How can I go to a fishing contest for a couple of hours and meet all kinds of fishermen and take tons of pictures ... and never see a fish?  It is true!  Not planned, however true.  But, let it be said, there were fish at the fishing contest!   I just wasn't looking for them, either above or below the ice that day.  I mostly like fish on a platter, fried crisp on the outside and moist on the inside.
If you ever happen to be searching the web for facts about life in the small villages of America, and especially our own little Victoria, you would find some of it in living color and true story at www.VictoriaGazette.com.  Just click on Sue's Album once you're there and scroll to "A Flag for Fishermen."  You'll get patriotism to boot -- a fisherman's boot, of course.
And while you're visiting Sue's Album, you may also run across a couple of other new photo stories including:
*"Song of Mark," an excellent production of this recent February and March, 2003, put on by the combined choirs of St. Hubert's in Chanhassen and St. Victoria's in Victoria.
*"The Baptism of Adeline," an excellent production of this recent March 2nd, 2003, put on by the combined efforts of St. Dominic's in Northfield and Jennifer and Christopher Norgaard.
If you're only looking for fish fotos (phish photos?), take a moment to know that it all fits.  It's all related to the Shoes of the Fishermen.  Take that from one who prefers to go barefoot!
And now, before we get too distract-ed, let us make sure that Dave Williams of Chaska knows he had his name pulled to win the $10 in this monthly Gazette contest.  The fishhook was hidden in the bumper of the car in the Cenex ad.  Say hi to your lovely wife Rosie.
And you can all keep on looking for the elusive fishhook.  There's another one hidden in this March edition of the Gazette.  If you find it, drop a line to Box 387, Victoria, MN 55386, telling of its location and sink it in the mail. 
Good luck to you, especially if you're Irish.  And especially if you're an Irish fisher-man.  And wear your boots when it gets deep