By Glynn Harris
I was listening to a song from recently departed songwriter and singer, the late Tom T. Hall. The song, “I Love … ” got me to thinking about all the things, people, events, happenings that have garnered a special spot in my storehouse of memories.
In his song he mentions loving things like “little baby ducks, old pickup trucks, slow moving trains, and rain”. In another verse, he loves “little country streams, sleep without dreams, Sunday school in May, and hay”.
His arrangement got me to thinking. I’m a blessed man because there are lots of things I have come to love over the span of my life although I can’t put it to rhyme like Tom T. does.
Things like — having to reach for a light jacket this morning before taking a seat on the porch as the sun begins its trek from behind the pines to the east. After weeks of temperatures bumping triple digits, it’s now mid-September and my thermometer this morning read 54 degrees under a robin egg blue sky. Replenishing the sunflower seeds to my bird feeder, I sit, cup of coffee in hand as I watch the birds and squirrels scramble about for breakfast. Hall and I are on the same page; in his song, he likes “birds of the world and squirrels.”
Things like — greeting my wife with a hug and kiss as she rubs sleep from her eyes before she gets dressed for the day. She is especially beautiful to me then.
Things like — standing in reverential awe at the end of the driveway observing the first rays of sun backlit behind a puffy cloud creating a kaleidoscope in the eastern sky; gentle pinks, magenta, soft peach; a moment to stand amazed in His presence.
Things like — being greeted with tail whipping side to side and kisses from Coco, our 6-months-old Chorkie pup as I pick her up and take her outside to take care of “business”.
Things like — walking in the house after church to the aroma of a roast simmering in the slow cooker.
Joints that creak and cause me to wince from pain when I stand have taken from me things I formerly did but can no longer do but have not robbed me of the memories of special days in the woods and on the water.
Things like — keeping an eye on the calendar that reads March and knowing that somewhere out there, an old turkey gobbler is waking up, stretching his warty neck out and emitting a gravely, grating sound that only a turkey hen or a turkey hunter can love.
Things like — standing on a hill as dawn breaks listening for that old tom turkey to gobble, revealing his location and when he did, I would sneak to within 100 yards or so of his roost. At the right time, it was my practice to call softly to the gobbler hoping that when he flew down, he’d come check me out. Usually, he went the other way but when things worked out as I hoped and he’d strut into my line of sight, it was a thrill few other outdoors experiences can rival.
Things like — slipping silently into the chill of an October morning to sit on a log in my woods, watching the first squirrel of the season move from a den in an oak to acorns at the end of a leafy branch. Oh how I loved that.
Things like — from a comfortable seat in my box stand in late November, I knew that the doe I was watching that suddenly bolted is likely telling me a mature buck with an eye on her could step out at any moment.
Things like — sitting in the shade of a big oak at the edge of my favorite pond, keeping an eye on the bobber, watching it shudder and slowly slip beneath the surface. Thankfully, this is an activity that raises a clenched fist in the face of infirmity and advancing age because it’s something I can still do, and I love it.
Things like — picking my guitar with a group of friends each week. Tom T. Hall loves “music when it’s good.” You’d better believe so do I.
FISHING REPORT
BLACK BAYOU – No report this week. Contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop 323-8707 for the latest information.
OUACHITA RIVER – T The water is on a slow fall The water is in good condition. Bass fishing has been best in the cuts on shad imitation lures. Crappie are fair on shiners or jigs fished around submerged tops in the river. For the latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – The crappie have moved d Bass continue to school and have been hitting topwaters and the square bill crank baits. Soft plastics are also taking some fish. The crappie are along the edges of the channels and are hitting jigs and shiners fairly well. Some are also being caught below the spillway as well. Bream are scattered and fair while catfish are biting cold worms fished off the banks. For the latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Crappie continue be in their summer pattern and are hanging around submerged brush with most caught in 8-10 foot water on shiners and jigs. Bass fishing has been best fishing around the boat docks and piers using soft plastics and crank baits. A few stripers have been caught along with the bass. Catfishing has been fair to good on set hooks using small bream for bait. Some are also being caught on yo-yos. For the latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
CANEY LAKE – Surprisingly, the bream are sSome catches of bream are being reported on crickets or night crawlers. Bass continue to school around the lake with shad imitation topwater lures picking up some. Bigger fish are being caught around brush and underwater humps around the channels on deep diving crank baits and big plastic worms. Crappie are fair fishing jigs and shiners around submerged tops in deeper water. No report on catfish this week. For information contact Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Catfish continue to be about the only thing biting with an occasional crappie being reported. No report on bass or bream. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318-878-0101.
LAKE ST. JOHN – Catfishing has been good on yo-yos. The water is on a slow fall and fishing has been good this week for bass and barfish. Lots of catfish are being caught using noodles and tight lining while crappie are improving fishing around the boat docks. For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318-467-2259.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water is falling and fishing for bass and catfish has been quite good. Bass are hitting plastic worms while catfish can be caught on a variety of baits. Crappie are slow but a few real slabs have come in on jigs or shiners. For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318-467-2259.
— Contact Glynn Harris at [email protected].