The Adventures of Jack and Billy Joe by A. Jeff Tisdale Read Free Book Online Page A

exceptionally fine shellcracker, Red glanced at the bobber by the willows. It was gone. He dropped the cane pole in the boat and grabbed the rod and reel just in time.
    The line was tightening. He set the hook and started to reel. The rod bent double. “I think I’ve got an alligator,” Red joked, thinking to himself that it might be true judging by the pull he was getting.
    He stood up to better lead the fish where he wanted him to go, which was not into the roots of the willow trees or the stumps.
    “Did you bring a landing net, boys?” Red asked.
    “No, sir,” Jack answered. “We’ve never needed one for shellcrackers.”
    “I was trying for a white perch over there but I think what I got was a big bass.”
    “Bass do like those little crawdads,” Jack agreed.
    “What’s the test on this line, Jack?” Red asked.
    “I don’t know, sir, but it’s braided silk so I think it will hold anything you could’ve caught there—unless it is an alligator,” Jack assured.
    “Okay, here we go then,” Red said as he started to pull the fish in to land him. “When I get him up close to the boat, I’m gonna hold the rod with my right hand and try to grab the fish in the gills with my left. That’s the only way I’m gonna get him in the boat.”
    “You want me to help you?” Jack asked.
    “Just come back here to the back. Grab my belt in the back so I won’t fall in the water.”
    Jack did as he was told.
    Red fought the fish with all his strength. It jumped once so that Red could see it was a largemouth bass, and a big one.
    When he had the bass right up next to the boat, he reeled in the line so that he could hold the fish at the top of the water using his right hand and reach it with his left. Then he reached into its gills with his index and middle fingers and into its mouth with his thumb and pulled the bass over the side and into the boat.
    Jack was still holding on to his belt.
    “You can turn loose now, Jack.”
    In the excitement, Jack had forgotten he was holding on to Red’s belt. He quickly released the belt and felt a little embarrassed.
    “Thanks for hanging on to me,” Red said to Jack. “I’d have gone in for sure if it wasn’t for you hangin’ on. That thing will go between seven and eight pounds,” Red said. “I might have it mounted to go in my office.”
    “How about it, boys,” Red asked, “have we had enough fishing?”
    “Yes, sir,” Jack said, “I have. I counted the shellcrackers and we have thirty-nine. Your bass makes forty fish. That’s a good day’s fishin’ in my book.”
    “Mine too,” agreed Billy Joe, “and I’ve got that ‘fisherman’s luck.’”
    They all laughed as Red untied the boat from the stump and started the motor. Red opened up the little motor all the way going back across the glass-smooth lake.
    At the dock, they were met by the concessionaire.
    “Y’all do any good?” he asked.
    “Some,” Red said, holding up the bass. “You got anybody who cleans fish?” Red asked.
    “We sure do but you’re not gonna clean that beautiful thing, are ya?”
    “Naw, but we’ve got a bunch of shellcrackers we wanna get cleaned.”
    “Okay, you got ’em on a stringer or in the live well?”
    “They’re in the live well,” Red said. “If you’ve got a pan or a croaker sack or somethin’, I’ll get ’em out.”
    “Naw. You leave them in there. My man will get ’em out and clean ’em for you and even filet them if you want. Just leave everything like it is and he will unload your boat. Unlock your car and he’ll load it for you. What you gonna do with that pretty bass?”
    “I was gonna have it mounted to hang in my office,” Red said.
    “I’ve got a taxidermist who works here three days a week. If you’ll leave it here, I’ll keep it in my refrigerator and he’ll take care of it when he comes in. If y’all wanna go on up to the café and have a cup of coffee while we take care of your boat, you can see some of the taxidermist’s