"The One that Got Away"

by Tig AKA Doug

(editors note:  This article was originally printed on the website under fishing stories.   I liked it so much that I have decided to reprint it here)

Back in the 70's our family and two others owned about 300 acres with 3 lakes on it just south of Diboll. The big lake was about 8 football fields in size and had a 35' deep spot where the Naches River once ran. Largemouth bass were kings of the lake and managed to reach to 5 to 7 pounds occasionally. I grew up fishing this lake and could still remember the hot spots after being away from it for 20+ years.

During a family reunion, Papa George (was in his 80's) and I were fishing minnows under corks off the little pier. I don't remember where everyone else was, but it was just he and I.

Suddenly his rod bowed deep and we both knew he had a big'un. Mind you, we were no expert fishermen, so we didn't know how to tire out a fish or anything fancy... just reel it in fast on a Zebco 202! He managed to get it up on the pier and grabbed it.  I would love to have a picture of that now, us with our eyes like saucers and grinning ear to ear. It had to be an honest 8-pound plus bass. Before we could even register what was really going on, the fish wiggled free of his hands and fell back into the water. But wait, it was still hooked, and guess who was holding granddad’s rod? ME!

My turn didn't last more than 2 seconds as it managed to get off the hook. All the same, we were more astonished than disappointed. We looked around to see if any family witnessed the catch, but they didn't show up until a little while later.

I don't think any of them believed our fish story, but looking back on it now, I'm kinda' glad they didn't. That was a moment (and fish) that he and I shared and will live in my memory for as long as I live. He died a few years later.