Miss Pam and I were reminiscing around the breakfast table this morning and we were talking about all the good times we had at our favorite fresh water fishing spot on Toledo Bend reservoir in the Sabine River. It was run by a Texas gal and a genuine country woman. It was the Lazy J Landing on SHWY 21 Just before you cross the state line into Louisiana. I recalled for the first time in years a really neat experience we had one time and I thought you might like it.
Back in the mid 70's I bought a bass boat. A guy that I worked with was an avid fisherman like me and told me about his favorite place to fish. Toledo Bend is a large water body on the Sabine River which divides the state of Texas From our neighbor to the east, Louisiana. The marina was set back in a cove near the Carrice Creek Bridge. Just a small mom & pop place. Nothing fancy but homey. Up to the front of the cove was a huge fancy marina, Frontier Park. It had many boat launching ramps and a huge tackle shop and restaurant/bar. A very nice (and expensive) set up.
Before I bought my boat we went over there and my BIL was kind enough to let us use his boat for the trip. One day we launched and went out of the cove and way up the river looking for a spot my friend had said was a good place to get some big bass. I turned off the river and headed into the jungle area and about 100 yards in the motor conked out and nothing I could do would make it start again. Thank goodness I had a paddle in the boat.
I paddled back out to the edge of the boat lane so passers by could see us. Eventually a really nice Ebb-tide With about a million HP Mercury on it came by. I was waving my shirt and hollering and he pulled up and tossed me a line and tied it on to a cleat on the back of his boat I tied on to the front of my boat and began yelling at him where I needed to go and pointing in that direction. He never said a word but made a slow smooth start and headed our way. He looked back now and then to make sure every thing was alright.
I continued to try to get his attention so I could tell him where we needed to go. When we got to the bridge I pointed and he turned into the cove and now I'm really trying to get his attention. He looked back again and I began pointing to the Lazy J Landing and I figured he got it because he dropped me off right at the boat ramp. I paddled us up to the boat dock and as I tied up and began taking our stuff out of the boat I watched the guy as he pulled into the Frontier Park Marina. I was happy to see that he was so close and I decided to go over there and thank him for saving us and getting us back to the Lazy J.
I drove over to the Frontier Park Marina and went to the restaurant/bar and as I walked in I saw him sitting at the bar with his friends. I walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder and stuck out my hand. He turned to face me and I started telling him how much I appreciated his help. He just sat there. I notice that some of his friends were sitting there grinning at me. I repeated my thanks and when he still didn't say anything I got really confused. He busted out in a big smile and pointed at the sign on the wall behind the bar. I don't remember it verbatim but it was a sign welcoming the fishing club of a group of deaf people.
Now they were all laughing at me and my new friend put his arm around my shoulder and motioned me to have a seat on the stool next to him. Man, was my face red. I bought the first round and he bought the second and 6 beers later I walked out of there with a smile on my face and new good friend. Conversation was tedious but we were able to communicate well enough. That was a terrific group of fishermen and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Back in the mid 70's I bought a bass boat. A guy that I worked with was an avid fisherman like me and told me about his favorite place to fish. Toledo Bend is a large water body on the Sabine River which divides the state of Texas From our neighbor to the east, Louisiana. The marina was set back in a cove near the Carrice Creek Bridge. Just a small mom & pop place. Nothing fancy but homey. Up to the front of the cove was a huge fancy marina, Frontier Park. It had many boat launching ramps and a huge tackle shop and restaurant/bar. A very nice (and expensive) set up.
Before I bought my boat we went over there and my BIL was kind enough to let us use his boat for the trip. One day we launched and went out of the cove and way up the river looking for a spot my friend had said was a good place to get some big bass. I turned off the river and headed into the jungle area and about 100 yards in the motor conked out and nothing I could do would make it start again. Thank goodness I had a paddle in the boat.
I paddled back out to the edge of the boat lane so passers by could see us. Eventually a really nice Ebb-tide With about a million HP Mercury on it came by. I was waving my shirt and hollering and he pulled up and tossed me a line and tied it on to a cleat on the back of his boat I tied on to the front of my boat and began yelling at him where I needed to go and pointing in that direction. He never said a word but made a slow smooth start and headed our way. He looked back now and then to make sure every thing was alright.
I continued to try to get his attention so I could tell him where we needed to go. When we got to the bridge I pointed and he turned into the cove and now I'm really trying to get his attention. He looked back again and I began pointing to the Lazy J Landing and I figured he got it because he dropped me off right at the boat ramp. I paddled us up to the boat dock and as I tied up and began taking our stuff out of the boat I watched the guy as he pulled into the Frontier Park Marina. I was happy to see that he was so close and I decided to go over there and thank him for saving us and getting us back to the Lazy J.
I drove over to the Frontier Park Marina and went to the restaurant/bar and as I walked in I saw him sitting at the bar with his friends. I walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder and stuck out my hand. He turned to face me and I started telling him how much I appreciated his help. He just sat there. I notice that some of his friends were sitting there grinning at me. I repeated my thanks and when he still didn't say anything I got really confused. He busted out in a big smile and pointed at the sign on the wall behind the bar. I don't remember it verbatim but it was a sign welcoming the fishing club of a group of deaf people.
Now they were all laughing at me and my new friend put his arm around my shoulder and motioned me to have a seat on the stool next to him. Man, was my face red. I bought the first round and he bought the second and 6 beers later I walked out of there with a smile on my face and new good friend. Conversation was tedious but we were able to communicate well enough. That was a terrific group of fishermen and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
) Oh WAIT--you mean something that was actual and NOT a dream.
