I need a sign on my front door that reads, “Gone Fishin'”. There is something so relaxing to me about putting a minnow or worm on a hook. Yes, I dig up worms and bait my own hook. I’m a country girl, remember? We do those things.

Growing up we had a small cabin on Lake Murray. It was really more like a shed with a camper attached. I could fit the entire thing in my living room. It always smelled musty and, well, like fish. I was scared to death to go in there alone. Especially to use the little girls room. Daddy hung these native looking, black, totem pole”ish”, headhunter lookin’ face masks along the wall. They were very similar to this one:

See? Totally Exorcist head spinning and pea soup scary! When we were there after dark, I never  made it to the bathroom. One look and I went right where I was standing. I was six. Geez.

I was also six when I caught my first fish. It was a yellow bellied bass. I caught it with a cane pole and an orange bobber in the popcorn filled cedar trees daddy had thrown in the lake in front of our dock. I was wearing a navy blue shirt and blue jeans with little red patches on the knees. You never forget your attire on those kinds of important days.

Other days you never forget are those where you jump off the dock to go swim and get YOURSELF caught on a nail by your shorts. There I was, just hanging around. Until my cousin Dean saw me swinging back and forth and yelled for my daddy between fits of hysterical laughter. He sounded like a dang hyena. “Uncle Ralph!! Ha ha ha. Come quick! HA!! Ha hah ha! Missy done got herself caught on a nail! She’s hangin’ by her drawers!” I was not nearly as amused as they were. They took their own sweet time getting me down. They sure don’t make denim as tough as they used to. If Dean hadn’t seen me hanging I probably would have been there for hours.

Suffice it to say, I love to fish and I love to eat fish. I really love to eat smoked fish. I love this Smoked Trout dip even more than that. I love the saltiness of the capers and the tang of the horseradish. As a matter of fact, I think I’ll make some more to take fishin’ with me. Now all I need is my sign.

Smoked Trout Dip

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. boneless smoked trout fillets, skin removed
• 1 package cream cheese
• 2 tbsp. prepared horseradish
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 3 tbsp. capers, drained
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
• 1/4 cup mayo
• 2 green onions, diced
• 1 tbsp. chopped dill
• 1 tsp. lemon zest
• Salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Flake trout into small pieces. Set aside. Place remaining ingredients in mixing bowl except capers. Mix well until all ingredients are incorporated.  Top with capers and serve with assorted breads, crackers and fruit.

Life is too short to eat ugly food y’all.