Pleasant memory from the past

[OldCoot]

Got a big box a few minutes ago from my SIL. They are the Northern Pike fish heads my dad caught in Canada in 1985 and 1988. He would always bring a cooler full of Northerns/Walleyes from his Canadian trip to the Knoxville National Sprint Car races in Aug in Knoxville, IA. There were 5 or 6 families that were in a circle and we always ate all our meals together. Both in 85 & 88, dad said I only brought 1 fish this year and we looked at him like he had the measles. Then he would just laugh and dragged out the 18-20 lb one and then 3 yrs later the 24 lb one. They did feed a crew of 16-20 people tho'. Kinda makes this old man's eyes leak. I do cherish those memories.

He hung these over the window in his camper and they were the first thing you saw when you entered his camper. Don't know if TOWTA will let me hang them in ours, but I'm sure gonna try.

[aceinspp]

Thanks for posting. Man that's a lot of fish. Good luck in mounting in your camper. Later RJD

[jtstromsburg]

Great memories OC! Never fished for huge ones like that, but it does remind me of fishing with my dad too. Thanks for sharing

[OldCoot]

Dad and 3 other guys went up every year for at least 25 yrs and would spend 2 weeks until his health went south. We always had wonderful fish fries at Knoxville.

[donanddona]

Thought they were gators are first..

[B and B]

The Canadian Pike can take a finger if you are careful! Just kidding.. Careful fillet work left the bones behind! Shore lunch in cast iron just like Bob Izumi!!

[B and B]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Dad and 3 other guys went up every year for at least 25 yrs and would spend 2 weeks until his health went south. We always had wonderful fish fries at Knoxville.

They really went up in Canada, Kenora!

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by B and B

They really went up in Canada, Kenora!

A man from Trenton, MO had a 99 yr lease on an island and had a cabin on it. Totally isolated. Dad and the 3 other guys would go up and open the cabin for the summer.

[Yorkranchgalnguy]

Great memories! I'm sure your kids wil have great ones,too.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Yorkranchgalnguy

Great memories! I'm sure your kids wil have great ones,too.

Our 2 boys and about 6 other kids were there to enjoy my dad. He was "Grandpa" to all of them and spoiled them all rotten! Every time he went to town in Knoxville, the back of his truck was full of kids because they knew he would stop for ice cream or pop or whatever they wanted.

[iowaborn]

OC, back in the 80's you could probably keep Northerns that size, not anymore. Nothing larger than 29.5 inches can be kept. I was in Ontario, Lake Of The Woods, Sioux Narrows area a couple weeks ago. This Northern was caught by a friend of mine in the first day, his second cast. 44 inch, estimated a little over 23 pounds. My largest Northern caught was 27 inches and my largest Walleye was 22 inches. I brought back my limit, 4 Northern, 4 Walley and a 12 inch Smallmouth.