TWAS THE DAY BEFORE MONTANA AND ALL THROUGHOUT THE STATE,

A BLIZZARD WAS RAGING MAKING EVERYONE LATE.

THE DECOYS WERE PACKED IN THEIR BOXES WITH CARE,

IN HOPES THAT JASON SOON WOULD BE THERE.

TWO CARVERS WERE WAITING AFTER LOADING THEIR SLEDS,

WHILE VISIONS OF 20 POUNDERS SWAM IN THEIR HEADS.

WATCHING THE SNOW FALL INCHES BY THE HOUR,

KNOWING THE DRIVE WOULD BE SOON TURNING SOUR.

WHEN OUT ON THE ROAD WE HEARD SUCH A CLATTER,

WE RAN FROM THE GARAGE TO SEE WHAT WAS THE MATTER.

AROUND THE YARD I FLEW LIKE A FLASH,

OVER THE SNOW DRIFTS UP TO MY _ _ _.

THERE WAS MARK, LAUGHING REAL HARD,

HE HAD JUST SLID HIS TRUCK THROUGH MY NEIGHBORS YARD.

THE SNOW KEPT FALLING ON OBJECTS BELOW,

WE KEPT ON SAYING, "WE GOTTA GO".

WHEN WHAT FOR OUR EYES SHOULD SUDDENLY APPEAR,

HERE CAME JASON WITH A FEW CASES OF BEER.

WITH GARY, MY DRIVER, SO LIVELY, SO QUICK,

WE TOOK OFF FOR MONTANA LICKETY SPLIT.

MORE RAPID THE SNOWFLAKES, THE "CURSES" THEY CAME,

ONE TOWN AFTER ANOTHER ACROSS THE GREAT PLAINS.

ON GLYNDON, ON FARGO, ON JAMESTOWN, AND BISMARCK,

MANDAN AND GLENDIVE, TOO MANY TO MENTION.

AS TUMBLEWEEDS THAT BEFORE A WILD PRAIRIE WIND ROLL,

HELL CREEK CANYON LOOMED BEFORE US AFTER A 14 HOUR STROLL.

SO UP TO THE MARINA, MARK AND JASON THEY FLEW,

WITH A TRAILER FULL OF WHEELERS, TIP-UPS AND FISH HOUSES TOO.

AFTER A FEW HOURS OF SLEEP IN OUR PICK-UP TRUCKS,

OUR HOSTS DID ARRIVE TO HELP US SET UP.

WE LEFT THE MARINA MAKING GREAT STRIDE,

JASON, DID YOU REMEMBER TO GAS UP YOUR RIDE?

WITH FISHERMEN DRESSED WARMLY FROM HEAD TO TOE,

WE SET UP OUR HOUSES, SPEARS READY TO THROW.

WITH A BUNDLE OF DECOYS SLUNG ON HIS BACK,

GARY LOOKED LIKE A PEDDLER OPENING HIS PACK.

THE NORTHERNS SO GRAND, THE LAKERS SO WARY,

A WALLEYE OR TWO, THIS PLACE IS CHERRY.

THE WEATHER WAS FINE THOUGH THE WIND LIKED TO BLOW,

THE SUN, IT WAS SHRINKING MOST OF THE SNOW.

THREE GREAT DAYS OF FISHING, BETTER THAN ANY COULD RECALL,

THE LAST TRIP OF THE DAY COULD HAVE ENDED IT ALL.

WHEN WEATHER TURNS ICE INTO HONEYCOMB PITS,

REMEMBER IT'S TIME TO JUST CALL IT QUITS.

UP THE NEXT MORNING PACKING OUR STUFF,

KNOWING OUR RIDE WAS GOING TO BE TOUGH.

MARK SPRANG TO HIS TRUCK AND TO JASON HE WHISTLED,

DOWN THE ROAD THEY FLEW LIKE A BALLISTIC MISSILE.

I HEARD HIM EXCLAIM AS HE DROVE OUT OF SIGHT,

MONTANA'S A BLAST, THEY SURE DO IT RIGHT!