Just a ride on the river.
Ernie and I met early Saturday for a trip to the river. A quick biscuit and off we went just as the sun gave it's first light of the day. Through the slow zone we dropped the trolling motor and began pitching with my expectations high. Traffic was low and we were out of the main channel so it was quiet for a good while. This turned out to be more of a wildlife day than a fish day for me, and Ernie didn't fill the live well but did manage the only Crappie we saw on this trip and a few other varieties of panfish. But the day wasn't without it's events that made me smile. We were serenaded by a flock of turkeys, and they gobbled every time a boat went by. The owls were busy keeping in touch with each other, the Herons were out getting breakfast, and the Pileated woodpeckers were thumping the trees. Easing down the bank I saw a hint of movement and a small masked face of a racoon peeked out from behind a cypress knee. It wasn't a minute later a couple of does eased by in the opposite direction, nibbling some breakfast along the way. All done, wind picked up along with the heat and we put things up and headed out. Not quite back to the river a bird flew toward us and landed in a tree beside us. Bigger than most we were both paying attenetion when he flared his wings and we saw the unmistakable white head of a Bald Eagle. While I never boated a fish I enjoyed my day and the company, and look forward to another day soon when the fish visit me a little more.
