Yo-Yo Fishing

Caddo Lake is a 25,400 acre lake and wetland located on the border between Texas and Louisiana.

The lake is named after the Southeastern culture of Native Americans called Caddo or Caddoans, who lived in the area from the 16th century until their expulsion in the 19th century. It is the largest natural fresh water lake in the South, and the largest Cypress forest in the world. It used to be Texas' only natural lake until it was artificially dammed in the 1900s.

In 1977, the ole ranch hand landed in Marshall, Texas and immediately "inherited" the fishing buddies of the last feller that held the job I occupied there.

Shortly thereafter, my "fishin' buddies" introduced me to Caddo Lake.

Just my opinion, but I think the producers of Jurassic Park "missed the boat" by not filming there. I never visited the place that I didn't truly expect some prehistoric monster to rise from the water and ROAR at my intrusion? The cypress trees with their dangling lace of moss caressing the surface of the water, the green blankets of Lily pads, and the limited sight view offered by the waterlogged forest truly lent itself to anyone with imagination.

As far as my memories:

It was an absolute labyrinth of almost imperceptible water trails that trapped the casual visitor into hopeless wandering (I spent one entire night LOST on Caddo as I couldn't find my way back to the dock until the morning sun and a heap of luck pointed the way?).

It provided a wealth of "trash fish" unique to the area for one's angling pleasure such as gaspergou , chain pickerel, carp, and all manner of gar.

It allowed one to regularly experience the frustration of being stuck "high center" in a flat bottom aluminum boat on top of a submerged cypress stump.

It exposed one to a brand of folks that gave new meaning to the word "backwoods" because Caddo Lake natives were truly as "rural" and 'clannish" as ever existed (and would stomp you in a heartbeat if trifled with in the least).

My fondest memories are of "yo-yo" fishing on Caddo. A fishing yo-yo (now illegal) was a mechanical spring loaded device that would set the hook and hold tension on the line when an unsuspecting catfish would hit the bait. We would find a clearing amid a cypress grove and within the circle of trees tie the "yo-y0's" to tree limbs. Then we would sit in the darkness (sucking down cold adult beverage) and wait to hear the metal ratchet of the fish catchers working in and out to the tune of the fighting prey.

The companionship, conversation, cool breezes, and adrenalin of hearing those "yo-yo's" talking across the amplification of the lake's surface are a treasured memory that almost competes with the savored succulence of those pan fried fillets.

Aah, heaven surely has a Caddo for the blessed souls within?