REAL LIFE
IT WAS AN EARLY SUMMER MORNING when
firefighter and keen fisherman Derek Bonnett, his wife Tina and their 12-year-old son Colby headed out to fish for pickerel. The sun was rising beyond the trees and the winds were pushing gently from the north, making the weather ideal for fishing. Tina and Derek had been married for 27 years and enjoyed these family trips on the water. The boat was an escape for the busy couple and their son. Launching in the same spot as they had for the last 10 years, the little group set off in their 19 foot fishing boat for what they hoped would be a successful day of fishing. As they traveled farther from the shoreline, Derek noticed that the winds were changing, which made him wary, but since he knew the lake so well and trusted both his boat and the forecast, they pushed on, searching for the best spot to cast their lines. That ended up being five miles from shore.
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C RAC KYL MAGAZ I N E
They had been fishing together for Colby’s entire life. He had taken an interest in fishing even as a small child and ended up being just as successful a fisherman as his dad, making every trip more exciting. It was more than a change in the wind speed, however, that made that day different. Five miles out from shore, Colby had started to feel unwell, the result, Derek suspected, of increasing winds and choppy water. But it was unlike Colby to get sick. Tina, who was worried the waves were causing Colby’s motion sickness, settled him on the boat’s back bench in an attempt to quell the nausea. Though concerned about Colby, Derek was hoping that whatever was bothering his son would pass, as the lines were already out. Trolling with five lines was a chore, but Derek knew that it was the perfect way to catch pickerel. With everything seemingly calm, Derek sat back and watched the serene water all around him. He loved this part of fishing, the quietness and the rocking of the boat. He glanced back to check on
Colby, who was still resting on the bench. He realized that the water was certainly rougher five miles out from the shoreline something that he would have normally avoided due to the nature and risk of bad weather and boating. For now, he was content to keep a close watch on it. As the hours slipped by, the waters changed, producing larger waves and even white caps. Derek was watching closely for any incoming weather, but it still appeared to be the northerly winds causing the upset. As they trolled along at two mph, Derek thought how grateful he was that his son knew how to drive the boat. He remembered Colby’s very first lesson behind the wheel, how nervous he’d been to handle the boat and take on the responsibility that came with being the captain. Tina was grateful that there was a captainin-training as she preferred simply to enjoy the ride. Derek looked back at Colby, saw the nausea cross his face and knew how awful he was feeling. It was time to turn around, despite the five lines out with the dipsy divers dragging the
bait deep below the surface of the water - far from the cresting waves and increasing winds. As they started heading back, there was a loud snap behind Derek and Tina, followed by the sound of something heavy splashing into the water. Derek looked down at his lines and realized that one of the five rod holders had sheared off the boat. It took a split second for Derek to make the decision to go in after the expensive rod. He could see it a few inches below the surface, sinking fast - he knew this would be his only chance. Ripping off his sunglasses and hat, he threw them into the boat behind him as he plunged into the water. As he passed beneath the surface, he could feel the water temperature change – what was once brightly lit water became darker and colder. Eyes open, he frantically searched for the sinking rod and caught a brief glimpse of it. He swam even harder and reached out, but he was fighting a losing battle. He was easily 15 feet below the surface, and could feel his body tiring and his lungs burning. If he was going to make it to the surface safely, he knew he had to give up.
