Last season I was going through an absolutely pitiful fall season......(yes just like this one
) not quite as bad as this fall but close. Anyway.....I knew Steve had been getting some nice fish all September, and he had invited me to join him a couple times but I could not make it. As things grew worse for me I decided to venture out one night in October (14th I think?) to a place I knew I would find Steve! I showed up after dark right at the proper time and tide and out in the darkness I saw 2 shadows in the water casting.......one normal sized shadow....... (Mr. Striper aka Ernie).......and Steve!!
I quietly waded out close to them and just listened as they unhooked fish and cast and unhooked fish.......I made a few casts and when a moment presented itself (Steve did not know it was me there) I said, just loud enough for Steve to hear, "Boy I didn't know they piled it that high??"!!!
Well Steve turned his head slowly (I could see him even in the darness of a new moon turning) and as he did he said...."EXCUSE ME????"
I thought he was gonna beat me with his fishing rod so I said "Steve its me" and he said....."Larry how are you.....nice to see you". It was always good to see Steve. I took a spot next to Steve and Ernie and we made a couple casts and Steve said to put on a black needle if I had one. Well I didn't but I had a black scale Danny so I put it on and first cast with it I hooked up to a decent fish and that continued for about an hour......us catching fish, Ernie dropped more fish that night than I caught and we were laughing about it.......Steve hooked into a nice 30 pound plus fish and I watched him fight it and once he got it in his grasp I took the photos you see here! Steve then released it as he always did. Shortly afterwards I hooked up on a good one and Steve took my picture......"It looks 30" Steve said......and I was happy......just to be catching fish with Steve. Jimmy Fee showed up that night too but I think the bite had died by then. We chewed the fat by the trucks for awhile and I gave Steve a "Blue on Black" Danny to put in his bag and we parted. I saw Steve a week later with Slipknot at MSBA as he had a seminar that night....he showed me that Danny and said he did well with it. That was the last time I saw Steve. I wish he was here now cause' I sure could use his help right now with this drought.......maybe I will go find him tonight......I know where he would be?