Friday, August 22

Don't Underestimate Barbie!


Um, since I'm enjoying a sort of unofficial vaca, (meaning that for the last few days I've enjoyed a terminal state of lethargy where I've done little more than read, tool around the internet, and watch the Olympics), I just now realized that I'm also up for "anything goes" week here at the cafe.

And since I just read this charming story on MSN.com, well, I put two and two together and came up with-- Hey, I'll just blog about that!

So here you are, ripped straight from MSN.com, the story of a record breaking catfish- caught with a Barbie fishing rod:

WILKES COUNTY, N.C. — A backyard angler has bagged the state’s record channel catfish using a 2½-foot hot pink Barbie Doll rod and reel.

David Hayes caught the record-breaking fish from a private pond while fishing early this month with his granddaughter, Alyssa, 3. The 21-pound, 1-ounce catfish measured 32 inches long — 2 inches longer than the Barbie Doll fishing pole.

“After catching two or three bluegill, Alyssa turns to me and says: ‘Papa, I’ve got to go to the bathroom. Hold my fishing rod,’” Hayes was quoted as saying in a news release from the state Wildlife Resources Commission.

“A few minutes later, the float went under, and I saw the water start boiling up — I knew right then that I had my hands full with that fishing rod.”

t took Hayes about 25 minutes to land the fish, which measured 22½ inches in girth. Hayes said that once he got it to the bank, he was pretty certain his channel cat would exceed the previous state record, an 18-pound, 5-ounce fish caught in August 2007.The fish was weighed on certified scales at a nearby grocery store, and a fisheries biologist with the Wildlife Resources Commission certified that Hayes was right.

Now, if they could just find a way to grill that thing in her Easy-Bake oven!

Oh, and speaking of loafing- how do you like to spend you unofficial days off??

12 comments:

Gerb said...

Ha! Just goes to show that you can have all the fancy equipment you want, but it still comes down to skill and a bit of luck!

My favorite thing to do on unofficial days off? Ignore everything I'm supposed to be doing and READ a fabulous book!

Alyson Noel said...

Hey Gerb- Well said!
And yup, reading is always at the top of my list!

Amanda Ashby said...

That is the funniest story ever! Love it!!!!! As for days off, I tend to just hang with the kids or read books!

Alyson Noel said...

Hey Amanda- Hmmm, there seems to be a common theme of writers spending their slack time with books . . .

Sara Hantz said...

Cool story! I'm a reading books person too..... and watch movies.

Alyson Noel said...

Sara- movies- yes, me too!
And as soon as the Olympics is over I can get back to my Buffy DVD marathon since I missed the series the first time around and am now entrenched in season 4!

Keri Mikulski said...

Hilarious! :)

Surf the internet, play with my daughter, and hang out on the beach. :)

Alyson Noel said...

Keri- Aw, the beach . . .
I live really really close to the beach and have been so busy this summer I only went once
:-(

Melissa Walker said...

can't wait to show my wanna-be fisherman boyfriend.

i'm a tv girl on days off. also walks in the park and yoga if i'm inspired. :)

Alyson Noel said...

Hey Melissa- Aw, yoga . . .on mydays off I THINK about doing yoga!

Kelly (Lynn) Parra said...

Either shopping or reading or movies for my days off. I know not very adventurous! haha!

Alyson Noel said...

Hey Kelly- Sounds like the perfect way to unwind to me!