Waking early morning on the bank of the lake, small iron fry pan on the coals left from late night chats.

Rainbow trout early morning, trembling hands anticipating the first strike after breakfast of eggs, pancakes, sausage and toast–yes even on the banks in the deep woods we enjoy such pleasantries.

We are in the Black Hills of SD on Lake Sheridan, school starts in 2 hours and we are 30 minute drive away.  Lines are in the water, suddenly my buddy has a hit!  His bamboo laminated spinner rod is dipping crazily, suddenly mine is strong and the end slapping the water–we each land our fish and though mine is fighting harder, his is bigger!  Another day of success, happy we retreat to school and the next trip dreamed about.

How do we get in these odd situations when all we wanted was to fish our evening and following morning–happy to say it was a Saturday and Sunday so we had a bit more time.  I had a small wooden boat and a small outboard engine that ran ok most of the time.  We fished our afternoon from the boat trolling on Lake Sheridan, Black Hills of SD; using Flat Fish spinner bait for trout.  We caught enough for a pleasant fire pit dinner and proceeded to set up our camp of sleeping bags laid out on the ground near the lake shore.  We tied the boat to brush along the shore and proceeded to wrap up our day.  Two troublesome nuisances one of which was a small group fishing just off our shore with lanterns in the water to attract the fish (illegal at that time) and we were a bit concerned about our boat; the other as we were fitfully sleeping was scratching and skittering that always stopped abruptly when the flashlights came on.  Come the morning!  squirrels had been in and out of picnic basket and eaten most of one loaf of bread!  That mystery solved we got out our small skillet and enjoyed our fire pit breakfast eggs, bacon, and toast (very little bread left).  We tidied up and headed for our boat–gone!  First accuse the fishermen, right?  But I left the others to fish from the bank and trekked along the lake following the wind.  About an hour later I arrived the earthen dam and there bumping the rocks on the dam face is my boat.  A real bruising and cutting experience scrambling down the rocks to arrive and retrieve my boat which has a broken rope!!!  Slow to accuse and strong will to pursue alternatives.  Cheers!