Some call him “Bagles” but I call him Reggie, Reggie Begelton. He plays Slotback (Wide receiver) for the Canadian Football League (CFL) He hails from Beaumont, Texas where he grew up fishin the canals. Like me, his grandfather used to take him fishing to “keep me out the streets”. You can tell he has fished many times before from the pinpoint accurate casts, right where the fish live. I don’t really need to say much other than “put it behind that rock” or “cast on the left side of the river” and he takes care of the rest. He can read water like a boss and casts like a pro. That’s half the battle out there, making pin-point accurate casts, and he does it with ease!
Once again I was blessed to see Mr Titus Wall out with us. Titus hails from Lima, Ohio and plays the (SAM) Strongside Linebacker position, also with the Calgary Stampeders. The Sam linebacker is often converted from defensive scheme to defensive scheme, as the player may have different roles or responsibilities based on their assignments. The Sam linebacker is the strongside linebacker, meaning they will to the strong side of the offensive formation.
Last year, Titus came out with Reggie and I and struggled, with only two fish caught despite our best efforts. It definitely was not for lack of trying! I wanted to get Titus a boat load of fish this trip and make up for the lack of trout last go-round.
We launched the jet boat at McKinnon Flats early morning. Reggie is an early bird, but Titus went out the night before our trip and had to saw some logs in the back of my truck on the way to the boat launch.
Reggie and I rigged up the rods with the Robertson Tackle while we let Titus get his beauty sleep in the back seat. We got the boat prepped and woke sleeping beauty before putting the boat into the river. I told Titus I was gonna get him fish right at the boat launch, and he kinda laughed at me as we drove up the river a short distance. No more than five casts and Titus had a beauty Rainbow in my awaiting net. We both were laughing as I gleefully blurted out “told ya so”. He crushed a few more a short distance downriver from the boat launch. I think that woke him up!
Then it was Reggie’s turn. Not long after netting Mr. Wall’s third fish, Reggie hooked up and was reeling one in. That’s how you write up the perfect start to the day. Sometimes as a guide, there is extra pressure on one’s self to perform when VIP clints are onboard, but I keep it fun and never put too much pressure on myself. There is no reason to stress about the things we cant control, such as when the fish will bite and how many fish we will put in the net. I am confident in my abilities and keep it fun when under pressure. I go there with no expectations, because I was told “expectations are resentments waiting to happen”.
Shortly down river after many fish in the net, with lots of laughs along the way, Reggie hooked into a monsta trophy brown trout. He battled that beast with precise skill and fought the fish perfectly. I always say, “its one thing to hook a big brown, but its two to get it in the net”. Reggie made it look like childs play and we both freaked out after he landed his trophy trout.
I guess that’s one of the reasons I love fishing so much. It brings out the kid in us grown men.
We smashed them all day and it was another killer trip with my friends. I sincerly appreciate you both coming out fishing with me again this season. I am super glad we got Titus those redemption fish, and “Bagles” landed his beast brownie.
Atta boy Reggie, atta boy.
Until next time my friends.
Thank ya so much.
