Angler's Delight

[Driftless]

Angler's Delight

Written by Len Harris

I was introduced to the outdoors at a young age. My sisters were jealous because Dad dragged me everywhere he went.

I mean everywhere in the outdoors. Through prickly ash.....Chest deep in mud and trout streams......Mushroom hunting.

All five of my sisters decided they weren't jealous upon my returns from my adventures. The prickly ash and berry bushes cut a

familiar pattern on my arms often. They decided it was "OK" if they didn't go along. I didn't mind the little scratches. They

went away quickly.

Each venture out my Dad would have his saying. Such as, "The lilacs are blooming and leaves are as big as squirrel's ears."

This meant it was morel mushroom time.

Instead of April showers bring May flowers.....He would say, "the rain smells like night crawlers....It must be time to go catch some big trout."

The witticisms were never ending...."Red Sky At Night....Anglers Delight.....Red Sky In The Morning.....Better Use Fiberglass Rods when Trout Fishing."

Translation: Red sky at night the sky would clear in morning no rain. It was a good day to go trout fishing.

Translation: Red Sky in the morning meant that we should not use our our new rods because they attracted lightning. We should

use our old fiberglass ones that did not attract lightning.

"The sumac leaves are blaze red". Translation: It is almost time to go deer hunting.

"The wind is coming across the miss (Mississippi) like a freight train"....That meant that ice fishing was coming soon.

"The corn is almost pheasant"......This meant the corn was brown colored and that pheasant season is coming soon.

"The lawn doesn't need mowing".....that meant it was late September and squirrel season was almost there.

My family would talk in the car and my sisters and mom would make fun of dad and his weather and Hunting/Fishing sayings......

They used to make some up. That really goaded my father. My sisters were notorious for their banter in the car.

By the end of a long journey, my father usually was quite angry at the sisters due to their disrespect for him. Dad was always happy to

take long trips with me. Because I respected his sayings and would say them even before he would.

My father's saying were quite unique and have stayed with me. My family (wife & daughter) don't make fun of my sayings.

They even use them themselves.

Recently my daughter was frantic in the back seat......She said, "Dad, STOP the car! I hammered the brake. I thought that I was about to hit a deer. Anna was the I SPY (another one of my dad's saying) Anna was on (I SPY) duty...that meant she was watching the road for deer crossing. Anna said: " I need to take a picture of Angler's Delight!" My wife and I immediately knew exactly what she meant. I had just given her my old digital camera and she had a photo in mind and wanted me to stop right then

there.

I stopped and Barb and I got out of the car. Anna was already out focusing the camera. She took one picture and smiled. "I got it, Dad."

Grandpa would be proud.

Red Sky At Night

Angler's Delight

[Birdsong]

This is very sweet. Grandpa WOULD be very proud. Thanks for the photo tribute to your dad, and the reminder to keep the 'I Spy' part of ourselves connected with all that nature and our surroundings have to offer.

[lookincalifornia]

len, that was my favorite post i've ever read. made me appreciate my granpa's old sayings. i can't wait till my little girl starts getting involved in the outdoors.

it's good to have you on the FM boards, i've been a fan of yours from IO. i think you will find this to be a much more family friendly site.

[Yellowhead]

What a nice post. Brought back a lot of memories of fishing with my uncle (the man who invented catch and release). Its a long funny story, when I have time I will type it up an post it.

[Steve Foss]

Good stuff in so many ways, Len. Thanks for sharing it. Where in the Coulee Country do you live?

[Dbl]

Very nice story and photos.