The Night Before Opener

[sandmannd]

'Twas the night before opener, and all through the lake,
Nothing was stirring, but my soon to be wake.
The boat had been filled with my rods, tackle and my gear,
Thinking that the Walleye would bite brought me a tear.

The Lindy's were tied using Vanish with care,
In hopes the hooks would soon not be bare.
The minnows were purchased and placed in the fridge,
If nothing else, they'll scare my wife & kids!

When backing the truck up there arose such a clatter,
I forgot to open the hitch pin, that's what's the matter.
I hooked up the boat, then got gas and supplies,
I had a hard time concentrating as I was thinking of Walleyes.

I set my alarm and laid down in bed,
Didn't sleep much as the fish were in my head.
I woke up early, before it was time,
That's OK though, this day is mine!

Uncovered the boat and started the truck,
Had to wait for my buddy, he was runny late, the Schmuck.
We drove to the water the anticipation was high,
The sun had yet to peak through the sky.

The boat is in the water, we are getting bait for our hook,
We called it by name, just to make the other fisherman look,
Now, RINGWORM, now GRUB, now MINNOW and SUCKER!
Come, PLASTICS and LEECHES show us your pucker!

Ah what a feeling, we had missed this since fall,
Now castaway, castaway, castaway ALL!!
From the finesse of the Lindy, to the snap of the jig!
You feel a tug on your line and you hope it's a pig!

The excitement you feel from the end of your line,
You hope you'll set the hook good and everything is fine.
So I set the hook hard and thought I was done,
Then the rod bent in half and I knew I had a big one!

Pulling through the water with the strength of a stag,
My reel was spinning fast, I had to adjust my drag.
I fought the fish hard and was breaking a sweat,
I finally made some progress so yelled "Hey, get the net!!"

Her eyes were like marbles & her teeth needle sharp,
Her gold back glimmered in the sun, this was no carp!!
I took out the hook with a flick of the wrist,
And gawked at a walleye that would be tops on anyone's list.

She deserved to be that of pictures and story,
Much better than ending up in the belly of uncle Maury.
I let free my beauty so others could see,
Cause that's just the sportsman in me.

As I watched her swim away and she began to fade,
I knew if the pictures weren't enough, I could always have a replica made.

The sun was going down and we had some good eaters,
We loaded the boat on the truck and turned on the heater.
On the ride home we talked the whole way,
It was a great opener and a wonderful day!!