FULFILLING DREAMS... PART THREE

THE DREAM FISH

Many of you readers may already have seen the picture of the dream fish. It appeared on the front page of this paper several months ago, but no article of mine about dreams would be complete without mentioning it.
I love fishing, while I have yet to become addicted to ice fishing, I still love open water fishing.
I waited 57 years for my first wall fish. I have caught Northerns, Trout, and enough crappies to fill my frying pan several times over.
Last June 14th I decided I had to get out of the house, and I drove over to Mille Lacs lake. The weather that afternoon was iffy at best, with high winds blowing up some fairly big waves. I went to Francis Resort in Isle, which is where I usually take the launch out of, only to find out that they weren't going out that night because of the weather. HECK, I had driven all that way, what to do now?
I decided to go over to the other side of the lake and indulge myself in another of my many vices, and visit Grand Casino Mille Lacs. As I drove up 169, I saw several launches along the shore and the urge to go out on the water got even stronger. I drove past the casino and went up to seguchee resort. I had gone out on the launch from there only once before and had had only fair luck but I thought I would give it a try. I went in and inquired and they said that they would be going out at eight o clock.
I had a couple of hours to kill so I went back down to the casino, and hit the blackjack tables. Lady Luck was with me and I won enough to pay for the launch trip, my gas for the trip over, and even pay for my dinner.
I reported back to the launch at 7:30 and we went out on the lake. I met a group of guys and in the course of our conversation a wager was made on who would catch the biggest fish. The weather got worse it rained and the wind blew so hard we had to fight six foot waves, but, if you wanna fish sometimes you just have to tough it out.
At exactly midnight Captain Dale said " reel em in boys we are headed back in ". Just as he spoke my bobber went down. I waited a slow ten count and then set the hook... the result of that strike can be seen on the wall of my apt. Thirty two and a half inches, eleven and a half pounds. A great walleye.
So you see folks some dreams come true, when they are finally fulfilled .... well, maybe that is what life is supposed to be about.