Twas the Day Before Christmas
Twas the day before Christmas and all over the lake,
not a boat was stirring,not one single wake.
My brushpiles were marked on the GPS with care,
in hopes that big slabs would soon be there.
The jig poles were strung with new 6 lb thread,
while visions of 3 pounders danced in my head.
Me in my insulated bibs and thick wool cap,
I powered up the GPS and checked out the Hot Spots map.
I hit the key on that old Johnson, oh how it did sputter,
it's a 73 model, it doesn't run smooth like butter.
Away from the dock I left in a flash,
in my old tri-hull sticksteer that cost $700 cash.
The sun had just begun to rise and the wind she was starting to blow,
I turned on the Hummingbird so I could see what was below.
When what to my bloodshot eyes should appear,
but a big red boat full of crappie fishing gear.
The driver was a leathery old fellow that was spry and quick,
surely this wasn't old Sac-A-Lait Nick.
He had eight poles out with minners and jigs,
looked like they were all in gunslinger rigs.
His poles were all different, not one the same,
as he checked each one he called them by name.
"Thats Dasher, thats Dancer, theres Prancer and Vixen,
heres Comet, thats Cupid, and theres Donner and Blitzen."
He looked up from his poles and smiled at me,
then said " I hear ya'll got some big ole slabs down here in Mississippi."
I said " Yes sir , in case you didn't know,
we got em' here " As Big As They Grow!"
No sooner than I said that his poles began to jerk,
you should have seen that old fat man go to work!
First one slab, then another and another,
I grabbed my GPS and marked that cover.
When his cooler was full and minners all gone,
he strapped down his gear for the long ride home.
As he fired off the motor and idled out of sight,
I heard him shout," Happy Christmas to ya, and may all your slabs put up a fight!"
Merry Christmas to all,
Stick
