Eatme, a lure for all seasons

[Member]

In a land far from the rush of the metropolitan hub there was a river.  In the river lived many barramundi and not so many fisher folk.  Here anything made from soft plastic was kept where it rightfully belonged, the bedroom and the word ‘tinnie’ in all its meanings  was a integral part of the rich fabric of that land’s society.

In the early days Eatme didn’t have a name, SD150R4 would have been as close as it got but with the brain the size of a ball bearing it mattered little.  Incidentally in the scheme of things a ball bearing brain made it only a tenth as smart as a fish but in a twist of bitter irony twice as smart as many people.  What could have been if it had been born with hand and fingers rather than trebles and barbs?

Like many things in the world, the chances of Eatme doing anything more than rusting away in a tackle box or being hung up on some snag somewhere was remote.  Only one in fifty lures ever swam in anger with the fish or rode the eddies and currents of a river.  Even fewer survived the first few battles, mortality was high and the life of a lure was worth less than a $20 note.

Eatme remembers little of the first fish it caught; a flurry of scales and bubbles for a couple of minutes and it was all over with nothing more than a bit of scuffed paint and a bent hook to show for it.  The same applied for the next fish and the one after.  By about the tenth fish things were becoming clearer in that ball bearing brain, there was the right wobble to attract the gobble and that was dawning on Eatme.  Also with half of its exterior paint now missing and the silver undercoat showing in a blurry mosaic of contrasting reflections fish seemed to find the lure that much more attractive.









With the first hook change Eatme’s grip became stronger and the drag pressure was increased, all taken in the lures stride.  In deference to its abilities the lure was awarded a specific rod and reel, a seven foot ugly stick, a Penn 750SS, 100lb leader and 30lb ‘pink stuff’ braid.   With this sort of back up Eatme was free to swim where few lures dared to go, forgoing small fish it sought out and defeated only the largest of beasts.







After a year the now veteran’s tally was impressive, particularly of a night where it shined.  Sporting a number of painted on ‘fear’ stripes the lure would ever so slowly swim to the bottom, hugging the weed and darting form point to point hoping to evade detection, or so it would seem to the barra!  In fact all that awaited the fish was Eatme’s cruel and unyielding grip.












By the end of year two Eatme had just about worn out its fourth set of hooks and had its stripes repainted too many time to count.  The silver undercoat was about all gone taking the edge off its contrast but the silent assassin was as deadly as ever, learning new ways to tempt the fish into making a mistake.   Hide and seek was a favourite ploy, when the fish found its prey the fish lost the game.

Eatme hardly ever opened, preferring to come in at first or second drop.  From there it would work mercilessly on the fishes’ resolve striking when fatigue had sapped away any resistance.  Its best work was done a couple of hours or more into a session.

It was a moonless winter’s night when Eatme was first bested in battle, suffering a near mortal blow.  An hour earlier one of the openers had dropped a nice fish so Eatme was sent in to ply its deadly trade.  At 3.15AM the veteran of countless campaigns stuck but failed to turn in time and was wedged between the roof and floor of the mouth with the fish trying its best to crush the lure.  Once boated the damage was clear, Eatme’s bib was bent back so far it could no longer dive. The end of an incredible era was close at hand.







The bib was straightened by hand but there were a number of niggling injuries that could not be easily rectified.  It was decided that Eatme should retire to the office wall but not before one last fish and a naming, Warpaint was applied one last time, would the fish get the message?

Dusk came, with it the September sea breeze pushed up the river raising chop where the opposing current was strongest, it looked good and anything tuned in knew it was a good a time as any.  Considering the favourable signs Eatme was asked to open, half way back to the boat on the first cast it performed a deft little wobble/pause/wobble luring in a fish.  On the restart it simply held out a hook and the fish was on.  A couple of runs and the team of rod, reel, line and lure did what they all did best together and one 50lber was boat side a couple of minutes later.






Eatme retired to the wall but not before taking Eatme2 under its wing for a month or so.  It remains to be seen if history can repeat itself

[Member]

Excellant read dick, eatme's place on the wall is well deserved.

I have an old eurocarp "attack lure" that is now retired with plenty of scars to show for its past battles.

Cheers Kyle.

[Member]

It seems that Eatme has earned his place on the wall, but you have to wonder if his tiny little ball bearing brain is thinking about the ugly bloke, sitting there typing, and trying to figure out why you're not letting him swim in the river with his mates again.  Pensioned off, left at home, all that's left is to buy a Tojo and a Caravan and drive around Queensland really slowly.

[Member]

Thanks for an enthralling read Dick.
"Eatme" definately deserves a well earned retirement.

Cheers.

[Member]

Top read Dick as always,

A lure that I can remember serving you well from past posts.

I hope Eatme enjoys his well deserved retirement. How's Dog taken the news?

Now call me crazy, but who else has nicknames for some of there favourite lures? I have a couple.

Cheers Dave

[Member]

Great Story...


Cheers

[Member]

A terrific yarn Dick and no doubt nostalgic as you wrote the story.

[Member]

A Well written yarn.

There seems to be a lot of kids up my way who know his brother, "Bite Me" - they are always calling out his name.   

[Member]

Top story Dick, thank you

Cheers Andrew

[Member]

Hello Dick,

Thank you for sharing the story of your shared adventures with "Eat Me" - what a team! 

Cheers
Tony

[Member]

It seems that Eatme has earned his place on the wall, but you have to wonder if his tiny little ball bearing brain is thinking about the ugly bloke, sitting there typing, and trying to figure out why you're not letting him swim in the river with his mates again.  Pensioned off, left at home, all that's left is to buy a Tojo and a Caravan and drive around Queensland really slowly.

Taking on a couple of consultancies including one for a movie based on it's life story and establishing a foundation for supporting abused lures is keeping Eatme more than busy