It’s true: A day on the water, even barely, beats a day at work

When a fishing buddy, Steve Sorensen of Fresno, invited me to go striper fishing with him and his friend John Garcia from Madera at the Delta last week, I decided it might be a fun adventure – I hadn’t fished the Delta in over 10 years, and I was beginning to like being a guest.

We met at 5 a.m. in Firebaugh and took off for Rio Vista pulling Steve’s 25-foot pontoon barge. After 2 1/2 hours we turned onto a back road leading to an out-of-the-way launch ramp. The road ended at a locked gate. “I called yesterday, and it’s supposed to be open!” Steve protested. “Sure, Steve!” John and I echoed as good fishing buddies should do.

Tunrs out the gate didn’t open until 9 a.m. A sheriff’s deputy arrived to unlock it and remind: “Be sure to pay the toll box, don’t stand around in a group, bathrooms are closed, and we close at 4 p.m.” It reminded me of the “Twilight Zone.” But I digress.

Excited, we ignored the delay getting going, loaded our gear, checked the minnows and backed the stern into the water. Steve started the 200-horsepower outboard and it purred for a few seconds, then stalled. Normal cold start, it seemed. The engine came back to life on the next try – and stopped again.

Steve started digging into the fuel filter, then checking the gas. Most of us who have been fishing for many years know exactly what this feels like. “Wwhhhaaa … wwhhhhaaa!” Steve obviously had one heck of a starting battery. He kept trying.

John and I decided it was time to bring out the Kentucky Fried Chicken (old fashion) and go to work. The deputy kept driving by, but we were all pretty social distanced – not!

Turning my attention to the river, I saw boats filled with anglers trolling up and down the bank just 50 yards from us. One had a decent striper they were dragging along, but otherwise I didn’t see much catching. About then a big freighter steamed by and the Rio Vista drawbridge went up for it to pass through. That kind of thing didn’t happen at San Luis Reservoir.

I watched the tide begin turning and the current gain speed as I looked into the water behind the dock for any fish. It was a beautiful setting, we had tons of food, doing the best we could. It was nothing we hadn’t handled many times before on other trips.

We were on the water, albeit barely – but I savored the experience. For some reason, not getting to fish didn’t bother me. It was a beautiful day.

After several hours of trying, we took off for home. We traded old war stories of past victories and experiences between bites of junk food, chicken and pastries. The next day, Steve called; a clogged filter was the culprit. Good news.

We got to have a great trip, fun fellowship and some time sitting at the dock. That’s the way fishing goes. It’s always an adventure.

Can’t wait for the next trip. Never give up!

This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 2:12 PM with the headline "It’s true: A day on the water, even barely, beats a day at work."