When my family started our yearly fishing trip to Mercer in the early 1960s, my dad was not a professional fisherman by no means. So, to make sure we brought fish home and to learn future fishing spots, he would hire local guides. Over the years my father became close friends with three of these guides as did I. Big Mike (NEVER KNEW HIS LAST NAME) preferred guiding for panfish, Mr. Davis fished for Walleye/panfish and (MEAN) Mr. Bainer was a Muskie guide.

When one of these guides showed up, I would always ask if I could go fishing with them. At first, I was told in a nice way, next time. Except for Mr. Bainer. Every time I would ask if I could go for the day, in a stern voice, Bainer would make it a point that I should NOT be allowed to go Muskie fishing with them. The following year, Mr. Davis and Big Mike started to allow me to tag along, and words cannot describe how excited I was to go fishing with my dad and a guide.

Now I was one of the boys and couldn’t wait for my bobber (only one in the boat using that technique) to go underwater. I listened and followed every instruction the best I could, (I MEAN, I WAS 6 YEARS OLD, SO I’M SURE I SCREWED UP) but they were patient with me, and I even caught my first fish.

One of my best memories of those old fishing guides was the day Mr. Davis stopped by and told my dad he didn’t have any clients (I’m sure there was a wink) and asked if he could take (just me) crappie fishing. I will always remember and cherish that day. We caught over 15 plate size crappies in 3 hours. Because of that one day, I believe that’s why I’m always willing to help families that come into the bait shop with kids, catch fish.

Sadly, by 1976 we lost Big Mike and Mr. Davis. Years had passed and one day I walked into a bar and saw that MEAN Mr. Bainer, so I sat down beside him, told him who I was and bought him a beer. He said he remembered my farther, uncle and even myself and we talked for the next hour. During that hour and I did learn he wasn’t mean, but that was just his disposition. I finally had to tell him, back then I thought he was the meanest, crabbiest man I had ever met. Then I had to ask, why wouldn’t you let me go fishing with you?

Well, JOHN (never knew his first name until that day) started to laugh and said he was just protecting me. Protecting me, how?  He said, back when you were a little boy and would ask to tag alone, people didn’t practice catch and release. In those days (EARLY 60s) when he caught a Muskie, he would either shoot it with a 22. handgun or hit it in the head with a small club before bringing it into the boat. He continued that at the time, I didn’t think a young boy should see that. At this point, I told John, “I wish you would have explained that to me back then”. I’m sure I would have been disappointed, but I wouldn’t have thought he was an old crab ass. We both had a good laugh, and I was glad that I got to see him.

With Muskie fishing so popular today, I’m also glad that we practice catch and release, so future generations can land those monster Muskies.