Gone fishing.(EXERCISING THE RIGHT)

Wes Thayer of Junction City, Oregon, is 70 years old and because of medical problems is forced to walk with a cane. His cane is a twisted branch from an apple tree about 38 inches long and with an angle and knob on the end that grew out of the tree. It tapers to a one-inch tip that is covered with a rubber cane tip. Thayer has a leather strap around the cane that attaches to his wrist so that he can cast his fishing rod while holding his cane to keep from losing his balance. This is his story, as related to THE NEW AMERICAN on May 29.

I was fishing up Lake Creek about two weeks ago. I was on a boat-launch ramp and was alone except for my little Beagle dog. My dog alerted me to the fact that a man was coming down the ramp behind me so I was watchful. The man, a young man appearing in his thirties, came up beside me and asked how it was going. I replied that it was very relaxing and quiet. He then asked to see my fishing license. He was not wearing any uniform or any identification of a wildlife officer or employee. I, on the other hand, was wearing a baseball cap with the logo of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife on the front of the cap and the word "instructor" on the back of the cap. I became suspicious. I said, "Okay, let me reel this in." I reeled in my line and set my pole against a tree I was standing beside.

I asked to see this ...