Gone Fishing

The photographic evidence is unequivocal: his smile was different, the way he held his body was different. Walter Mondale was finally relaxing. Back in the north woods of his native Minnesota for a glorious week, he had no swarm of reporters around him constantly nagging, plenty of home-cooked meals (steaks, barbecued chicken, fresh fish), and time with the whole family in a rustic cabin on Gunflint Lake.

Not that Mondale was a sluggard. Most mornings by 8, he was out on the lake in a 16-ft. aluminum fishing boat, casting and reeling, casting and reeling. He landed dozens of trout and one fine walleye, 7 lbs. 12 oz., his biggest catch ever (the world record: 25 lbs.).

The closest Mondale came to campaigning was a crack about the President's qualified denial of any plans to raise taxes. "I took a break from fishing to listen to Mr. Reagan," said the Democratic nominee. "I've been hearing fish stories all week, but tonight Mr. Reagan told a big one ... The American people don't want a fish story, they want the truth from their President before the election."