Personal Narrative: The Big Lake Fork Bass Marathon

The key is using crankbait is to figure out how deep in the water the bass in the area you are fishing like to hang out, and cast your line at that depth.

I am reading “The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant”, by W.D Wetherell, and I am on page 5. So far this book is about a boy who has a major crush on his next-door neighbor, Sheila Mant who is a stunningly gorgeous read head and is considered a big catch to all the guys in town. After a long time of studying Sheila and planning this day, he finally musters up the courage to ask Sheila out, and to his surprise, she says yes. During their first date on their way to the dance, he runs into a predicament when the biggest bass he had ever seen gets hooked on his fishing rod, which was hanging off the side of his boat. He then has to choose between the potential biggest bass he’s ever caught, or his long time crush, which is not very

Throughout the short story “Sheila Mant,” the boy must decide between the bass and Sheila. First off, the boy might pick the bass. One reason why he might pick the bass is because it is the biggest bass he has ever hooked. As it says in the text, “One, that it was a bass. Two, it was a big bass. Three, that it was the biggest bass I had ever hooked” (Wetherell 3). The boy had never hooked a bass this big in his life and is afraid it is his only chance. If the boy picks the bass, then he could have a trophy of a lifetime. The second reason the boy might pick the bass is that he has a history with fishing. As the story states, “Yeah, bass. They come into the shallows at night to chase frogs and moths and things. Big largemouths. Micropterus salmoides, I added, showing off”

Also, he stated that he never went anywhere in the summer without his fishing pole, so he must really enjoy the sport. Another way that shows he might pick the bass is because he knows a lot about them. He knew exactly what the sound was when Sheila asked what the splashing noise was. The narrator also knew where all the bass seem to go and what type of bass tend to go different places. The last way that it seems like he will pick the bass is because he never let the bass go when he hooked it on his rod. He showed that he cared about it and that he wouldn’t let such a large bass go easily. He even slanted the canoe to different angles to stop the bass from catching on rocks in the water. The narrator obviously knows a lot about bass and the sport of fishing bass. Although it seems that he will pick the bass over the girl he loves, I think that he will pick Sheila. He thinks that Sheila is very attractive and he had to work up a lot of courage to ask her out on a date. He loves her long red hair, and well-spaced freckles. This shows that he really likes her, and wants it to be the best it can be. He obsessed with Sheila in many ways. Not only does he

Locating bass can sometimes prove to be a futile attempt leaving one to wonder, where did they all go? During one such outing at Shakamak State Park located in Jasonville Indiana. I found myself searching shallow and deep, shade and sun, grass and rock, dead-falls and standing timber for any bass willing to take the bait. I had decided that the bass just were not in a feeding mood but I was. I eased into a cove and pondered my predicament over a cold drink and turkey sandwich. I had searched every possible hiding spots in that lake and wondered what it would take to salvage the day after such a long trip to enjoy some of the great bass fishing Shakamak State Park has to offer.

Some people consider bass fishing a sport, but for most fishermen it’s a lifestyle. People have been bass fishing since the beginning of time for different reasons. Bass fishing has evolved over the years from using a sapling and some string to the high tech rod and reel technology, as well as sonar fish-finders. For modern day fisherman fishing is a lifestyle that may require a wealth of money depending on what kind of bass fishing someone wants to do. People will less wealth just fish from the bank, but for the luckier individuals that are able to own a boat, fishing is easier, and more fun. Since the beginning of time people have been using real worms for bait, but now with the advancement of technology you can use baits that have a

“Bass Fishing for Beginners.” Bassmaster, 6 June 2018,

Cresting the hill, I struggled with my ragged breathing and the pain in my hips. I focused on my rhythm I in order to keep going. My running shoes slapped the pavement as onlookers expressed their encouragement with cowbells and cheers. I wondered again why I put myself into the situation by choice. As I passed mile 13 I remembered. I felt my eyes water and my legs shake as the finish line approached. Marines in uniform stood ready with medals and smiles as they encouraged us in our own hardships to rise above the pain and finish. The announcer spoke my name but I hardly heard him as a medal slipped over my head and I marveled at the weight, not of the medal, but the accomplishment which seemed impossible for the past three hours. I finished in 3 hours, 7 minutes. It was not an Olympic record and I detested running at mile two, but I did it.

The time I got a 23 in 5 1/2 lb Largemouth Bass in Florida was awesome. When the Bass first struck my frog lure it jumped into the air and splashed down into the water. It fought very hard and tangled the line around the lily pad stems. All I could hear was my line being pulled out by the fish. I yelled at all my family to get outside. When they got out I was struggling to to get the fish out of the weeds. I eventually worked it out of the weeds and into clear water. My grandma was yelling because of how big it was. My dad got in the water and lifted it out. We filled a tote with water and put it in. It barely fit! I named it “Tank” because of how hard it hit my lure. We kept it in the tote until we found someone that could make a replica

They weren’t as sharp anywhere else; they seemed to have chosen the river as a guide on their slow wheel toward morning, and in the course of the summer’s fishing, I had learned all their names” (Wetherell 2). The boy never went anywhere without his fishing rod and even has a name brand fishing rod. He seems passionate about fishing and feels like fishing is his get away. The final way, were the boy picked the bass over Sheila is how he works so hard to keep it. When you work so hard to keep something you would think in the end you would pick it. If he did not pick the bass than what is the point of even trying. He went threw so much to keep the big bass. In the short story it states, “The canoe shot clear into the deeper water of the stream. I immediately looked down at the rod. It was bent in the same tight arc-miraculously, the bass was still on” (Wetherell 4). In the end the boy has tried so hard to keep the bass on and should not just let it go. He worked so hard for something but yet he has also had the guts to ask out

Once a bass is hooked, it may make a hard run to the opposing end of the boat, causing the fisherman to run to the other end; often passing his partner heading the other way with the net. The two fishermen fly through the air like dancers on a stage to reach positions in hope to land a fish.

Running a marathon at only 17 years old taught me that the strongest supplements a person needs are determination and motivation. The largest development of mindset and the confirmation of my future career came from when I chose to vicariously run 26.2 miles for the person who inspires me the most; my mother. When I was younger, my mother ran the Chicago Marathon twice. After her diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in 2013, she still continued to attempt to run and walk despite her immense pain. She eventually was unable to run, until I worked with her to build strength for jogging. She then started walking and jogging as much as possible. Inspired by her, I decided to run the Towpath Full Marathon in October of 2015, after six months of training.

Last year when I won the Highland Conference in Cross Country, is when I really started to like running. I remember the first meet of the season. I had been running a lot, like 35 miles per week a lot, I was feeling very ready and just felt like I had the advantage on everyone else. I was in such good shape that the two miles you run in an actual meet felt like nothing compared to how much I had been running on my own so at that first meet I kind of surprised myself. I took off a lot faster than everyone else it seemed. I kept a much faster pace than most and just kind of kept it that way. The meet was at Manton, so half way through the race I remembered Manton’s cross country course is known for the signature obstacle, the mudpit. When I got

While on his date, the narrator is faced with a dilemma, he caught one of the largest bass he had ever seen. However, he refrains from telling Sheila since he fears that he might lose her. Provided his admirable feelings for Sheila, he could not help but experience the same emotions after seeing the bass. The narrator, after analysing the situation decides to cut the line and set the bass free. Little did he know, Sheila decided to go home with Eric. Leaving the young boy, without Sheila or the Bass. He soon realizes that he no longer feels the desire for Sheila nor the Bass. In fact, as life progresses, he will get several chances to meet new love interests as well as fish. Additionally, the story provides us a hard life lesson, which I believe

The excitement begins to rise as the first cast draws nearer. The motor is prepared for take-off and the key is placed in the ignition. The engine turns over and the huge motor roars. The sleek boat accelerates rapidly and speeds toward the first fishing spot of the day. In a matter of minutes, the powerful boat glides into the fishing spot. The anticipation of catching a fish becomes almost unbearable. The fishing poles are grabbed quickly out of the rod lockers, and lures are tied onto the end of the fishing line. Moments later, the sound of a lure splashing into the water can be heard from the boat. The real adventure has just begun.