Well, I finally got my truck back from the shop after three weeks. Decided it was time to get the boat out for the first time finally. I picked up Lizzy from the buss and she said she wanted to go fishing. I’m not one to deny her wish. I called my sister-in-law to see if my older daughter wanted to go and she did. Two of my great nieces also wanted to go. So Liz and I hooked up the boat and got all our stuff loaded. We headed over to pick up the crew. We hit a small bait shop and then it was on to the lake.
This is a pretty small lake, not too far from the house. We got the boat launched and headed out to check out the lake. It was my first time out on this body of water and we were looking for some panfish. Though anything would give these kids excitement. We started on one side of the lake but the wind was blowing to that side and the girls got chilly fast. With no action we moved over to the other side to see what was up.
I moved up to about 4 FOW and hit the digital anchor on the Terrova and they all got their bobbers out. We were using Crappie Tom jigs, of course in pink, tipped with minnows. It didn’t take long and my daughter Reanna had a small bass on. We got her setup with a new minnow and and after a short bit of time she had a keeper crappie.
By this time the two younger girls had made a mess of the lines, one wrapped in the trolling motor prop. As I was working on that, my older niece got hit with a nice bass. All the girls awed at the size of it and loved how it came out of the water. This was her first time ever fishing and her first fish. It was a beauty of a first fish.
They all wanted to keep it, but I had to explain they weren’t in season and we couldn’t keep it. I don’t normally keep bass anyway but had they been in season I would have let them keep a couple to eat their catch.
So I got the little ones all retied and setup out on the water again. They were upset they hadn’t caught one yet. I told them to give it time and they would have a chance. They missed a few good bites and then my daughter Lizzy tied into one. She set the hook and brought it in all on her own!
The two little ones were having a blast fishing together.
Then I heard something that every Dad loves to hear; “Can we stay longer, we don’t want to go home yet.” They were all loving it. Little Alia wasn’t doing so hot on the fishing, not getting a fish in the boat but this was her first time in a boat ever so she had that to build on. I assured her that if she keeps fishing with me, she WILL get a fish.
About that time Viv tied into her second fish of the day. This one was a true beauty and was a battle for her. Rod doubled, drag screaming, eyes wide and the other girls all rooting her one. She fought the fish like she’d been there before. It took a little doing but she got it near. This time, I told my daughter Reanna to net the fish. This trip was about these girls and learning more and more about fishing. Reanna reached down and scooped this fish like an extreme net man. It was in the boat and the eyes got bigger. This was a great fish for anyone in the boat, but for a first time fisherman, it was something that would hook her on the sport for what I hope to be a lifetime. High fives were given and she got ready to pose for the pic. I had taught the older girls how to hold their fish, but they are still working on it.
Viv with her 17″ bass.
So we headed home around 8 PM after a fast 3 hours of fishing. The girls were excited and talked about the night on the water all the way home. We stopped for some pizza and came home to show Mom the pics and the girls told her all about the trip.
I’ve found something that I enjoy more than fishing, it’s taking these kids out and watching them catch fish. I didn’t wet a line yesterday for myself but I can tell you it was one of the best trips of my life. I can’t wait to get them out again.
