the rowing, and that is all I will say about it. Next, I caught a bluefish but was having trouble holding my rod, and he bit my hook off before I could get it in the boat.

My sister was getting somewhat upset because I had caught 7 trout and she had not caught one. She caught a bluefish, the ladyfish, and missed a sailcat. My next fish was a shark, and I got lucky with it. I use braided line, and under it, I have mono tied to it. The mono is so I do not have to fill my spool with all braid, which is expensive.

When the shark hit, it was running all of my braid off the spool. I tried to hold the spool so I could break him off, but with the way my hand hurts, it was all I could do to hold the rod. My line broke, and I thought I lost all of my braid, but one eye from the rod tip, the braid tied itself into a knot around the eye of the pole. There was no line between that eye and the spool. I had to cut the knot loose from the eye and run it back down to the spool so I could tie the two back together. The only thing I lost was my hook.

My sister caught two trout, and she blamed it on the rod she was using. I told her we have the same length rods, our corks are set at the same depth, and the reels are the same, we have the same bait, and she is throwing the same distance from the boat. I told her there will be days when she catches more than I do. The reason I think I caught more is the tide, it was running to the south, and my bait was south of hers, so they were coming to my bait first. She said they knew I had not been on the river in a year and a half, and they wanted to make me feel better about being out there. I believe my theory is the right one.

We had 28 pounds, last year the fish house paid 4.50 for my husband's first catch, but after that he cut them to 3.50. If he does this to me, I will go to the other fish house and see if they want them and what they pay, I will not sell them for 3.50 a pound, it is too much work, they can swim for that price.

We did not get off the river until after 5. We decided to leave my truck hooked to the boat and take her truck to the fish house, so we had to unload the fish to her truck, and drive to the fish house to weigh them. The man who works there said he was just leaving and for us to put plenty of ice on them. I let it slide this time, but I do not get paid for packing fish, it is his job. We might have words if it happens again. After we got home, I had to put the battery on the charger, rinse the reels, pour up gas, and clean the boat and coolers. It was 7 O'clock when I walked into the house. Now I have to clean Rudy's cage and go back outside to cut grass and garden veggies for him. I am so tired and in pain with my back and hand. I hope my body can withstand doing this 6 days a week.
photos are mine