olcaptain
Senior Member
The Hangin’ Tree
I grew up watching Westerns on a small Black and White TV. Back then there were only 2 or 3 channels available and believe it or not, the youngest child in the family often doubled as the Remote Control. Westerns were in vogue in those days and on a regular basis the Bad guys would find themselves with a rope around their neck either standing on the Gallows or seated on a horse with their hands tied behind their back under the local Hangin’ Tree.
When young folks think of the hanging tree these days they think about books, songs and hungry TV shows but that isn’t the way it used to be. Heck, I’ve seen Clint Eastwood and some of his buddies hung several times each in the same 2 hour movie and live to get revenge!
I too, have a Hangin’ Tree and today I caught a Catfish on it! There is a tree down from our dock that was formerly called the 45 degree tree. After swimming a bit in the creek lately I realized that the creek channel runs almost directly beneath the highest point of that Ol’ Hangin’ Tree. After a bit of work I managed to get a cord tied up in that highest point of the tree. To the end of the cord I attached a noodle (or jug if you will) and then added about a 4 ft leader and a large circle hook.
Later I hooked a Bream head between the eyes and chunked it out there. If you know anything about Lake Sinclair or Crooked Creek you know the water constantly ebbs and flows. One minute the water is flowing downstream and 15 minutes later it might be flowing upstream. So, the line was baited and the water was moving. I’d look off my porch and see it going to the right and later the noodle would be going to the left. A bit later this afternoon I saw a Hangin’ Tree phenomenon. The Noodle for some reason was going ACROSS the creek!
I’d already planned this part out so I took a rod and reel with an equally large circle hook on it and cast it over the cord holding the noodle. I then reeled in and fought the fish and brought him to the bank. He was then escorted to the dressing table on the dock and as they say, the rest is history.
Well, I won’t be experiencing any Hunger Games anytime soon and while I’m thinking about it I’ll add the following:
Judge Roy Bean’s got nothing on me
Because I caught a Catfish from MY Hangin’ Tree.
I grew up watching Westerns on a small Black and White TV. Back then there were only 2 or 3 channels available and believe it or not, the youngest child in the family often doubled as the Remote Control. Westerns were in vogue in those days and on a regular basis the Bad guys would find themselves with a rope around their neck either standing on the Gallows or seated on a horse with their hands tied behind their back under the local Hangin’ Tree.
When young folks think of the hanging tree these days they think about books, songs and hungry TV shows but that isn’t the way it used to be. Heck, I’ve seen Clint Eastwood and some of his buddies hung several times each in the same 2 hour movie and live to get revenge!
I too, have a Hangin’ Tree and today I caught a Catfish on it! There is a tree down from our dock that was formerly called the 45 degree tree. After swimming a bit in the creek lately I realized that the creek channel runs almost directly beneath the highest point of that Ol’ Hangin’ Tree. After a bit of work I managed to get a cord tied up in that highest point of the tree. To the end of the cord I attached a noodle (or jug if you will) and then added about a 4 ft leader and a large circle hook.
Later I hooked a Bream head between the eyes and chunked it out there. If you know anything about Lake Sinclair or Crooked Creek you know the water constantly ebbs and flows. One minute the water is flowing downstream and 15 minutes later it might be flowing upstream. So, the line was baited and the water was moving. I’d look off my porch and see it going to the right and later the noodle would be going to the left. A bit later this afternoon I saw a Hangin’ Tree phenomenon. The Noodle for some reason was going ACROSS the creek!
I’d already planned this part out so I took a rod and reel with an equally large circle hook on it and cast it over the cord holding the noodle. I then reeled in and fought the fish and brought him to the bank. He was then escorted to the dressing table on the dock and as they say, the rest is history.
Well, I won’t be experiencing any Hunger Games anytime soon and while I’m thinking about it I’ll add the following:
Judge Roy Bean’s got nothing on me
Because I caught a Catfish from MY Hangin’ Tree.
