A Meadolark's Call
by Riley Demo
Finding worms should be the easy part. They come easily in the morning around 5:00am. Stamping your feet may help as they often confuse the vibrations for the sound for rain.
Up on the hilltop, I spotted you. Seated upon the barbed throne, you sang to the morning light creeping up. Yellow breasted with grey and brown specks, the black” v” upon your chest, you look like a humble king as you welcome me home.
You may have a perfects spot already but, if you do not, find a place that is comfortable and clear at the edge of the water if it is spring or autumn. In the summer fish like the cooler water so you may need a boat. You may be there for hours, so make yourself comfortable.
Somehow, you are unencumbered by sharp wire. You may weave your way through the thorns and wire, finding a grub for your breakfast.
Select a hook to place upon your rod. The hook must match the size of the fish so start small as you learn. Never use a barbed hook. Tie the hook onto the line with a clinch knot by threading the line through the hook, wrapping the thread around the line five times and threading back through the loop near the hook. Once the hook is threaded, place bait on the hook. The bait must match the size of the fish as well. It is easiest to start with a worm. To thread the worm onto the hook, stab the top part of the worm and work the worm to the base of the hook. Stab the middle part and the lower part of the worm, working each up as you go. When finished, the worm should be stabbed three times to not waste the life of the worm with a fish
that can easily steal from you. The worm has given its life to you.
To weave through the wire is a trait I must take from you. Optimism and humility are hard to come by. Weaving through the thorns seems harder and harder in this evolving world. I mourn the world that once was but find solace in your grace still. You still find nourishment through the thorns. Here I can find my life as well.
To cast the hook and worm into the water, hold the rod in your dominant hand, pinch the line with your thumb and index finger. If you have a trigger rod, press the trigger a hold. Bring the rod back to a vertical position behind you then snap it forward, releasing the line or trigger as you launch forward.
Wait patiently and quietly. Fish are easily startled so ignore the temptation to skip rocks or listen to music. Fishing is a contemplative practice. Treat it as such.
Your boldness is astounding as you sit in open prairie. You are prey yourself, yet you nest in the grass, using the depressions made by cows or horses. The prairie shields you from the harsh winters, out in the open yet sheltered by the grass.
When a bite is felt, raise the rod, and start reeling simultaneously. The hook should be caught in the fish’s mouth. Fish, especially larger ones, are extremely apt swimmer and will pull strongly against the tug of your rod. Do not give in. Once the fish is in, wrap it in a towel as to not cut your hands on the scales. Catfish, especially, have sharp wires to escape the grasp of predation. Hold the fish tightly and remove the hook gently as to not harm the fish further. Pliers may be necessary and help. Once removed, if the fish is too small, gently place it back in the lake or river. It is not ready to give you, its life.
I seek to use what I have like you. Taking stock and appreciating all that I have. While it may be minimal, it is more than most. I am grateful for the life, family, and friends surrounding me. My provisions sustain me and protect me, like the prairie grass.
If the fish is large enough, using a fillet knife, place an incision under his gills snaping its head backwards. This ensures a sudden death as the spinal cord is severed so the fish does not feel further pain. This practice has a motive of respect. To honor the death and suffering that the fish has undergone, the death must be quick and final. Thread a rope through the mouth and out of the gills and hang the fish above a bucket of water to bleed them.
You use everything you can, even the trash that people may leave. Grass, sticks, leaves, and dirt make up your refuge. Everything must be used as not to be wasted.
To descale the fish, scrape the scales using the back of a knife against the grain of the scales. Starting at the base of the tail work your way up to the gills. Skinning can also be done after fillet. Once the scales are removed, cut the fish’s stomach open, removing its guts. The guts may attract other animals. To not waste the fish, place the guts into a bucket that may be discarded into the water at the end of your journey. These may be eaten by other larger fish or birds. Flush cold water into the incision to ensure the fish is clean.
I watch you sit and sing your sweet song. Sharp and sweet, splintering yet supple. Your song reminds me of the blistering mornings with the sun warming my back as the dew cools my feet. I could play in the prairie, unburdened by the world beyond. The switchgrass, bluestem and Indiangrass spread for miles, allowing my imagination and dreams to explore without restraint.
Cut the head at the base of the gills and the fins along the sides of the fish. The head may be used to make stock or thrown back with the fins and guts for fish or other animals to eat. It is imperative to not leave any part of the fish as it has graciously given its life for the purpose of consumption. To do otherwise is to humiliate the fish and dishonor its life. Run the knife down the fish’s spine from head to tail, using a gentle, sliding motion over the backbone and ribs to not disturb the bones. Turn the fish over and repeat on the opposite side to obtain the fillet. The bones are often translucent and small so remove them with tweezers, taking caution to do so. The bones can be made into a few items including sewing needles but may also be used to make stock with the head. Do not throw the bones back into the lake but, if there is no use for them in your life, burry them into the earth near the river.
Your song concludes as you spot your next meal. Drifting gracefully, you catch a grub in your mouth. Writhing and happy it has given its life to you.
You back to your post, celebrating your victory with song. Again and again, your sound rings through the prairie for all to hear.
Rinse the fillet with water and store it with ice to use for later consumption. Remember the process during consumption. The worm and the fish gave their lives for your flourishment. Honor and remember their existence.
I wait for the day when I can hear the meadowlark sing again.
by Riley Demo
Finding worms should be the easy part. They come easily in the morning around 5:00am. Stamping your feet may help as they often confuse the vibrations for the sound for rain.
Up on the hilltop, I spotted you. Seated upon the barbed throne, you sang to the morning light creeping up. Yellow breasted with grey and brown specks, the black” v” upon your chest, you look like a humble king as you welcome me home.
You may have a perfects spot already but, if you do not, find a place that is comfortable and clear at the edge of the water if it is spring or autumn. In the summer fish like the cooler water so you may need a boat. You may be there for hours, so make yourself comfortable.
Somehow, you are unencumbered by sharp wire. You may weave your way through the thorns and wire, finding a grub for your breakfast.
Select a hook to place upon your rod. The hook must match the size of the fish so start small as you learn. Never use a barbed hook. Tie the hook onto the line with a clinch knot by threading the line through the hook, wrapping the thread around the line five times and threading back through the loop near the hook. Once the hook is threaded, place bait on the hook. The bait must match the size of the fish as well. It is easiest to start with a worm. To thread the worm onto the hook, stab the top part of the worm and work the worm to the base of the hook. Stab the middle part and the lower part of the worm, working each up as you go. When finished, the worm should be stabbed three times to not waste the life of the worm with a fish
that can easily steal from you. The worm has given its life to you.
To weave through the wire is a trait I must take from you. Optimism and humility are hard to come by. Weaving through the thorns seems harder and harder in this evolving world. I mourn the world that once was but find solace in your grace still. You still find nourishment through the thorns. Here I can find my life as well.
To cast the hook and worm into the water, hold the rod in your dominant hand, pinch the line with your thumb and index finger. If you have a trigger rod, press the trigger a hold. Bring the rod back to a vertical position behind you then snap it forward, releasing the line or trigger as you launch forward.
Wait patiently and quietly. Fish are easily startled so ignore the temptation to skip rocks or listen to music. Fishing is a contemplative practice. Treat it as such.
Your boldness is astounding as you sit in open prairie. You are prey yourself, yet you nest in the grass, using the depressions made by cows or horses. The prairie shields you from the harsh winters, out in the open yet sheltered by the grass.
When a bite is felt, raise the rod, and start reeling simultaneously. The hook should be caught in the fish’s mouth. Fish, especially larger ones, are extremely apt swimmer and will pull strongly against the tug of your rod. Do not give in. Once the fish is in, wrap it in a towel as to not cut your hands on the scales. Catfish, especially, have sharp wires to escape the grasp of predation. Hold the fish tightly and remove the hook gently as to not harm the fish further. Pliers may be necessary and help. Once removed, if the fish is too small, gently place it back in the lake or river. It is not ready to give you, its life.
I seek to use what I have like you. Taking stock and appreciating all that I have. While it may be minimal, it is more than most. I am grateful for the life, family, and friends surrounding me. My provisions sustain me and protect me, like the prairie grass.
If the fish is large enough, using a fillet knife, place an incision under his gills snaping its head backwards. This ensures a sudden death as the spinal cord is severed so the fish does not feel further pain. This practice has a motive of respect. To honor the death and suffering that the fish has undergone, the death must be quick and final. Thread a rope through the mouth and out of the gills and hang the fish above a bucket of water to bleed them.
You use everything you can, even the trash that people may leave. Grass, sticks, leaves, and dirt make up your refuge. Everything must be used as not to be wasted.
To descale the fish, scrape the scales using the back of a knife against the grain of the scales. Starting at the base of the tail work your way up to the gills. Skinning can also be done after fillet. Once the scales are removed, cut the fish’s stomach open, removing its guts. The guts may attract other animals. To not waste the fish, place the guts into a bucket that may be discarded into the water at the end of your journey. These may be eaten by other larger fish or birds. Flush cold water into the incision to ensure the fish is clean.
I watch you sit and sing your sweet song. Sharp and sweet, splintering yet supple. Your song reminds me of the blistering mornings with the sun warming my back as the dew cools my feet. I could play in the prairie, unburdened by the world beyond. The switchgrass, bluestem and Indiangrass spread for miles, allowing my imagination and dreams to explore without restraint.
Cut the head at the base of the gills and the fins along the sides of the fish. The head may be used to make stock or thrown back with the fins and guts for fish or other animals to eat. It is imperative to not leave any part of the fish as it has graciously given its life for the purpose of consumption. To do otherwise is to humiliate the fish and dishonor its life. Run the knife down the fish’s spine from head to tail, using a gentle, sliding motion over the backbone and ribs to not disturb the bones. Turn the fish over and repeat on the opposite side to obtain the fillet. The bones are often translucent and small so remove them with tweezers, taking caution to do so. The bones can be made into a few items including sewing needles but may also be used to make stock with the head. Do not throw the bones back into the lake but, if there is no use for them in your life, burry them into the earth near the river.
Your song concludes as you spot your next meal. Drifting gracefully, you catch a grub in your mouth. Writhing and happy it has given its life to you.
You back to your post, celebrating your victory with song. Again and again, your sound rings through the prairie for all to hear.
Rinse the fillet with water and store it with ice to use for later consumption. Remember the process during consumption. The worm and the fish gave their lives for your flourishment. Honor and remember their existence.
I wait for the day when I can hear the meadowlark sing again.