When you’re feeling in a Huck’ Finn mood there ain’t no better way to spend a day than fishing. No need to talk if you don’t feel inclined, and mostly, when you’re fishin’ you’re not inclined to do much talkin’ – you like to nod and say “Ah” when other folk talk, to let them know that you’re in the frame of mind for fishin’ not talkin’. Sometimes you just want to feel the sand under your feet, or even stand in the water to let your feet cool down while you’re enjoyin’ standing there, not sayin’ much but “Ah” and “Not yet”, while you’re watchin’ the world around you.

‘Course, as you probably know, it’s not all about the fishin’, which is just as well because sometimes there ain’t no fish or they ain’t hungry (mostly that’s when I go fishin’). You like to see the rich folk enjoyin’ themselves on their swanky boats, speed boats and jet-skiis; and the poor folk havin’ a swim, or courtin’ and cavortin’ in the water, or fishin’.

And if you’re tired o’ standin’ in the sun (although your feet are right cool and dandy), you stand your rod in a bit of old pipe you already buried in the sand, and you find a shady spot with a fine-lookin’ rock fer swingin’ yer legs from, or alternatively, open out yer blanket roll for sittin’ or lyin’ on. Your blanket is also yer tablecloth where you set out the tucker for lunch, which you brought on the off-chance that you might decide to stay until the fish start biting, if there are any fish; but mostly, there ain’t so there’s a pretty good chance yer goin’ to decide to stay a while longer anyway and have a bite yerself.

With a bit o’ luck, or the good Lord willing, you catch a flathead fish – a good size and good fer eatin’ (so folk say) – but he ain’t that good-lookin’ and after you cut off his head and clean him out, you say to yerself, “Ah, I ain’t really hungry – not yet!”