While we were gone, it rained a whole bunch around here. The pond came back up to spring levels (it had been down about 4 or 5 inches). There was standing water in the fields all around the place, but everything seemed OK here.
And then along came Tuesday. I got started early cutting the grass. It seemed to be about 4" tall and I had just cut it the previous Thursday. Anyway, when I got around to the back yard, I was cutting down by the pond when I saw "Walter" (a bass) lying out in the middle of the grass, about 6' from the bank. He had been dead for a while -- don't know if a critter got him or one of the hawks in the area. He could also have been exploring the new grassy areas where the high water would normally be and couldn't get back to the normal stuff.
In any event, we sure are going to miss him. Pam would often go down by the edge of the pond, and he would swim up to greet her. She would walk all around the perimeter and he would swim right along beside her. Everyone who ever fished here knew that was Pam's pet fish and if they happened to catch it, they were to take it off the hook and gently put it back in the water.
The last we had caught him was about 3 weeks ago. He weighed in at 4# and 22" long. It was always fun catching him, and he always gave you a good fight. Maybe he knew he would always be put back to fight another day. Anyway, he will be missed.
There are other bass in the pond probably just as big and just as capable of giving young fishermen a good battle. But this one was special -- he was "WALTER."
 |
| I don't think this was the last time Walter was caught, but Moriah had a good time reeling him in. |
A faithful friend is the medicine of life. Hooah
