THE FLIP SIDE: Wise Anglers Stick With Duct Tape

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Editor’s Note: Flip Putthoff is on vacation. This column first ran in 2003.

The Kentucky bass that had my fishing rod in a quiver wasn’t there because of my skills, or lack thereof, with this species of the black bass family.

I catch fewer fish per man hours of fishing than anyone on the planet. But this particular bass wouldn’t have come calling if not for the true friend of fishermen - duct tape.

Another outdoor adventure salvaged by the magic silver roll.

I say if you can’t fix it with duct tape or WD-40, don’t mess with it.

A fine Monday afternoon wasticking by and the top-water bite would start soon out on the Beave’. One thing stood between me and that 5-pounder that was sure to bite - yard work. Notice that both are four-letter words.

I figured if I cut the grass, I could find my boat. It had to beout there in the yard somewhere.

The blade of the push mower was going through grass like a combine through wheat. The dreaded deed was nearly done.

Then my big bass dreams were zapped by a mushy feeling coming from the lawnmower.

I’d mowed with such vigor that the left side of the push handle had broken where it meets the mower deck. Oh fine. Now I wouldn’t be able to finish, and a half-mowed yard is not acceptable.

I could borrow a mower to finish. Or I could give the handle a quick fix with duct tape.

The Mummy would have coveted all the strips of duct tape I used to reunite the handle with the mower deck.

Oh, happy day. I could finish my yard chore and fish guilt free. Theduct tape held like a professional weld allowing complete clearcutting of my crabgrass lawn.

Close to sunset, I steered the boat across Beaver Lake, happily singing the tune, “Duct Tape Blues” by Iowa blues man Catfish Keith.

“I’ve got your duct tape, in a little silver roll.” (Da-DAH-da-da.)

“It’ll mend the widest crack. It’ll patch the deepest hole.” (Sing it Catfish!)

“I wear duct tape on my sneakers, when they start to fall apart. Since my baby left me I’m wearing - duct tape on my heart!”

Lawd, lawd.

FLIP PUTTHOFF IS OUTDOORS EDITOR FOR NWA MEDIA. FOLLOW HIM AT WWW. TWITTER.COM/NWAFLIP.