Growing Up with Folsom lake
That last article got me to thinking about all the fun times we had when Folsom was being filled. My dad and I would fish it a lot. We took our old plywood rowboat and slid it onto the roof of the Desoto, and tied it down with rope.
One time we were at Brown's Ravine catching lots of hand size blue gill. Dad would tell me to throw the little ones back and let them grow up as there were thousands of them.
We pulled the boat up on shore mid day for lunch and a quick swim. After lunch, I ask if I can take the boat out by myself and catch some more bluegill. Dad was fine with that and reminds me to not keep any of the little ones.
There were bluegill everywhere, big ones, little ones, and some so small you wondered how they'd get that hook in their mouth.
When it was time to go, dad would whistle and I'd bring the old rowboat back to shore. Loaded up, we'd head home.
" Okay, Let's go clean those fish we got," dad would say. He'd reach into the bucket half full of bluegills and take out six or eight the size of his hand. He was good about showing me how to do everything including cleaning fish. He'd scale them first, gut them, then cut off their heads. Ready for the frying pan.
"What about the rest of those in the bucket dad?", I'd ask. He'd smile and respond nicely saying he had already cleaned HIS fish,,,, the rest are yours. Uugh
Some of those bluegill were so small it was terrible trying to clean such a little thing. Especially for a ten year old kid.
Dad taught me a good lesson then. Only take what you want, but don't waste anything
Tony
Last edited by Tony Buzolich; 04-13-2017 at 09:41 AM.
TONY BUZOLICH
Feather River Fly
Yuba City, CA.
(530) 790-7180
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