BRAISED CARP Part 4 ~ ADD SALT TO TASTE

AFTER several minutes more, stumbling back and forth along the bank, fretting and yelling, interceded by swearing, Mike began to reel in his catch. He was certain by then he had a fish, apparently a rather large fish. Twisting in a flurry of motion, his fish had turned the water at his feet and along the sandbar a milk chocolate brown.

I remembered then that landing a carp meant fishing would be ruined in that area for the rest of the evening. I did not care. The spectacle was worth the loss.

After several more minutes, Mike began to plead with me, stammering as he yelled, "G-g-get the n-net!!" I was weak from laughter, too weak to run all the way to the car and return with the net.

I sobbed with laughter the way one would mourn with hollow wails and flowing tears. I wiped my eyes and blew my nose on my shirt tail. I tried to hold my laughter, but found I could not. Neither could I answer him.

Mike's wrath now turned to me. "Lin-da!" he boomed red-faced, "What are you do-ing?"


What could I say? Mike’s question had broken my episode of mania. I had been consumed in guffaws that had somehow knocked me out of my chair.

To my surprise I found my butt sunk deep into the sand, but I did not remember my fall. My fingers were still grasping my fishing pole. The line was fully retrieved, though I could not remember reeling in the line.

Catching my breath, I managed to roll to one side. Leaning on my elbow, I blurted, "Mike! It's not a turtle or a catfish.” I paused for a breath, and through newly erupted bursts of laughter yelped, “It's a carp!"

I felt so much better having said it. I thought that if Mike knew he had a trash fish on the end of his line, it would at the very least, negate his need for a net. Mike did not see it the same way at all.

Composed again, he pled quietly, "Get the net!" Noticing I had lost control all over again, he glared at me, with sweat dripping from his face, hands firmly holding his fishing pole, his eyes locked with mine.

I was stunned to hear him give a hollow shout, "Linda!" and after pausing, I suppose for a short breath, he continued to bellow, cursing, "#&%*, Linda!” With ever deepening resolve he spouted to me, “GET UP!!!"
to be continued in Part 5 in my next blog post. . .
Meanwhile, scroll down to see the links I found.

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Links I Like
Seriously, I only learned how to tie two knots. One is used to tie lines together, and the other is used to tie a line to something hard, like a hook.  If you expect to land a fish of any size, learn these two knots. Learn them well.
I can get especially cranky tying knots.  This guy is so laid back, you definitely want him, not me, teaching you how to tie knots. 
  
How to Tie a Clinch Knot
The clinch knot is used to tie two lines together.

How to Tie a Blood Knot
The blood knot is used to tie line to another line.

Animated Knots by Grog
You will probably NEVER need to learn any of the other knots, but check this out.  I love this super duper website.  Not only can you learn fishing knots, you can learn knots for a variety of categories, including surgery.  How cool is that?  

Read "Braised Carp Part 5 --- Add Salt to Taste" to read the next installment.

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