This post is another entry of our Inside the Frame weekend series here at Simplyoutdoors.net.  “Inside the Frame” tells the story behind the picture in the post.  If you would like to read previous posts from this series you can do so here.

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This is my wife’s mom and step-dad a few years back.  As you can tell, the mother-in-law was having an absolute great time.  This particular picture brought back a lot of memories for me, and it is one fishing trip that I will never forget.

My wife’s Uncle decided he wanted to go camping in May of 2006.  I’m all for camping, as long as it isn’t the middle of winter, so we planned the trip, and off we went.  We staying in a state park down in Ohio, that is right on the shores of Lake Erie.  To be honest the name of park escapes me, but it was very nice, and despite the cold, we had a great time.

Jenn’s Uncle also asked if we wanted to go walleye fishing.  The fish were running during this time of year, and he knew that I couldn’t say no to a fishing adventure, so when the opportunity arose, of course I told him I would go.  In fact, not only I would go, but that all of us would go.  We thought a family fishing trip would be cool.

We drive to a local charter service and board the boat.  I had never fished like this before, so it took us a little while to buy the gear we needed and board the boat.  Now, this isn’t a privately chartered boat-it is the type that about 20 or so people get on and they take you out.  So no matter what, you are stuck on the boat for the entire 6 hour trip.  They even give you instructions, that if you get sick, to just puke over the side, because the boat will not be heading back until the time is up.  After all, other people paid money to go, and they aren’t going to ruin their trip for just you.

The weather was very uncooperative, and we even had to call the charter service before we left to make sure that the boats were actually going out that day.  They informed us at that time, that despite 6ft waves, they would still more than likely be heading out.  That is all I needed to hear.  Jenn’s Uncle was still all for it too, and everyone else, not wanting to bow out, followed suit as well.

We motor on out to our fishing spot, and then we drift, and drift, and drift.  That is basically the way this fishing works.  The captain gets to a certain spot that he was marked out, puts the boat with the waves, and you drift with the waves and the current for awhile.  This would soon be the end of my wife having any fun.

Despite just having surgery a few weeks earlier, I was having a great time.  The fishing wasn’t great at all, in fact I didn’t even land one, but between all of us we caught a few and were happy with that.  We learned that a week earlier the fishing was just spectacular, but of course, on the day we go,  everything is starting to slow down.

I am fishing away, rocking and rolling with the waves, and having a good time, when I notice my brother-in-law motioning to look behind me.  Then I hear him ask Jenn if she is okay.  Uh oh.  This isn’t sounding good.  I turn around and notice that Jenn is a dark shade of green.  Despite taking a motion sickness pill before we left, she was not having a very good time in the 6ft waves.  Needless to say, Jenn’s fishing for the day was done.

Now, remember, we can’t leave.  If you are going to throw up, you’re doing it over the side of the boat.  And no matter how miserable you feel, you are still stuck on the boat until its time to leave.

I have to say that Jenn was a trooper and hung in there until the end.  I’m sure she won’t be heading back out fishing on the big lake anytime soon, but she did have a good time overall…..once the boat was moving!!!  It was the drifting that really did her in.

The picture was actually taken on the way back from our trip, and as you can see, it was a touch wet and a touch chilly.  I looked over, saw the mom-in-law all bundled up, and just couldn’t resist taking that picture for our archives.

I will always look at this picture and remember the day when Jenn almost threw up in public.  If only I could have caught some fish to make it worth her while.

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