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March 22, 2012 the valley star Page 25<br />

UNCLE BONDEE’S ADVENTURES<br />

by Uncle Bondee<br />

This warm<br />

March reminds<br />

me of<br />

the day I caught a<br />

good string of catfish<br />

and red eye<br />

Uncle Bondee<br />

perch down on<br />

Shoal Creek. When the weather<br />

turns off nice from a long winter,<br />

it creates a desire to take in<br />

some fishing. Grandma Minnie<br />

said, “I sure would like a good<br />

mess of fresh fish pretty soon.<br />

While I was planting some onions<br />

the other day I saw a lot of earth<br />

worms in the garden spot.” That<br />

was enough to get me excited<br />

and ready to go on a fishing trip.<br />

She also said, “If you catch some<br />

fish, I will bake an apple pie for<br />

dessert.” That was motivation<br />

enough to catch a mess of fish.<br />

I got Humpy and Dalton to help<br />

me dig some fishing worms. The<br />

worms liked the garden spot because<br />

each fall we would cover<br />

the whole area with leaves to<br />

help the soil. The decomposing<br />

leaves were great for the earthworms<br />

to thrive in. We had a<br />

bucket of bait in no time flat. This<br />

would be the first time to use my<br />

new catalog rod and reel I had ordered<br />

earlier. Humpy and Dalton<br />

had cane poles they cut off the<br />

creek bank with catgut line on it.<br />

We walked the mile and a half to<br />

the creek with high expectations<br />

of getting our supper out of Shoal<br />

Creek.<br />

The creek was up a little bit and<br />

swift; just right for catfish to be<br />

biting. I baited up and cast my offering<br />

in the deepest spot of the<br />

shook hole. The other boys had to<br />

fish closer to the banks with the<br />

cane poles. Soon my fishing rod<br />

started to bend, and I set the<br />

hook and reeled in a 3 pound yellow<br />

catfish. I placed the fish on a<br />

piece of bailing wire, tied it off,<br />

and dropped the cat back in the<br />

edge of the creek. Humpy said, “I<br />

don’t like using a pole, but that’s<br />

all I’ve got.” I replied, “You<br />

ish are biting at the Shook Hole<br />

should have ordered a fishing rig<br />

instead of that bike you got.”<br />

About that time another fish<br />

jerked on the rod. I handed it to<br />

Humpy and said, “Reel in the<br />

fish.” Humpy started cranking in<br />

another big cat. This fish put up a<br />

fight, and finally Humpy picked up<br />

a 5-pound channel catfish. Dalton<br />

was bad to take a nap while<br />

he was fishing. He had dosed off<br />

when a fish jerked his fishing<br />

pole into the creek. That ole fish<br />

went down the middle of the<br />

creek, and we never seen that<br />

pole again.<br />

By the end of the day, we had<br />

caught a big mess of fish, and I<br />

couldn’t wait till tonight’s fish<br />

feast. We stopped by the big<br />

spring in the Gaston Holler and<br />

cleaned and wasted the fish. I<br />

carefully placed the cleaned<br />

fished in a brown paper sack and<br />

headed for Grandma Minnie’s<br />

house.<br />

Grandma met me at the door and<br />

said, “Where are the fish?” I answered,<br />

“In this paper sack.” She<br />

said, “I’ve got the grease hot.<br />

Bring them into the kitchen.” She<br />

commenced to making up the<br />

hushpuppies, cut up the tators<br />

and fried the fish. The apple pie<br />

sat on the window seal cooling.<br />

Dalton and Humpy made up a<br />

gallon of tea and sliced up a couple<br />

of big onions.<br />

The fish were cooked to a golden<br />

brown, the trimmings were finally<br />

complete, and the meal was<br />

placed on the table. After fishing<br />

all day, we were starved and<br />

ready to dive into the vittles. No<br />

one dared to take a bite until the<br />

Grace was given. Grandma Minnie<br />

was a godly woman. Dalton<br />

blessed the food and everyone<br />

helped their plate and enjoyed a<br />

fine country fried fish supper.<br />

These kinds of memories last a<br />

lifetime. Good food and fishing<br />

with friends was a wonderful way<br />

to pass the time and enjoy living.<br />

To my family, friends and supporters<br />

THANK YOU for everything you did the<br />

past two months to help me win the<br />

Primary Election. Words are not<br />

enough to express my appreciation for<br />

all of the love, prayers and support you all have shown me.<br />

Your hard work and long hours invested will never be<br />

forgotten. I ask for your continued support in the months<br />

ahead as we prepare for General Election.<br />

To Johnny Evans, his family and supporters thank you for<br />

running a positive and clean campaign. I will<br />

always be greatful for the Godly attitude you set<br />

before me.<br />

Thank you,<br />

Brad Curnutt

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