The Ekalaka Eagle - Your Community Builder

I have written my story about fish and seafood being my favorite protein. That is a bold statement to make in beef country, but people used to feel sorry for me, so I could get away with it. I’ll see if that still works.

My mother loved to fish and bring the catch to the house. We had catfish and bass, never trout, and they were delicious. I remember one particular time when Mom’s relatives were visiting: her parents, Aunt Betty, Uncle Merle, and infant daughter, Melanie. I didn’t know anything about babies, but they left the child in my care while the group headed to the pond.

Granddad loved to fish, as well as all his children. The group returned, Aunt Betty took care of Melanie, and the rest relaxed while a nice catch was filleted for brunch. We didn’t call it brunch; it was breakfast, just a late breakfast, but the fish were so good, and plentiful, with enough to fill even me!

My love of fish and seafood continues, but these have usually been frozen, from the Market, or Alison’s Pantry. I was given some smoked salmon once — but not enough. Other than that, I think it has been 50 years since I enjoyed fresh fish. Until July 1.

I don’t know if I can use the name of the man who recently moved to Ekalaka with his wife and built a house on the lot Skeet Hedges had owned. He has a boat and asked me where to fish. I referred him to Doug Marston. He told me he’d bring me any fish he ever caught.

He and his wife don’t eat fish, at least not fresh water fish. They have a big boat and fish in the Pacific Ocean, off the northwest coast. I can’t imagine not eating fish. Anyway, last Saturday morning he knocked on our front door.

He’d traveled south and returned with five, 12 inch, trout, really two were longer than 12 inches. Can you imagine? A 13 inch trout was eaten July 1, another, bigger trout was consumed on July 2. Actually partially consumed; it was too big for just one meal, having weighed 1.5 pounds without his head or tail! Both were too long to fit in the skillet, so the heads and tails were removed. The last three were frozen. I had FRESH fish, and have freshly frozen fish for days to come. You could see the pink on their sides before they went to the freezer.

How do I thank him? Lettuce is the only thing I could give from our garden, volunteer lettuce, but later, corn, beans, tomatoes, and anything else we have to share will go across the street.