Subject: JACO STORY:  DECISIONS, DECISIONS.
                         DECISIONS- DECISIONS
                                      (HUNT? FISH? WORK?)
                                   
                                      By Lawrence Jacobs

I couldn't go back to sleep. Seems like I had been rolling and tossing for 
half of the night. I always get that way on the opening day of any hunting 
season. Dove season was opening at noon that day. John Dillard had invited me 
to his annual Dove hunt on his farm East of town. I sure wanted to make that 
hunt because John was a good friend of mine and I looked forward to being 
with him. John puts on the best opening dove hunts ever. Dove hunts in the 
Mississippi Delta are not simply going out and shooting at a few birds. It's 
a big happening. There is visiting and food and visiting and beverages and 
visiting and some bird shooting and after the hunt, more visiting. I think 
that Mississippians and especially those in the Delta would rather get 
together and visit than people anywhere else in the whole world. Add hunting 
and food and refreshments and that is the ultimate.  

I had complications however on this particular day. There were decisions to 
be made. There were some business things that urgently needed to be done and 
I had been putting them off. There was a matter of doing things my wife that 
must be done. I would sure like to put those things off one more day. In 
fact, I would like to put them and others off forever. I would much rather 
just hunt and fish but unfortunately life is not like that. I looked at the 
clock and it was four AM.  I knew I wasn't going back to sleep so instead of 
rolling and tossing I opted to run over to Lake Lee and bass fish for a 
couple of hours. I could be back by eight. That would give me time to think 
on the decisions that I had to make for the day. I gathered my clothing and 
tip toed out of the bedroom. I made coffee and wrote Virginia a note. She had 
grown accustomed to this sort of thing over the years even though she wasn't 
all that happy about them. 

Lake Lee is about 20 miles from my house. It is a Mississippi river fed lake. 
That is, the river flows into it and other river fed lakes in early spring 
during high water periods. The levels steadily drop thought out the summer. 
They all reach low water about this time of year. Lake Lee not known to be 
the one of the best bass lake in the area but it is near by and sometimes I 
go there on short trips like this one.  Most fishermen have quit fishing by 
now. It is too hot, or the water is too low. They always have some excuse if 
things are not perfect. A dedicated fisherman will go no matter what the 
conditions. You can't catch a fish if you are not where there are fish. You 
can't see a sunrise or a sunset on the water if you never give yourself a 
chance to do so. Fishing gives you that opportunity as well as a lot of other 
things to boot. Catching a fish is not the top priority of most fishermen. I 
don't believe that people who have never been fishing and even some that have 
completely understand the scope of fishing.

There are several ways a person can go fishing. One popular way is sitting or 
standing on the bank of a lake or pond with a cane pole and a can of bait. 
The line has a cork on it, which floats. A hook is baited and when the fish 
takes the bait it hooks itself and drags the cork under. That's when the 
fisherman pulls it in. Many people fish this way. If they want to reach 
further out into the water they obtain a casting rod and reel or a fly rod. 
This allows them to cast or throw the bait or lure greater distances. Many 
like to fish from boats especially designed for that purpose. This makes the 
whole lake accessible to them. There are many species of fish such as bass, 
white perch and sunfish. There are many sub species of these. There is also 
the ocean and salt-water fishing which is a completely different kind of 
fishing. There are many ways and methods of fishing for the different 
species. Some people fish only for white perch and become experts at it. 
Others prefer a light pole or a fly rod and go for sunfish. A very dedicated 
group is the Black Bass fishermen. They have gone so far as to have Bass 
Clubs and Fishing tournaments over the country and prizes of money are 
awarded. After having tried many of the above I became a hard-nosed Black 
Bass fisherman using only artificial plugs. I do not believe in the fishing 
tournaments but I have nothing against those that do. I fish strictly for 
pleasure and my love for the great out of doors. I believe the GOOD LORD 
intended for us to fish and be on the water because there is twice the water 
as there is land. I also believe that he did not intend for us to fish for 
money. This is my opinion however. 

 I got to the lake at just the right time and launched my boat. The water was 
as smooth as glass. Perfect, I thought to myself. The night sounds, caused by 
frogs and insects and other night creatures, were shutting down. The birds 
were beginning to make happy daylight sounds to greet the new day. I was 
aware of a wild turkey gobbling in the distance answering an owl that had 
hooted. I eased across the lake headed toward an area that I remembered from 
last year.  I stopped good ways from the desired spot and cut the motor off, 
as I was not exactly sure of the location. I tilted the back end of the motor 
out of the water so it would not hang up on anything.  I moved to the very 
front end of the boat waited for the water to settle while slowly getting 
everything in the order that I wanted it. I had a mental checklist that I had 
formed over the years. I quietly opened the tackle box and selected a 
Nippideedee, my favorite top water plug. I pulled several feet of line from 
the reel and cut it off. An experienced fisherman had taught me this. The 
line will become frayed near the end and break under stress. After testing to 
be sure that it was strong I tied it on to the plug making double sure that 
the knot was tight a big bass will pull the plug off if it is not secure. The 
plug was torpedo shaped and painted shad green with an extra large custom 
made shiny metal propeller on each end. They turned in opposite directions 
when slightly pulled through the water. A fisherman in Jackson had made them 
for me. A slight tug on the rod would make then give off a swishing sound 
that attract the Bass. I placed the rod beside me. I rigged a second rod so 
it would be ready in the event I needed it. If I got hung up using the first 
one I would not have to go in and mess up the fishing area. I carefully 
closed the tackle box and moved it out of way. I placed the landing net near 
easy reach and picked up the short sculling paddle. I put it slowly in the 
water and eased the flat bottom boat in the direction of the shore. The 
paddle does not come out of the water but is slowly but firmly pulled with a 
forward twirling motion. The slightest sound or vibration would carry many 
feet under water and the fish would be gone before you got there. When you 
are fishing in shallow water, as I was here, there is no room for mistakes. I 
arrived near my destination and carefully placed the short paddle quietly on 
the corner of the padded cushion on which I was sitting, which is also a 
floatation device. Every thing needs to be put in the same place every time 
so you can reach them without looking down. Bass fishing is exciting and Top 
water bass fishing to me is the ultimate and offers the biggest challenge. It 
demands more skill and provides the most satisfaction.

 I stood peering beneath the surface to locate the several sunken very old 
dead trees in the water along the bank. A person would not know they were 
there but I accidentally found them. Last year while fishing in the area I 
was having a lunch break. While eating a sandwich and letting the boat drift 
along the shoreline. I watched a momma Coon teaching four young ones to find 
food. They were on a log and she would drag her hands along the bottoms of 
the log and bring something to her mouth to eat. The baby Coons would do the 
same thing. I had drifted in very close and I had an excellent view. They 
paid absolutely no attention to me. Lots of folks don't know that animals on 
the shore are not afraid of things on the water. Once I watched a flock of 
wild Turkeys for over an hour getting as close as twenty feet.  Imagine 
seeing four gobblers in a large flock that close. I have been able to get 
very close up to Deer and Quail and once a Bob Cat.  Of course one has to be 
very still and quiet. I usually have a camera but that day I did not.
 I spotted the dead trees and was happy they were still there. They were 
about four feet from the bank running from shallow to deep water. I kept the 
boat about twenty feet away and carefully cast my lure near the bank. I 
waited until all of the ripples were gone and then slightly twitched the tip 
of the rod. The lure responded making a hissing sound. I let it rest again. 
Half of the time I was holding my breath because the explosion could come any 
time. I pulled the lure a little further this time. Nothing happened. Then I 
slowly reeled in directly over and parallel to the dead trees, stopping it 
once on the way to the boat. Sometimes a bass will follow it to the boat.  I 
threw it to the same spot and again waited until the water was calm. I gave 
it a short jerk and waited. I was still standing when I saw the movement in 
the still water. I could see the wake from the bass as it headed toward the 
plug. It was at least ten feet away. I had never seen a bass make a wake on 
the way to a plug before.  I was excited and felt my heart skip few beats. 
Closer, closer it came and I was still watching. Then the explosion! I yanked 
and tried to set the hook too early. I pulled it away from the fish. The fish 
knocked that plug two feet in the air. My heart had almost stopped beating. I 
tried to remain calm. Quickly retrieving the plug and pulled the boat out a 
few feet and let things settle down. The hooks had not touched the fish and 
it would be back. It wanted whatever it was that made that hissing sound. 
After a short wait I slowly eased the boat in a little closer but not as 
close as the first time as I knew the bass would be skittish now. I took deep 
breath and made a perfect cast. I counted to one hundred then gave the rod a 
short firm twitch. The plug responded with a swishing sound.  I looked in all 
directions for the wake. There may not be one this time I thought. Then, I 
saw it, coming from the opposite direction. I kept saying to myself, wait, 
wait, wait. Then came the explosion. The fish and the plug were in the air! 
Now! I yelled at myself and reared back on that fiberglass rod setting the 
hooks with all my might. I had seen the fish and it was a granddaddy. I kept 
telling myself to calm down. Hooking the fish is only a part of the battle 
and the hardest part is to keep it out of the logs and brush and put it in 
the boat. I set the hooks again just to be sure and held my rod tip high to 
keep tension on the fish. I knew it would head to the logs. If I pulled too 
hard the hooks could pull lose. I only had a second to react as the fish now 
is fighting like crazy. Any slack at all and it would hang the hooks on the 
logs and pull itself to safety. This is where all earlier preparations were 
paying off. I had good strong line and a strong rod and had confidence in the 
equipment. My drag was set tight. I had to "hoss" it out and away from the 
logs and get it heading toward deep water . . . That's exactly what I was 
trying to do. From time to time the big fish would come splashing out of the 
water; standing on it's tail and trying to shake the plug. I began talking to 
myself as I do when I get excited as it kind of calms me down so I don't 
screw up. "Get him out of there," I yelled as it headed towards the logs. I 
paddled hard toward the middle of the lake. Holding the rod, which was now 
bent double, up high. I then let the movement of the boat hold the tension as 
I often do. When I was in deep water I put the paddle down and adjusted the 
tension on my reel so it would let the fish run when it wanted to. I placed 
the landing net where I could reach it and the battle continued.  I would 
reel him slowly to the boat and he would take off again with drag screaming 
under the pressure. In the old days before drags, I had to do this with my 
thumb. This resulted in skin burns on the thumb. Big fish usually go deep 
when they make a run. After it had gone around the boat and under the boat 
and done everything that it could, it began to tire. I slowly reeled it 
little line. They will sometimes come peacefully if they are tired. When it 
gets close and sees the boat it takes off again. I was ready for that as I 
had lost too many at that point in the past. I soon had the fish netted and 
in the boat and in the ice chest. Man, was I excited. I poured a cup of 
coffee from the thermos and began to sip it. I glanced across the lake to the 
East and the sun had begun to slip into my vision as it peeped over the 
horizon. It was always a beautiful site no matter how many times you have 
seen it. Every sunrise is different and better than the last one. Under the 
circumstances this one was especially beautiful. Even if I caught nothing 
else the trip was already worthwhile. 

In hindsight that's when I should have gone home and attended to my 
responsibilities. But let me ask you this? What fisherman in his right mind 
could bring himself to do such a thing? This kind of situation is what a 
fisherman lives for. You guessed it right.  I went back the hot spot and 
continued fishing I had a limit. They were all nice fish but none as big as 
the first. A fisherman under these conditions has no idea of time. It just 
does not enter his mind. I glanced at my watch for the first time and it 
showed 11:30.  I have screwed up big time I thought. I knew that it was too 
late to do the things that I needed to do so I made a hasty decision to go to 
the dove hunt. I can get to there if I hurry. I went by home to change 
clothing and got my gun and hunting clothing and gear. There were eight big 
bass and I iced them down and planned to take them to friends later. 
Fortunately my wife was at work and I had only my conscience to deal with. At 
the moment I was not listening to it.  As always I would later pay dearly for 
that lack of attention.

 The dove hunt was great as usual. I shot my limit, as did others. Word made 
it around on the hunt that I had caught the limit of bass that morning. My 
friend, Gordon Hartley, who wrote an out door column for The Greenville 
Democrat Times, was at my house when I got home from the hunt. I have no idea 
how he heard about it. He took pictures of the fish and me and made some 
notes. He wrote a nice article about my hunting and fishing trip that day and 
it along with the picture appeared in the Sunday paper. I still have the 
paper along with the memories. There is absolutely no way to compare dove 
hunting with bass fishing and I don't even try. There is a place for both in 
a hunter's life but not on the same day. I like the being alone and the 
excitement and peacefulness on the water and the beauty of God's great out of 
doors that go with fishing. The dove hunt gives me fellowship, good feelings 
and a different kind of excitement. Doves also taste better than bass when 
cooked on a grill. Both can provide wonderful experiences and memories that 
will last forever. If we men spent as much time and effort at being a good 
husband and running our business as we do with our hunting and fishing, we 
would be richer and our wives would be happier but we would not have such 
good memories and stories to tell when we got old.