Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Our fishing in the late 1940’s and 1950’s was restricted to the Red River. Lake Texhoma wasn't finished and filled until 1949. Our fishing was mostly restricted to using earth worms for bait. In the early spring and summer, we would also seine in the two major creeks that fed into the river for minnows which we used for sand bass that would have been spawning.

Over time, I developed the following rule of thumb for our fishing. I calculated it took us two hours of gathering bait, regardless of type for each hour of fishing. It really didn’t matter whether it was digging worms or seining for minnows, that seemed to be the standard.

This was if you knew what you were doing and were efficient at bait gathering, otherwise it might take longer. Now this story I am going to tell I did not personally see or verify but believe it to be true. Two friends had decided to seine a stock tank that was near the banks of the Red River. They had a minnow seine that was probably 15 to 20 feet long and 5 or 6 feet deep. They made a d**g across the middle of the stock tank and since the seine felt like they had made a good capture of bait, either minnows or perch, or a mixture, one of the fishermen ran to get their bucket.

Now, since the middle of the seine was bulging out and there also appeared to be a larger fish caught in the net. Since they were right the shore, the other fisherman reached down with both arms and scooped up the fish, net and all and waded on up on the bank. When he finally got on dry ground he let down the net and what did he see? He had in his arms a full-grown beaver! It was quite a surprise for both. He dropped the animal down before the beaver could bite him or do anything defensive.

No one in the entire community had any idea we had beavers in our area or knew where this individual had come from. But since it was close to the Red River, it had probably migrated down and was planning on establishing a presence. Just Sayin…RJS

Able Man Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)

That's a new one on me; but, it's a true fact; that you never know WHAT might be in a net, once you haul it back!

dbed Loc: POMME DE TERRE LAKE MISSOURI

Different story than I expected usually a story titled like this ends with someone getting slapped in the face

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Yes, you are absolutely correct. I have found the title of my stories have a lot to do with the readership. The more provocative, the better! Just Sayin....RJS

Jer Loc: N. Illinois 🇺🇸

I wonder why this is in the attic.

dbed Loc: POMME DE TERRE LAKE MISSOURI

That or the mind of the reader