Life as we know it
These folks spent most of their time together weather it was fishing, repairing boats or rods & reels there always seemed to be a combined effort. Fishing was the primary reason drawing them to Ministikwan lake in 1956. At that time Northern Pike was the sought after fish which were caught quite regularly until someone caught a Walleye. Discovering that Walleye had fewer bones and was possibly the best eating fish on the planet , the quest was on.The walleye was perused from spring to fall shallow water to deep water. As time went on these folks fancied themselves as great Walleye fishermen, they were very passionate about it, almost as if they had a reputation to keep up. They purchased the latest fish finders, depth finders and colour finders. The most interesting being the depth finder, for the past 20 years they had been out on the lake fishing all the while sitting on their life jackets, the depth finder now told them they were in 90 feet of water, because of that reality they now decided it was time to actually start wearing the life jackets.Roy also feeling 90 feet was more than he wanted to land in came back the following week with a longer and deeper boat presumably a boat to handle the 90 feet. I recall another time Chucks sister came to visit for a week and do a little fishing, well the boys took her out to show her how to catch the prized Walleye. They must have had an off day as the sister caught her limit of walleye skunking the rest of them, needless to say the boys were a little bruised but they were the masters and tomorrow was another day. The next day back out on the lake sitting in one of their secret spots the boys were taken down again, lady luck was shining on Chucks sister and this was more than he could bare. The sister was loaded in the car and transported home never to be seen again. Amazing what a fish can do to people! One of the most humorous sites around these folks would have been a day when fishing reels were being worked on outside on the picnic table. It must have been a little wet or perhaps they always wore rubber boots (Wellingtons) Chuck & Bonn were sitting at the table reel parts spread out on the table when Roy came over to help out. Sitting down beside them the table instantly went over backwards all you could see was three pairs of rubber boots dangling in the air and reel parts all over the ground a real sight to behold. Roy had always made a point of telling Donna he would make it to her wedding in November 1977 he did just that. In preparation for the event Roy went into Macklin and charged a new suit at Alex's Dry Goods, he was also catching a ride to Loon Lake with Alex as he was the master of ceremony. Saturday the 12th of November, was a warm sunny fall day more like October, Roy and Alex made their way Macklin coming up highway 21 stopping in at Fishing lake, Peck lake , Ministikwan Lake, Fowler lake and Steel Narrows, absorbing the changes fall brings to the landscape and reminiscing the events of the past summer.At the wedding Alex did his part , the meal was over and the dance had started. Roy danced with Donna , expressed his happiness at being able to share this day with her. I met Roy coming off the dance we chatted had a drink together and two seconds later Roy had fished his last fish. Eldon attempted CPR to no avail. Although its an unusual event to happen at a wedding that's life as we know it. These are a few of the people we have a history with. So cherish your real friends and grow from the experiences you have with them. |
