2009 Youth Essay Contest Winner
| 2009 Youth Essay Winner |
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The Fish Story One fine day I was standing on a boat on the Amazon River waiting for a fish to nibble. I had my new rod in my hand, feeling for even the slightest movement, but nothing happened. I had been standing out there since 8:00 a.m., and it was now 7:15 p.m. I was just about to pack up my things, when I felt a big tug on the line. I reassured my grip on the rod and set the drag. I had caught a big fish after waiting forever. I got the net, and scooped it up. It was a big catfish, probably 200 pounds! I fought with it, trying to get it into the boat. I pulled on the handle, and it snapped in two. The catfish swam away, leaving me standing on the boat with a broken handle. I spent the night on the boat waiting for another bite. At 1:23 a.m. I felt another tug in my line. Then I watched as a catfish jumped out of the water. I saw my old rod and hook attached to the left side of his mouth and my new line in the right side. He fought with all his might and broke free leaving me with part of the rod in my hand again. I was going to have to try a lot harder to catch this catfish. I planned my last try very wisely. I took two sets of fishing rods, replaced the line with 1/8 inch rope and put on two strong hooks. Then, I tied those two rods onto the boat so it would never come off. I got a metal chain, and wrapped it around my boat and tied it to the biggest tree I could find. Now, I was going to get that catfish! I waited and waited, but he didn't come. It was noon but I still hadn't caught anything. I went into the cabin to go to sleep. Just as I closed my eyes, I felt the boat start to shake. I went outside and saw that catfish hooked to both of my lines. He was more angry than before, and started thrashing around my boat. The boat was shaking so vicious, I almost fell out! Then, I grabbed the fishing rods and slowly reeled him in. It took me 15 minutes to get him all the way in. As I started to pull him up I noticed I had no room. I quickly cleared off all the things on my deck and put him on the boat. I had just caught a 200 pound catfish. I went back to my home in California with a big catfish. I couldn't wait to tell the news to everybody. I weighed him, and he was 196 pounds. I was amazed at how big he was. I snapped a picture of him and then sold him to the fish market. That catfish was hard to catch but I am very glad I did even though it was hard work. Kyle Sager Age 11 5/18/09 |