| The sound of the tug boat chugging up the river, | | | | chaise lounge would be preferable for a relaxing |
| pushing heavily laden barges filled with grain, | | | | evening. The only drawback to this is when |
| quieted the tree frogs and crickets that shared | | | | reacting to a strike by a fish, it's difficult to |
| the night with me as I watched the tip of my | | | | extricate yourself from the chair fast enough to |
| catfish rod jerk feverishly. | | | | set the hook. It can be embarrassing to fall on |
| After the initial tug on the line, all movement of | | | | your face while the catch of the night is |
| my fishing pole stopped. I considered this for a | | | | swimming down the river with your rod and reel |
| moment and then decided to leave the bait | | | | in tow. |
| where it was, if there was any left on the hook. | | | | You will need a cooler, filled with ice, soft drinks |
| It was too pleasant an evening to exert the | | | | and water. My years of experience in leisure |
| energy it takes to pull the hook and sinker out of | | | | activities have taught me that river water and |
| the river bed, re-bait and sling it back out into the | | | | alcoholic beverages just do not mix, whether you |
| deep dark water. | | | | are sitting on the bank or fishing from a boat. My |
| My brother, cousin and I were all sitting in our | | | | advice is to leave them at home. |
| camp chairs as we listened to the night sounds | | | | Nothing works up an appetite like sitting in the |
| resonating softly against the gently moving | | | | dark on the bank of a river, chatting with |
| Tennessee River, halfway between Decatur and | | | | pleasurable company about anything that comes |
| Huntsville, Alabama. The day had been blistering | | | | to mind. Usually though, talk is confined to old fish |
| hot, but at 9:00 in the evening, the temperature | | | | stories about the big ones caught and the giants |
| was pleasantly cooled by a Southeasterly breeze | | | | that got away. It makes you hungry! |
| up from the Gulf of Mexico. | | | | No one really wants a sandwich when they're |
| In order to thoroughly enjoy a night fishing | | | | fishing at night; they're hungry for something |
| experience such as ours, it is imperative that one | | | | more stable, like hot dogs. Charcoal is a must for |
| follow a few simple rules designed to make an | | | | cooking hot dogs. Unless you've brought along a |
| evening fishing trip pleasant. | | | | camp stove, hamburgers or steaks are more |
| Let there be light! This is a must for night time | | | | trouble than they're worth. Besides, the smell of |
| fishing. Bring your camp lantern or a set of | | | | catfish bait on your hands doesn't seem to linger |
| construction lights that operate off the cigarette | | | | on hot dogs the way it does on fresh meat. |
| lighter in your car. Stumbling around in the dark on | | | | Remember to bring the bug spray! Unless the |
| the banks of a river or lake can be hazardous to | | | | wind is blowing gnats, mosquitoes and other flying |
| your health. | | | | insects away from you, insect repellent is a must! |
| Make sure that you are able to tolerate your | | | | Last on the list of necessary equipment to take |
| fishing companions during stretches of fishing | | | | on an evening fishing trip are rods, reels, sinkers |
| inactivity. Usually the best fishing companions are | | | | and hooks. Cat fish seem to like stinky baits so |
| those who keep their mouths shut and enjoy the | | | | that's what I use. When I was younger, I would |
| serenity of silence; but they're hard to find. | | | | fish with chicken liver, shad guts and any other |
| With the advances in technology available today, it | | | | bait that had been left out in the sun to ripen. |
| doesn't make sense not to bring along a cell | | | | Today I just go to one of the large tackle stores |
| phone. Leave it in the car or truck to use in case | | | | and buy prepackaged soft baits that smell just as |
| of an emergency. Don't be tempted to call | | | | bad as the ones I remember from my youth. |
| someone simply to chat during a lull in the fishing | | | | Fishing at night is fun. I've never claimed to be an |
| action, unless you have just caught a whopper of | | | | expert in catching catfish, just an expert in fishing |
| a fish and want to brag a little to a friend. | | | | for them. |
| Bring a good portable camp chair. Better still; a | | | | |