Capt Bruce’s Life on the Water

Bruce Blakelock used to work for a big chemical company in Niagara, but seven years ago he made a break for the water. He’s a fishing captain and co owner of the Riverside Motel, in Lewiston NY. He took us out fishing in his 18′ boat yesterday. He said he goes fishing in February, and the big ones really bite at that time of the year. I thought about being out in this open boat on the river, during a winter storm. Casting out into the icy water.

He used an electric trolling motor at the bow of the boat to precisely keep the boat just next to the shore, drifting, but away from the rocks on the American side. Over there was Canada, a high long arched bridge stretching over the river with big trucks running back and forth, slowly, waiting for customs.

Bruce said said he smokes one cigar every trip out on the boat. It is a Baccarat, a sweet large cigar that lasts him the entire day, lighting and relighting that big stogie, while controlling the electric motor with his sneaker on the foot pedal.