My son and I kicked off summer with our first adventure. We drove down the Whitewater, bought a park sticker, and did some hiking. If you haven’t been back behind the gift shop area (first right when you come down the hill on 74), you may. The damage back in those areas is amazing, and they are still working on them right now. There is plenty of hiking to do if you don’t mind getting muddy or wet, and that’s not an issue for a five year old 8-).
We fished along highway 74; the area is completed flattened from the flooding, but due to the flooding, the walking is super easy, which in today’s situation was what we were looking for.
We brought a five foot spinning rod rigged with a standard worm i dug out of garden, a small red hook and some split shot. I did the casting while my son played in the water, etc. I’d get the familiar tap-tap-tap, set the hook and hand over the rod. Brock got to reel them in, help take them off, and release them. It’s amazing, but my five-year old already understands the release part of fishing. It goes to show that the younger generation is easier to teach about catch-and-release than all of the anti-regs people.
It was a great morning and very satisfying as a parent to be with your son and catch on film his first trout. On a fly fishing side, I saw a handful of March Browns and a few hendricksons. Today would be an ideal day to be on the water: clouds, no wind, and warm temperatures. The LH should definitely be going.
Best of luck,
D.A.