First Fishin and Silver Paper

I was only eleven years old
But I had a bike and a paper route.
Save your money laddie, I was told.
And to that idea, I was not in doubt.

At the five and ten cent store I went.
One dollar and ninety five cents was all I had,
It brought me a rod, reel, line and sinker, all of it I spent.
My money was gone but I was not sad.

So the day came for me to fish at the bay
At the old docks I dropped my line,
A man came by and wanted to say
A more beautiful day ever to find.

The fish were not biting for me so easy to see.
The man checked my hook and bait.
Worms and too big a hook, that will never be
Small hook and silver paper he gave me, don't use any weight.

He said go the Ferry Dock Hill further down
The herring are in and catching is easy,
The fish are making a splashing sound
And biting like crazy !

I caught 13 fish that day.
Got home very late, was I in for it ?
But my mother was happy to say
You are a great fisherman, I have to admit !

Note ; The silver paper  I was using on the hook to catch the herring came from the discarded cigarette packages on the ground !

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