By: Art Pasley
The Jamestown North Dakota C.A.S.T. event will be a memory in my mind for many years to come. While in Jamestown, everything was wonderful. Going back to the airport, I thought the world was coming to an end. When the radio starts making that weird honking noise and someone comes on the air telling you to take cover, my advice to you is TAKE COVER! End of story.
Denny Breitzman, Larry Kuntz and the staff from the Reclamation Bismarck North Dakota Field Office, provided a day of fun that won't be forgotten by the 82 participants for years to come. Jamestown Reservoir is a beautiful body of water filled with smallmouth bass and trout. The only problem is they don't bite very well during the hot summer months. They are cold weather fish, but plan "B" worked very well.
Across the road from Jamestown Reservoir is, what some would call, a puddle of water. To the participants that day, it was a dream come true. "This is the most fun I have all year," stated an unnamed volunteer, (I'm withholding his identity to protect the innocent). "I will definitely be doing this again next year", he concluded. There was a small area located on the upper edge of this puddle that produced fish after fish after fish. Something they called a "Bullhead" (which looks just like a mud cat, but is very slimy) and the usual perch, with little stripes on the sides, which most all your Northern Lakes are filled with.
As word got out to the pier fishing enthusiast, that fish were being caught at Lake "B" they began to relocate to get in on the action. Good thing for zoom lenses because the more fish they caught, the more participants there were trying their luck at catching a fish. The more participants, the farther away we had to stand to take pictures. Anyway, fishing was great for several hours but it wasn't long untill the heat and the fish started tiring out our anglers for the day. With rods and reels, tackle boxes and plaques in hand, they loaded into the vans and the day came to an end, unless you were riding with me.
Okay, it was a storm. Not just a little rain but it was more like riding through the Bermuda Triangle. Sheets of rain, hail, lightning and wind strong enough to bring any bold adventurer to find refuge in a covered area. Only problem with that, the terrain is so flat and far you can stand in the middle of North Dakota and see the hills in South Dakota. For what seemed like an eternity, but was not much over an hour, I held fast to a course set for Rapid City, as finally the clouds began to break and the blue sky reappeared. Many thanks were offered for the rest of the trip.
I enjoy the time I spend in the Dakotas. It's a very beautiful part of our country. The area between North and South Dakota is filled with wildlife. If you ever get the chance to spend a vacation there, you won't be disappointed, and by the way, if you hear that honking noise on your radio, find a place to hide. I promise you'll thank me for the tip.
Thanks Larry, Denny, and all the volunteers from Bismarck, North Dakota.
You truly are "Special People, Helping Special, Children Catch A Special Thrill".
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(Click on a picture to enlarge)
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