Dudleys Diary

on the Brazos river yesterday. That is his friend Chace holding the bass and loading his kayak. The photo of the small bass with the dam in the background was Franks first fish of the day. He said he caught it on his third cast and caught a second small bass a short time later. Chace caught his bass early in the trip. They caught three bass so quick, they thought they were going to tear up the bass. Then for whatever reason the bite shut down and they did not catch another fish the whole trip. They had a great time being on the river and that is what matters. They launched at the dam and paddled down a little over eight miles on this trip. Frank and Dudley floated this section in a canoe about five years ago. It was Dudley's last river trip. Dudley was so tired after the trip, he was unable to get to his feet. The man that runs the canoe shuttle service drove his Jeep down to the waters edge and Dudley was able to pull himself up to his feet by grabbing on to the front bumper. Dudley then got a ride up to the top of the hill where he could make it to the truck. Dudley's muscular dystrophy is a lot worse now than it was five years ago. When Dudley was a teenager, he spent many enjoyable hours fishing and canoeing up on the Illinois River in Northeastern Oklahoma. His stepfathers family had a cabin up there on the river. Those were some great times but distant memories for Dudley. I am glad Frank is able to follow in his father's footsteps. And Dudley can offer the benefit of his years of experience on the river to his son. Before he left, I told him if he heard banjos near the river to paddle like hell!