A Few Errands

I took the opportunity the other day (Friday, March 30th) to run a few errands. Errands that have been weighing on me for some time; and what better place to run them than the Steelhead Strip Mall, or the Eastern Tribs as most know them.

At first light, I stopped at one of my favourite "stores" as they always have a great selection of spirited first year class specimens, along with the occasional Costco Goliaths of monumental proportions. As an added bonus, they always seem to be in stock. The problem is most everyone knows about it and trying to stop by on a weekend can be claustrophobic. It also means that its products are highly educated, which requires quite a bit of wit and creativity to find them. When I arrived, I was excited to see that only one other patron was loitering about. We exchanged pleasantries and I quickly proceeded to my favourite aisle.

After a number of drifts and several offerings, I switched up one more time. The float meandered along when it suddenly and deliberately was sucked under. I raised the rod in exaltation, and a gigantic boil formed by something even larger sub-surface. It's mammoth head shook from side to side and the rod bounced in synchronicity. The Goliath rocketed upstream and the line sung under the tension. With my eyes as wide as two half moons, and mouth agape, it stopped, rolled, and my line went limp. My morale was shattered with the loss and I wanted to sit on a log and cry. After a long moment of sulking, I picked myself up and headed upstream, where I was able to redeem myself with a couple decent finds.

In this particular store one must contend with sometimes very daunting obstacles.
After a few hours, I stopped at 2 other shops and picked up a few more things, including a drop-back male that looked like a football, and a spunky shaker that fought beyond its years.

It certainly wasn't a bad day at all. In fact, a day of retail therapy was just what I needed to work out the bugs from the last few months of inactivity.