The Cyberspace Dawdler

Today after gloating for some two days over my success at landing the infamous Grass Carp with rod and reel after years of failure as related in my previous journal entry, I decided to see if there was some way I might thank the individual who made it all possible. With Google at my fingertips I finally secured information relating to a Keith “Catfish” Sutton who was a free-lance writer and photographer living in Arkansas that had numerous publishing credentials. This had to be my man so having located his website and contact information, I proceeded with sending him the following extended ‘thank-you’ note…..

Dear Mr. Sutton,

I recently read an article in our local newspaper, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, titled “The Fish That Eats Salad” and noted a Keith Sutton as the contributing author. Doing a little nosing around with Google I determined that you might be the prime suspect.

Assuming so, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your article on the Grass Carp, which by the way is not my favorite of critters. But for years past I had tried to land one of those fish with a rod and reel and never had. Growing up here in Arkansas it became difficult to live with the fact I couldn’t outsmart that rather loathsome fish.

As a last resort, in 2004 I took up the sport of bowfishing and extracted my revenge on a few of the critters. I referred to it as “select harvesting” to cover all my misses with a bow and arrow over the next few years. Probably got five or six in the 30lb range while professing to be a bowfisherman.

Then three weeks ago your article came to my attention while reading the paper and I immediately questioned the credentials of someone who talked about catching Grass Carp as if it was as simple as simply tossing a hook in the water and waiting a few minutes. And the cherry tomato comment was almost more than I could bare. But then fate stepped in…..

While shopping the next week at Kroger I happened to pass by a bunch of cherry tomatoes all bagged up in nice little red bags. “Was it fate?” I asked myself. So I threw a bag in the cart and went on my way. Then this past Monday I decided to put this myth about the cherry tomatoes to the test. I drove down to a small local lake where I knew there were some Grass Carp. I baited up a bare line and hook as you recommended using only half a tomato. In less than five minutes I noticed the line slowly beginning to move away and after about 24 inches of line had submerged I gave it a jerk and oh baby – I had a monster. After about a fifteen second glorious fight my line broke right at the hook but I immediately knew there might just be something to the cherry tomato thing.

So I doubled knotted a new hook, tossed it out again and it wasn’t long before the old line started going under again. Another big tug on the rod and reel and I had a good one. Finally landed this one and it was around 15 pounds. That was it! I immediately packed my gear and headed to the house confident that the ones left behind were mine anytime I wanted.

The point of this email is to simply thank you for your article and your cherry tomatoes tip. One of the items I had on my “Bucket List” was to catch a Grass Carp on a rod and reel and thanks to you – it’s done and I am closer to dying in peace.

Yours Truly……Alan G

I’m sure Mr. Sutton is a busy man and I don’t necessarily expect any measure of response but in all good consciousness, I could not bear to not at least make an effort to let the man know he had contributed to my someday leaving this planet with a measure of peace. And given the man has apparently attained the nickname of “Catfish” which is an all but sacred name here in Arkansas, what more could I have asked for than having been advised by someone perhaps referred to by many here in Arkansas as a spiritual advisor.

NOTE: Previously published in my journal, Writing To Myself, on 09/12/2009