Let's Talk
October 2, 2008
We anglers often think we can carry on conversations reasonably well and we certainly have no problem understanding each other. Of course, there’s always someone in every crowd who insists on using the lingo to impress others about how smart they are when it comes to fishing. I think they know who they are…oftentimes they’re the wannabees!
I’m sure non-anglers listening in on our conversations think we are all either the smartest people in the world, utter simpletons, or just downright weird. The way I see it, it’s them there outsiders that are tilted - our boat is floating straight.”
I want to share some conversational items that our good (although non-fishing) neighbors shared with me after listening to a crowd of anglers shoot the breeze one night. This is their take on some of the things they overheard:
“Carolina or Texas rigging” - Sounds like something to do with oil well rigs in Carolina or Texas.
“Burn the bait” - Heck, burn the bait sounds like setting fire to something.
“Walk the dog” - How in the world do we walk the dog when we are fishing? Don’t think any of us can walk on water, although we know a couple folks who think they can.
“Man, I nailed a hawg and it just came up and waved bye bye,” or, “He hammered a nail into a pig and it walked up to him and waved his tail bye bye?” – That’s just plain disgusting, and the ASPCA should be notified of this ridiculous cruelty to pigs.
“Lake Turn Over” – A lake can turn over?
“Pattern” - Like in sewing?
“Just bounce that jig!” – Hmmm . . . is that a new dance?
“Man, I felt the thump!” - Somebody thumped you on the head?
“There was this light ‘tick’ so I reared back and knew I had her.” – You fishing in the water or in the forest?
“Yeah, I was using this slab and I nailed me a good one.” - I ask you, what do slabs and nails have in common?
“I like to use plastics when I’m looking for a big hawg.” - Plastics? Hawgs? Come on now.
“Which is better a Palomar or Uni?” - Honestly? You’ve really gone overboard this time. Not a clue.
“I ran about 25 miles this morning.” – What happened to your boat?
Our neighbors left that meeting in a daze and as they walked out the door I called after them, “Tight Lines ya’ll, and good night!”