Navitating by the North Star

[Arkie John]

Navigating by the North Star (28 August 2008)

Ever since I was a little kid, whenever it got time to go fishin’ I got excited…for hours before leading up to our actual departure. I couldn’t help it then and I can’t help it to this day. So, as the afternoon worked its way toward late afternoon, I began to get a little anxious, looking at my watch and knowing that 4:00 p.m. was departure time. I was particularly curious about my new brush tops that brother Tom and I had placed about three weeks earlier, and I had one more to place as well. So there was this chore of placing the two- tree brush top, by myself, before I could really kick back and enjoy an evening on the lake.

My wife, Virginia, was off today, but she had plans with one of her girlfriends, so I rationalized that it would be a perfect time to slip off to beautiful Lake Ouachita, a mere 15 minutes from my front door. I busily got everything in order and finally leaving a sticky note on the computer for Virginia. “Puttin’ in at Twin Creeks. Be back by midnight. Love, John,” I was ready.

I had the GPS, the light etc and all I had to do was get fuel for the truck, ice and a quarter-pound of no. 5 crappie minnows. It was 4:00 pm…and I was off.

I launched the boat at 4:45p.m. after an extended conversation with Ruth, owner of Ruth’s Bait Shop, on Highway 270. It didn’t look good for the crappie, based upon her most current fishing report. “Where are they?” she asked. I was gonna ask her the same thing. I just told her that what few I had been picking up were deep, 18-20 feet deep. But in the back of my mind I remembered a fishing report from Lake Nimrod that they were being caught on 6-8 feet of water. I’d try both, once I got the tops planted.

The little 25 cranked right up and the 16’ Tracker Panfish Special was headed NNW across the biggest water. There was not a boat in sight…..just the way I like it when I got cedar tops all over the back of the boat! I eased into the cove and right to the point I wanted to deposit them. Sinking them in 13’ feet of water, 3 feet apart, I noted that one of the tops was actually visable about 3 feet down! I didn’t like that but took comfort in knowing the lake was down two feet. At full pool in the winter and spring, it would be just fine. Now I turned my actions to fishing..

Ruth didn’t have No. 5 minnows, so I settled for what she DID have: No. 4s. Hmmm. I did the jig routine last week and did no good, so this trip was for the live bait.. The old woman gave me a good count so I had plenty of the little darlin’s to keep me company, as the sun set and the light began to diminish. The lake was calm and I was the beneficiary of its most serene personality. It was quite relaxing.

I caught two small crappie on the two cedars planted three weeks ago so that was encouraging. They both were sub-10 inchers though. An hour later I caught a bless-ed bluegill that ate one of my No. 4s just like he was supposed to. Otherwise the fishin’ was sparse.

Getting darker, I decided to troll the artificials through the channel to see if I could pick up a stray or two. I readied the bandit 300s and we were off.. No boats, no water lice, no people, just the gentle slappn’ of the water against the forward keel of the boat as the trolling motor pulled us along at 1.5 mph. I could do this for a long, long time, I thought, and never complain.

Forty-five minutes found me at the mouth of the tributary, staring at open water. I stowed the bandits and the trolling motor and headed across the lake to the “condo area” as Tom and I like to call it. Arriving 8 minutes later, I promptly found the submerged brush top I wanted, with the aid of my trusty GPS. I dropped the anchor, set up the lights, baited up three rods and sat back, just like an old man on the cusp of retirement! (That would be me) :D

I decided to give it an hour and if no luck, I would troll, once again, only this time, toward the boat ramp. I got a lot of bait fish to respond to the lights, but to my angst, I did not pick up a single speck during the time. So it was right about then that I turned off all topside lights sos the only ones around were 4’ feet under the water. I rared back in my boat seat, stretched and when I opened my eyes, I looked straight up.

All of a sudden, my mind was not of fishin’ anymore. It was as if every star God had ever created was on display, there, just looking down at me and my feeble little attempts at fishing. I could see light years through the clear heavens. I immediately thought of the scripture in Psalms 123, verse 1, “Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens.” I prayed for my family and friends and thanked Him for the opportunity to again visit this magnificent lake.

The time was up, soon enough for the no-show crappie. I reeled in the lights and the anchor. It was DARK. (no moon) I headed the little boat out of the cove and into open water with only the nav lights. Once clear, I, once again, put out the bandits on medium spinnin’ outfits, and kicked back, heading back toward the ramp.

I marked the channel along the way, for future reference as well as an occasional brush pile. As I neared the ramp, I still had plenty of juice in the battery. I looked at the watch: 10:30. Why not? I decided to make one more trolling pass across the big water. I set the GPS to FIND and GO TO BP-HH. It shot me a line due North. I put the boat on track; 27 feet of water, and was good to go. I had the lake to myself.

I shielded the depth finder so all I could see was the depth reading. The GPS light was long out and the only lights were the nav lights. As I headed slowly North I lined up on the Big Dipper. Now let’s see, the out most stars that make up the lowest part of the dipper…I drew an imaginary line from them and extended it about 30 or 40 degrees…THERE. The North Star.

Now this is what was the most fun. For a while, I put the North Star starboard 25 degrees or so. Then I spotted the bow dead on her. Then after a while I took the North Star to the port side about 25 degrees for a spell. I did this time and again, all the while admiring the Lord's creation handiwork, unfolded before me in blazing beauty! I didn’t care if I caught a single fish. No boats, no lights, no distractions, just me and the good Lord. I also thought of how, over the eons that man had navigated by the stars and it gave me pause. This very lake--sometimes powerful and raging, but this evening calm and running silent-- carried my Daddy and his buddies, as well as me and Tom as little fellers, many times. I felt close to those times as I made my way across in the dark and stillness of this enchanting lake.

The rod tips steadily vibrated and soon I was arriving—the GPS interrupting the solitude with its “danger close” warning beeps. I made a gentle sweeping turn to the West and then back to the South. I could see the lights of the ramp in the distance and I knew this trip would soon be over.

There is nothing like a tranquil, serene night on the water to relax a man and to remind him of the important things in life. Now I know that one day in the not-to-distant future the specks will be on the Fall feed and come Spring, there will be plenty of fish to clean. But that will be then and this is now. I reckon ole' Ruth knows what she's talkin' about, donchaknow.

But for tonight, I am taking from the lake just what He would have me take..and that’s just fine with me. Navigating by the North Star is amazing, but my Navigator is the One who created the North Star. “Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it.” PS 127:1.

Thanks for comin’ along. <><

aj

[Ferdi]

Nice reading Arkie John, glad you enjoyed some of HIS beauty and even caught a fish or two. Sometimes it isn't just the catching or the fishing it's the good times. Ferdi aka Fred

[speck chaser]

enjoyed reading God bless

[Arkie John]

Nice reading Arkie John, glad you enjoyed some of HIS beauty and even caught a fish or two. Sometimes it isn't just the catching or the fishing it's the good times. Ferdi aka Fred

**************************

...what recharges my batteries best of all...and what makes the world go 'round.

I live 15 minutes from the 40,000 acre lake and there is no good excuse for not being on it during the weeks of the new and full moons.

[Arkie John]

enjoyed reading God bless

*****************

...and thanks for posting back. Even though I fished alone last evening, I have shared the trip...and that makes it all worthwhile. <><

aj

[CastandBlast]

I enjoy reading your stories AJ......I can really relate to them and they bring back some fond memories...Thanks.

[catman]

nice read.

[Arkie John]

I enjoy reading your stories AJ......I can really relate to them and they bring back some fond memories...Thanks.

...the ultimate compliment.

I grew up in Saline County, Arkansas and in doing so, I thought everyone had the same kind of exposure to the woods and the water that I did. As I approached young adulthood, I realized that I had had a very special Daddy that always put me first. I went with him as soon as I could follow him though the woods! I followed him until he passed away at 62 years and 10 months, some 32 years ago.

So I just draw on those experiences. "...and what he knew of the water and the woods, he wrote on the heart of his boy..."

Thanks for taking the time to read and for posting back. It makes me realize that, perhaps, I'm not just boring people with these stories.

Blessin's to you and yours. <><

aj

[Hanr3]

I too have spent many a nights staring at the North Star, actually all the stars. I have done it in every country I have been to, both North and South of the equater.

I find inner peace sitting around a campfire staring at the stars. It is how I reguvinate. I also find inner peace falling asleep under a tarp while listening to the snow land on top of it. Yes, I use tarps and not a tent. A tent is rather restrictive and obstructs my view of the world around me. Occasionally you do get a visit from a local creature checking out the stranger in his back yard. A suttle snort or two and they tend to scurry away to a safe distance.

Merry Christmas and may the New Year find you enjoying life where ever the road takes you.

[Arkie John]

Hanr3, I'm so glad that you enjoyed the story! We have a lot in common.

I remember that in the Army they taught us how to weather a storm by rolling up in a poncho or tarp, if available. If it is done conrrectly, you will stay dry.

The creation gives me relaxation to the max, but the Creator, and He alone, gives me "...the peace that passes all understanding."

aj