'Twas the Night Before Bassmas

By Brandon Card

'Twas the night before blastoff, when all through the inn,

All the anglers were stirring, thinking 'bout a big win.

The lures were all tied to the Trilene with care,

In hopes that five big ones soon would be snared.

The big bass were nestled all snug in their beds,

Surely visions of our baits filling their heads.

And brother with his laptop, and I with my maps,

Had found just the spot, or maybe two perhaps.

Then out of nowhere, we both fell asleep,

Not waking 'til six when my phone finally beeped.

The sun on the edge of the sky in the east,

Gave my stomach the feeling it just might release.

Then what to my still bleary eyes should appear,

But an empty parking lot, no boats far or near.

Away to the truck we flew like none other,

Hooked up the boat and peeled off the cover.

With both of us sweating, half crazy and sick,

I sped to the main road and the gas my foot did hit.

More rapid than ever the back roads we drove,

We hollered and shouted, as further we strove.

Past Smith Springs, the Junction and County Road Eight,

The marina was next, we were sure to be late.

To the top of the ramp! Into reverse I then threw,

"Now back it straight! Hit the gas! Park it! We're through."

As numbers were called, we sat not believing,

Our boat was next, so at last we were breathing.

And up on the waves in our Triton we flew,

Destination a bridge, to catch one or two.

And then, in a twinkling, I had the notion,

To change up our plans and fish on emotion.

As I spun the wheel left and turned us around,

My brother looked at me, on his face a slight frown.

We were not sure at first but soon had no worry,

The big bass were biting; we caught four in a hurry.

Jigs, worms and A-Rigs, we flung in the air,

The hours slipped by, leaving few minutes to spare.

My eyes, how they twinkled! My dimples, how merry!

When the big one ate my bait, but then it got scary!

The big old largemouth was hung under the dock,

Upon seeing his head, we looked on in shock.

A big swimbait he held so tight in his teeth,

And the A-Rig encircled his head like a wreath.

He had thick, broad shoulders and a big round belly,

He thrashed and it shivered like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right regal old fish,

I lurched when I saw him and made a quick wish.

A thrash of his tail and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had much left to dread.

We spoke not a word but went straight to our work,

Brother lunged toward the beast--its mouth turned with a jerk.

And laying both hands around its big nose,

Then giving a shout, from the water he rose.

Brother sprang to his feet and hollered, "Yeah Bass!"

And away we then flew to weigh-in at last.

And all heard us say, as we stepped onto the stage,

"What a day this has been; let's see what they'll weigh!"