The Trophy
A memoir37 total reviews
Comment from Annmuma
I printed your story and had my son read it before I did a review. He made an annual trip with his father to Canada for about 15 years --- until my husband died suddenly 2003. By then, he was already taking his son with him. Indeed, he took an urn of his dad's ashes there to spread over the lake they usually fished together. Anyway, he said your story was perfect. He knows that lake well and used to know the guides there.
I asked how could a Muskie remain alive for almost 15 minutes out of the water. His response was "I'm betting the 16 foot metal rental boat had a bit of bottom since it had been raining all morning and the boat would not have had a bilge pump on it. So, the fish likely lay in some little water and the re-immersing method described is one all Northern Pike and Muskie fishermen do." He emphatically said, "Mom, this is real and I relived a thousand memories, just reading it."
Thus, this post earned a 6. Great writing. ann
reply by the author on 08-May-2022
  |
I printed your story and had my son read it before I did a review. He made an annual trip with his father to Canada for about 15 years --- until my husband died suddenly 2003. By then, he was already taking his son with him. Indeed, he took an urn of his dad's ashes there to spread over the lake they usually fished together. Anyway, he said your story was perfect. He knows that lake well and used to know the guides there.
I asked how could a Muskie remain alive for almost 15 minutes out of the water. His response was "I'm betting the 16 foot metal rental boat had a bit of bottom since it had been raining all morning and the boat would not have had a bilge pump on it. So, the fish likely lay in some little water and the re-immersing method described is one all Northern Pike and Muskie fishermen do." He emphatically said, "Mom, this is real and I relived a thousand memories, just reading it."
Thus, this post earned a 6. Great writing. ann
Comment Written 08-May-2022
reply by the author on 08-May-2022
Hi, Annmuma,
Wow, what an extraordinarily nice review.
What are the odds that your son would know Rainy Lake so well and even its guides! Thanks so much for having your son read the story. Please thank him for me.
Warmest regards,
J. P.
P.S.: Sorry to hear of your husband's passing.
Comment from Haylee Hemphill
Hello!
This was a very well written recollection. I wish you the best of luck with the contest and congrats and all the recognition. Thank you for sharing!
One Love
Haylee
reply by the author on 08-May-2022
 |
Hello!
This was a very well written recollection. I wish you the best of luck with the contest and congrats and all the recognition. Thank you for sharing!
One Love
Haylee
Comment Written 07-May-2022
reply by the author on 08-May-2022
Hi, Haylee Hemphill,
Thanks for stopping by, reading one of my longer stories, and especially--those very nice comments.
Sincerely,
J. P.
Comment from Donna G. (aka Sam Duck)
I very much enjoyed this story! You obviously are a talented writer and storyteller. I'm not a fishing person - my dad always said that fishing was just another way to drown a worm- but I found myself caught up in the excitement of the catch. Great job!
reply by the author on 08-May-2022
|
I very much enjoyed this story! You obviously are a talented writer and storyteller. I'm not a fishing person - my dad always said that fishing was just another way to drown a worm- but I found myself caught up in the excitement of the catch. Great job!
Comment Written 07-May-2022
reply by the author on 08-May-2022
Hi, Sam Duck,
Thanks so much for stopping by and for those nice comments. That your not a fishing person, yet read one of my longest stories and got caught up in the excitement of the catch is very flattering. Thank you!
All the best,
J. P.
Comment from pome lover
what a wonderful story and entry in the non-fiction contest. With such a trophy fish, it's a shame the season for catching it wasn't open, but kudos to you for releasing it. I feel pretty sure you framed the pictures? :) And the accompanying picture is of you, your dad, and your fish? That WAS a monster, and you sure stayed after him.
Congratulations on All Time Best!
Katharine
reply by the author on 08-May-2022
|
what a wonderful story and entry in the non-fiction contest. With such a trophy fish, it's a shame the season for catching it wasn't open, but kudos to you for releasing it. I feel pretty sure you framed the pictures? :) And the accompanying picture is of you, your dad, and your fish? That WAS a monster, and you sure stayed after him.
Congratulations on All Time Best!
Katharine
Comment Written 06-May-2022
reply by the author on 08-May-2022
Hi, pome lover,
I just left you a review and then realized I hadn't yet thanked you for reviewing my story. Sorry about not thanking you earlier!
Best wishes,
J. P.
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
This was very well-written and easily held my attention as I also love to fish. It is good enough to be an article in one of the fishing magazines or perhaps at an online site. Best of luck with this in the non-fiction writing contest.
reply by the author on 08-May-2022
|
This was very well-written and easily held my attention as I also love to fish. It is good enough to be an article in one of the fishing magazines or perhaps at an online site. Best of luck with this in the non-fiction writing contest.
Comment Written 06-May-2022
reply by the author on 08-May-2022
Hi, Carol Hillebrenner,
I just realized I haven't been replying to the last few reviews I've received. Thank you! I did leave you a review earlier, though.
Sincerely,
J. P.
Comment from juststuff
My husband and I owned a fishing cottage in northern Wisconsin for many years. He finally caught his trophy Muskie the spring that we moved to Florida. At the time he didn't know it would be his last chance, but he too released the big, beautiful fish. Reading your story brought back so many wonderful memories of fishing with him as he tried time and again over the years to reel in that trophy. Your descriptions are so well written I could see the action and feel every moment of the fight. I could smell the lake and the forest again and picture all the great moments we spent on the water together. Thanks for the memories! And thanks for a great story.
reply by the author on 06-May-2022
|
My husband and I owned a fishing cottage in northern Wisconsin for many years. He finally caught his trophy Muskie the spring that we moved to Florida. At the time he didn't know it would be his last chance, but he too released the big, beautiful fish. Reading your story brought back so many wonderful memories of fishing with him as he tried time and again over the years to reel in that trophy. Your descriptions are so well written I could see the action and feel every moment of the fight. I could smell the lake and the forest again and picture all the great moments we spent on the water together. Thanks for the memories! And thanks for a great story.
Comment Written 06-May-2022
reply by the author on 06-May-2022
Hi, juststuff,
Wow. Thank you so much! I'm glad the story awakened so many good memories about Wisconsin and the time you spent on the water with your husband. I'm more than a little flattered.
Warmest regards,
J. P.
Comment from Wendy G
Such a well- written story. It deserves a six for skill and clarity, but unfortunately I have none left. I don't like fishing myself, but can see why others enjoy the thrill. Best wishes for your story in the contest. It will resonate with many.
Wendy
reply by the author on 06-May-2022
|
Such a well- written story. It deserves a six for skill and clarity, but unfortunately I have none left. I don't like fishing myself, but can see why others enjoy the thrill. Best wishes for your story in the contest. It will resonate with many.
Wendy
Comment Written 06-May-2022
reply by the author on 06-May-2022
Hi, Wendy,
Thank you for reading the story and those compliments. Don't worry about not having anymore "sixes." I'm in the same boat as well. There's too much good stuff around here not to run out of them.
Kindest regards,
J. P.
Comment from GARY MACLEAN
Para five is my idea of a pleasant fishing trip as well. We are not pioneers, let's not act like it. Lodge for me all the way.
Para 10 is a great description of a peaceful place to just let a line dangle. Maybe a bite, maybe not, who cares?
Para 11-13: I like your description of a fish biting; 'boil of water' and 'blister of water' I can see it like I was there.
3rd para, 1st line: 'farther' should be 'further'
4th para, 3rd line: 'granitic' or perhaps 'granite'
7th para, I think this thought would flow better if you could end the first line with a period then start the second line as a new sentence with 'these are fish with...' Just a thought.
What a story. It had to be real. You tell it too good to be made up. You kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Out of season? Nooooo. That can't be. I really feel for you, both positive, because you were able to catch such a monster, and negative, because you had to let him go.
Man, that was a good read. You almost scared me off when I saw the length of the piece, but I am absolutely tickled I stuck around for the finale. Good job telling your story.
reply by the author on 06-May-2022
|
Para five is my idea of a pleasant fishing trip as well. We are not pioneers, let's not act like it. Lodge for me all the way.
Para 10 is a great description of a peaceful place to just let a line dangle. Maybe a bite, maybe not, who cares?
Para 11-13: I like your description of a fish biting; 'boil of water' and 'blister of water' I can see it like I was there.
3rd para, 1st line: 'farther' should be 'further'
4th para, 3rd line: 'granitic' or perhaps 'granite'
7th para, I think this thought would flow better if you could end the first line with a period then start the second line as a new sentence with 'these are fish with...' Just a thought.
What a story. It had to be real. You tell it too good to be made up. You kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Out of season? Nooooo. That can't be. I really feel for you, both positive, because you were able to catch such a monster, and negative, because you had to let him go.
Man, that was a good read. You almost scared me off when I saw the length of the piece, but I am absolutely tickled I stuck around for the finale. Good job telling your story.
Comment Written 05-May-2022
reply by the author on 06-May-2022
Hi, Gary,
Thank you for those compliments as well as the suggestions! I want people to read the story as carefully as you did.
Thanks also for jumping in despite the story's length. I figured if I could just get the reader to stay with me until I hooked the fish, then, if I did my job making the reader see things as if they were there, then they'd finish the story and enjoy it. And yeah, the story is as true as I could write it.
Very best wishes,
J. P.
-
Well, you really hooked this 'largemouth' bass. I loved it.
-
LOL. Welcome to the site Gary! I've already checked out your poem and will be by soon.
Comment from city gal
I have never fished. And never had any interest in doing so.
Yet your story, despite the foreign terms and names, grabbed my attention from the first few lines. And I stayed in the boat with you and your dad until the large fish slipped into the water
Great storytelling..
reply by the author on 06-May-2022
|
I have never fished. And never had any interest in doing so.
Yet your story, despite the foreign terms and names, grabbed my attention from the first few lines. And I stayed in the boat with you and your dad until the large fish slipped into the water
Great storytelling..
Comment Written 05-May-2022
reply by the author on 06-May-2022
Hi, city gal,
That's such a great compliment to read. Thank you!
When someone who's never fished reads a 2,700 word story about a fishing trip and likes it, then I feel like I'm getting somewhere as a writer.
Very sincerely,
J. P.
Comment from John Ciarmello
Great non-fiction. J.P! I'm happy you caught him and enjoyed the simple thrill of it all. Your father I'm sure was proud, another plus that added to the thrill. I enjoyed this immensely, my friend.
reply by the author on 06-May-2022
|
Great non-fiction. J.P! I'm happy you caught him and enjoyed the simple thrill of it all. Your father I'm sure was proud, another plus that added to the thrill. I enjoyed this immensely, my friend.
Comment Written 05-May-2022
reply by the author on 06-May-2022
Hi, John,
Thanks for reading such a long story and those compliments. I'm glad you liked it!
Best regards,
J. P.
