CampionGuy
Seaman
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2007
- Messages
- 58
This one belongs in Ripley's but it's true.
This one belongs in Ripley's but it's true.
I gotta say that every fishing trip that ended poorly seemed to involve extensive elbow bending. One excursion in particular stands out as THE premier event in my fishing career. My friend Ron and I had decided to do some winter creek fishing in the Niagara Penninsula, Ontario area and thought the best idea would be to invite Ron's cousin "Crazy Norm" (hindsight is 20/20). We picked Norm up at daybreak and he decided where we would fish that day would be one of his favourite creeks for brookies. Crazy Norm knew what time the liquor store opened and even knew the staff quite well (hindsight). Once we arrive at the creek we first start a fire because it's close to freezing and we need to take warm-up breaks. The fishing is challenging, liquid fire is flowing freely and eventually the world seems to be tilting at quite an angle for me. While walking to relieve myself along the 5' high bank of the creek I seemed to have found a hole which consumed my right ankle and wrenched it to what must have been a 90degree angle. Immediately the pain overcomes me and I hit the ground.......or so I had hoped. Instead of ground I found nothing but air as I cleared the steep bank on my way to the freezing creekbed ominously awaiting my arival. Impacting the rocky bottom flat on my back in a foot of water was like a walk in the park compared to the shocking embrace of the ice encrusted water. Managing to let out what I assumed was a yell was met by silence. Louder this time Ron came rushing to the bank and eventually made his way down to me to try helping me to safety. Suddenly a blood curdling banshee scream comes from above as "Crazy Norm" takes launch at full sprint from the bank finding perfect flight high over my freezing body landing perilously close to my prone figure and taking charge of the rescue operation. After much concerted effort and many agonized screams they manage to hoist my 230# frame up the bank to what I thought was relative safety. Shivering uncontrollably, scared and writhing in pain we limp to the fire where I wrap myself in a blanket and lay down to dry out (pun intended). Alcohol prevents us from driving. Falling asleep by the fire allowed my body to warm to a safe level or perhaps too safe. The water in my heavy sweater warmed to a point that it turned to steam and inflicted third degree burns on top of previous third degree burns from a childhood accident. Soon it was "safe" to drive and upon reaching the hospital they took me in immediately. Summarizing my injuries included torn ankle ligaments, bruised ribs, mild hypothermia, dehydration and third degree burns to the rear of my arm and my hip area. Oh...and a hangover. Six weeks on crutches and two skin grafts later I had fully recovered and was ready to fish again. Jack Daniels stayed home for any future fishing trips. One bonus was the visiting nurse who came to my house to change the dressing on my hip.
Oh....and fish? We caught one good sized brook trout. I should have had it mounted. Hindsight is 20/20.
This one belongs in Ripley's but it's true.
I gotta say that every fishing trip that ended poorly seemed to involve extensive elbow bending. One excursion in particular stands out as THE premier event in my fishing career. My friend Ron and I had decided to do some winter creek fishing in the Niagara Penninsula, Ontario area and thought the best idea would be to invite Ron's cousin "Crazy Norm" (hindsight is 20/20). We picked Norm up at daybreak and he decided where we would fish that day would be one of his favourite creeks for brookies. Crazy Norm knew what time the liquor store opened and even knew the staff quite well (hindsight). Once we arrive at the creek we first start a fire because it's close to freezing and we need to take warm-up breaks. The fishing is challenging, liquid fire is flowing freely and eventually the world seems to be tilting at quite an angle for me. While walking to relieve myself along the 5' high bank of the creek I seemed to have found a hole which consumed my right ankle and wrenched it to what must have been a 90degree angle. Immediately the pain overcomes me and I hit the ground.......or so I had hoped. Instead of ground I found nothing but air as I cleared the steep bank on my way to the freezing creekbed ominously awaiting my arival. Impacting the rocky bottom flat on my back in a foot of water was like a walk in the park compared to the shocking embrace of the ice encrusted water. Managing to let out what I assumed was a yell was met by silence. Louder this time Ron came rushing to the bank and eventually made his way down to me to try helping me to safety. Suddenly a blood curdling banshee scream comes from above as "Crazy Norm" takes launch at full sprint from the bank finding perfect flight high over my freezing body landing perilously close to my prone figure and taking charge of the rescue operation. After much concerted effort and many agonized screams they manage to hoist my 230# frame up the bank to what I thought was relative safety. Shivering uncontrollably, scared and writhing in pain we limp to the fire where I wrap myself in a blanket and lay down to dry out (pun intended). Alcohol prevents us from driving. Falling asleep by the fire allowed my body to warm to a safe level or perhaps too safe. The water in my heavy sweater warmed to a point that it turned to steam and inflicted third degree burns on top of previous third degree burns from a childhood accident. Soon it was "safe" to drive and upon reaching the hospital they took me in immediately. Summarizing my injuries included torn ankle ligaments, bruised ribs, mild hypothermia, dehydration and third degree burns to the rear of my arm and my hip area. Oh...and a hangover. Six weeks on crutches and two skin grafts later I had fully recovered and was ready to fish again. Jack Daniels stayed home for any future fishing trips. One bonus was the visiting nurse who came to my house to change the dressing on my hip.
Oh....and fish? We caught one good sized brook trout. I should have had it mounted. Hindsight is 20/20.