The Story of Andy Kjearsgaard
Fishing in the Red Deer River was not only a pleasant pastime, it was a way to augment our food supply. Our most effective fishing equipment was an illegal snare wire: a loop of copper wire attached to the end of a fishing pole. We'd wait for a fish to swim into the loop, jerk the pole and haul in our catch. This method required considerable skill and lots of practice. Arne and I were experts.
At the edge of the river, there are many quiet holes for fish to hide. We kept loaded fishing poles beside several holes. Nearly every time we walked along the riverbank, we'd come home with a fish for our next meal.
One hot July day, Arne and I were picking roots. On our way home for lunch, we noticed a school of grayling had invaded our swimming hole. Right away, we turned into fishermen. Within an hour we'd snared about 150 grayling.
Proud as punch, we took the fish home and cleaned them. Then Mom took over, pickling them in quart sealers. We ate those grayling all winter long.
Now we were good providers.
Adapted from the 1994 Heritage Book,with permission from the Federation of Danish Associations in Canada
Teaser:
• Who will help Dad dicker at the elevator? Find out!
