Robert Keen, an 84-year-old fisherman has turned his passion for fishing into a cherished tradition at Ariel Park.
His love for the pastime is evident as he shares tales from his many years by the water.
“I fish over here at Ariel Park,” Keen told Mount Vernon News. “I usually go two or three times a week. Very seldom do I catch anything besides catfish.”
Originally hailing from St. Clair, Mo., Keen is a Mount Vernon transplant, having moved to the community with his wife Carol Keen.
Ariel Park features three scenic lakes that are former gravel quarries.
Keen said the lakes at Ariel Park have delivered for him since the first time he cast in a line.
“The first fish I ever caught out of the lake was a six-and-a-half pound spotted bass. I’ve got it hanging on the wall,” he said.
Keen reflected on his lifelong relationship with fishing.
“Ever since I was about six years old, me and my grandma used to go fishing using the old cane pole,” he said.
But Ariel Park, he said, has been the best fishing he has experienced in his 78 years of fishing.
“It is really the best place I’ve ever fished in my entire life,” he said.
Carol Keen said her husband’s haul is usually very impressive.
“Most of the time, yes, he comes home with some pretty good-sized fish,” Carol Keen said.
Keen’s fishing escapades often yield blue catfish, with the occasional channel cat thrown in.
“I just go out there and I cast out,” he said. “A lot of times the bait won’t more than hit the water and they nail it.”
He currently fishes the spot around three times per week in the evening around dusk, although he will fish in the mornings around sunrise as well.
“A couple of years I’ve been fishing that spot,” he said. “Usually here lately I’ve only been out there an hour or an hour and a half.”
When he does bring home his catch, Keen has a time-tested approach to preparing it.
“I take them and filet them and soak them in saltwater and lemon juice for about 24 hours. It kind of takes that fish taste out of them,” he said.
After soaking the fish overnight, Keen fries them.
“I’ll take it and deep fry it. I usually use Andy’s breading mix and a store brand on both sides so that way it cooks through real good,” he said.
His method of preparing and cooking the catfish is a family favorite.
“It seems like it takes out all of that wild fishy taste,” he said. “Really, you can’t even tell it is fish. I could fix up some for you and have you put on a blindfold and you probably couldn’t tell me what you are eating.”
Keen’s fishing adventures are not just about the catch, they’re about community and sharing.
“I give a lot of fish away to the elderly neighbors here at the park where we live,” he said.
Keen described the gear he uses to fish.
“I’ve got a Shakespeare with one of those bail type reels,” he said. “I use 65-pound test line on them and I’ve hooked in some that snap that line like a piece of thread.”
He uses whole chicken liver as bait.
Given his repeated success at Ariel Park, Keen continues to find joy in the challenge.
His biggest catch, a remarkable 51-pound catfish, came on November 6 two years ago, along with a 37-pound channel cat that same summer. But he said the large catches continue on a frequent basis.
“Last November I caught on Tuesday, I went out and caught a 20-pounder and 40-pounder,” he said. “And I caught some 20-pounders at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, I went out at 6:45 p.m. and caught another 45-pounder.”
As he reflects on his passion, Keen encourages younger generations to take up the sport.
“Myself, I recommend fishing. It’s a lot of fun and a good activity,” he said.
