Splash! The sound I hear through my head day in and day out. Spash; the noise I long for, chase after, and live for. This sound keeps me fishing. Throughout my short but memorable fishing career I have totalled up some impressive numbers of fish, but there are a select number of trully memorable battles.
It was late in the afternoon and I recieved a call from my good buddy Keenan. "John, you know the reason I called you," Keenan exclaimed. "I'll be there in about ten minutes," I stammered out quickly. As soon as an apple could fall from a tree, I was on my way, to fish, to have that one moment.
We arrived at the lake, promtly hiked to its farthest reaches, and set up unknowingly for what we would remember for the rest of our lives. Keenan made the first few catches; the next few were mine."John what is with the mess of Mudcats(bullhead catfish)," Keenan demanded. "Kick back, we'll find em," I replied. Sooner than expected the next twang on the end of the rod happen, so Keenan took off a million miles an hour for a hookset. The fish took him a good two minutes to land, a respective eight pound carp. After the hoots and hollers were through it was time to get serious again. All was still and quiet in the dairy land of southern California. Then it happened. My rod, resting against a railing, bounced, then doubled over, making its way over the railing into flight. Luckily Keenan grabbed it; less than a second later I took over for the hookset. I never had a chance for the hookset, the battle had already begun. ZZZZZZZ, the sound i like to hear. Then a few headshakes that seemed a mile apart. Splash!Splash! The sound I love; I could tell the weight was mammoth, and just caught a glimse of a tail. "Channel Cat," I screamed until my breath was gone. The battle ensued for another twenty minutes, consisting of too many close calls on four pound line. Then the last splash I remember was the net going in; all nearly faded to black. I was jolted back into reality. I could not believe what I was looking at. My Splash, a thirty-four inch catfish that could eat its namesake.
My accomplishment was what has kept me fishing to this day. The sight, smell, and especially sound are what i will take in memory to my grave. To fish is to know a feeling that should be greatly desired. Fishing is full of life time memories that are waiting to be had, so have fun and keep those lines tight and you wait to hear Your Splash.

John Vicari

Ive gone crazy, i just have this urge to catch a little green thing from water