2008.09.11
Yes, I know the difference between a catfish and bass
This morning did not start out well when I opened the paper and saw that the wrong picture had run with today's Fishing Report.
This picture of catfish expert Travis Patsell of Vinton and this awesome 28-pound Smith Mountain Lake flathead was supposed to run. Instead, due to a production glitch, we had a picture of Harry Townsend with a huge smallmouth bass he caught earlier this summer. That picture had run in the report in July.
The error was my fault because I attached the picture of Travis to the wrong story in our publishing software database.
I've gotten a lot of snide phone calls and e-mails already, and I'm sure more are coming. I'm glad some people are able to laugh about this because, at this point, I'm not.
I was once told, 'anytime you make a mistake, you are only proving you are human'.
Comment by Rob Quinton — September 11, 2008 @ 12:57 pm
Thanks, Rob. And I'm actually feeling a little better about this now. It could have been worse, I guess.
If the picture had been of a little kid with a bluegill or something like that, It potentially could have made Leno.
mt
Comment by Mark Taylor — September 11, 2008 @ 1:07 pm
Hey Mark, I dont think the world is going to come to an end because of it, I kinda gotta good laugh out of it,Murphys Law at its finest
Comment by Joey Hambrick — September 11, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
This morning I sent Travis Patsell a note explaining what happened, and apologizing. Here's his reply:
"Hahahaha. I seen that and done had a lot of calls from my buddies saying, "Dang. You lost some weight, aint ya?" Haha. No big deal. Just a goof. Believe me, if that's all that went wrong today, we're both setting pretty."
Good sport, huh?
mt
Comment by Mark Taylor — September 11, 2008 @ 4:08 pm
Mark you give Leno too much credit Leno isn't an outdoorsman he wouldn't know the difference from a tide pool and a pond.
If someone said catfish, he would probably look for a cat fishing with a rod and reel.
That is the 90% of Holly-weird people give them some special effects and they can win a war single handily. Give them a .22 rifle and a knife in the woods with a skillet set-up they would be found nearly starved to death in one hour.
Comment by Backlash — September 12, 2008 @ 8:49 am
Mark, this reminds me of when we misidentified a beet as a turnip in my local foods package back in June. You would have thought the world was coming to an end. Haha! Travis is a good sport indeed.
Comment by Lindsey — September 12, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
Mark, you’ll not receive any snide comments from me over the picture glitch. I could have easily made a genuine error in the identification of a bass or catfish.. If it ain’t a Salmonid, I have no idea of a fish’s true identity. I simply call all fish, which are not trout or salmon, “rough” fish. I mean no offense to those that pursue these other fishes. I’ve misidentified many critters in my life. I was sure my first wife was trustworthy before marriage. And I was convinced that my present wife was a great cook before I took the second plunge. Life is full of misidentifications and disappointments. We all know that you can tell a catfish from a bass. Now, if you could teach your co-worker Mark Berman, to correctly identify a good sports story or blog, I’d be much obliged.
Comment by Stephen — September 15, 2008 @ 11:47 am
Lindsey,
You called a beet a turnip? Oh, that is horrific. I bet that gaff made it onto the Beet Lovers of America listserve, which is why you got so many comments.
Stephen,
I will be sure to pass your comments on to Mr. Berman, while hoping Roanoke College professor emeritus Bob Jenkins, defender of all fish rough and trashy, does not read them.
mt
Comment by Mark Taylor — September 15, 2008 @ 12:06 pm
I ran into Game Warden and his Partner that will be transferring to The Charlottesville area in about a week. Good Luck to you.
To my point he stated to me that several people have drowned in the New River this past summer and one person drowned no more than 600yds. from where we stood in waist deep water. The very spot I fished Sunday and never heard about it...Shocking!! Scary!!
Let's be careful water enthusiasts and he told me it's legal to use "Mad Toms" to catch Smallmouths as long as you have 50 per person exceed that limit BIG TICKET!!!!!!
Comment by Backlash — September 17, 2008 @ 1:26 am