Marie Cotter was peacefully reclining in her bed, browsing through her newest fishing catalog, and thinking about the annual fishing contest in Suffern, NY. "I sure wish that I could enter," Marie said to herself as she flipped through the pages.

Marie turned the page and saw Bobber Bear in the catalog. "Boy, I wish I could be a fishing bear like Bobber Bear. I would be able to fish anytime that I wanted," thought Marie as she gently nodded off to sleep.

Marie began to dream. In her dream, she was magically transformed into Bobber Bear. What was even more amazing was the fact that Dad was also transformed into another fishing bear.

Dad told Marie to get her fishing rod, because they were going to enter the fishing contest! Marie was very excited as they began packing for their fishing trip. Along with sandwiches and fruit, they packed plenty of water to drink. Dad brought a tent.

They decided to go to the Bass Pro Shop to get sinkers, flies, hooks, floats, and anything else that they might need for the fishing contest. Dad also looked at the new boats, outdoor gear, and other fishing equipment.

Marie was fascinated by the colossal 30,000 gallon saltwater aquarium that they found stocked full of trophy-size fish of many types. There was even a real person in the tank who was hand-feeding the fish!

At the fish camp, Marie and Dad set up the tent for the night. With the boat in the water, they took their places and Dad started the motor! "Look out, fish, here we come!" yelled Marie and Dad at the same time.

First, they cruised around so that Dad could find just the right spot. Marie was starting to get impatient, when Dad said, "This is the place!" Immediately, Marie began looking for fish. She wished that Kevin, Jessie and Marie could be here with her.

Marie watched Dad get one fishing pole ready. Next, Dad grabbed a spinner. Then, Dad helped Marie get her very own fishing rod ready. Marie was going to try a plastic worm first.

Marie had trouble throwing out her fishing line. Several times it caught nothing other than the branches of some nearby trees. Finally, she learned how to cast her artificial bait to the right spot.

The first time, Marie reeled in her line slowly. She was very disappointed that the fish were not biting. After three more casts, Marie began to understand that you do not catch fish every single time you throw out your line. Soon, Marie was catching quite a few fish, but none of them were big enough to win a trophy!

With the noon sun directly overhead, Dad reeled in the line, but Marie left her line out and set her rod by her seat.

While she was eating lunch, Marie heard a noise next to her. There was a quick jerk, and her pole almost fell into the water. Marie quickly grabbed the pole, but the fish that Marie had hooked was so-o-o big that it began to pull the boat!

The sandwiches flew overboard as Marie, Dad, the boat, and the fish headed down through the rapids. Dad looked so funny trying to keep one hand on the boat and the other on his hat. Marie would have chuckled, if she had not been afraid of losing her fish.

As the boat raced toward the shore, the other fishing contestants could not get out of the way fast enough. Fishing poles were snapping, and lines were breaking, as Kevin, Jessie and Marie and her other friends were cheering from the banks. Marie was ready to land the fish and try to win the trophy!

The fish was the biggest that had ever been caught in Suffern, NY. "The winner of this year's fishing contest is Marie Cotter, the loudspeaker hailed.

"Marie, Marie! Wake up!" said Dad, while shaking Marie out of her dream. "I've just entered us in the big fishing contest. Let's go now, or we will be late!" Marie grinned from ear to ear. Maybe her dream would come true after all!

Marie Cotter's

Favorite fish to catch

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Favorite fish to eat

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Favorite fishing location

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