Last night was an amazing night on the water with my kids. We have had a very busy family life this spring. Both kids are playing soccer on Monday and Wednesday and my daughter Anna is dancing on Wednesday as well, so quality time on the water with my kids has been very hard to come by. Yesterday was exactly what I was looking for, beautiful weather, two very excited kids and a bunch of big old pies in the rushes that were very willing biters. The kids and I had a BLAST! Daddy’s still got a big old smile on his face.
Water temps were in the low 60’s on the main lake and the crappies were set up along a transition of sand and rock with new reeds starting to peek out of the water. There were very dark areas in the reeds and that is exactly where old papermouth was finding shelter. We anchored up on the edge and pitched small pink and white tube baits under bobbers. Easy for the kids and even easier for me not having to deal with minnows and re-baiting hooks. We had some minnows along but it took about 2 minutes to see that the tubes were going to be our go to bait. The pink and white tubes hit the water and in a matter of minutes the kids both had fish on and Alex was yelling DOUBLE at the top of his lungs. See, on the way out I was talking smack with the kids about how I was going to out fish both of them and that I was going to catch the first crappie. We are a little competitive when we get in the boat, that may be my fault! Well neither of those things happened for me yesterday but I had a great time watching my kids catch fish hand over fist while I sat in the back of the boat eating humble pie. I loved every bite!!!
At one point during the chaos we got another double and I was standing there with the camera wanting to take a picture of both kids before they put their fish back. Anna’s crappie decided to flop out of her hand just as I was taking the picture, it landed on her leg and seconds later she was yelling, "It bit me, it bit me" Needless to say she was done holding fish for the camera. We also had Bitty Baby in the boat with us, this is one of Anna’s dolls that I just found out yesterday, loves to fish. Taking the kids out always requires a ton of food and drinks and now a doll that likes to fish. Good grief kids are funny.
We called it a day around 8:15pm, we packed up and headed for home. On the way home both kids were telling me about their best part of the trip. Alex of course told me his best part was out fishing Dad, I honestly have created a little monster but I know this will be something we will share for the rest of our lives. He loves the outdoors and I love watching him learn and explore, plus I get some great laughs along the way. Anna told us she had fun in the boat with Bitty Baby and that she wanted to go again tomorrow, but that she was going to bring Big Baby next time. For me, there just is not a better time then the time spent in the boat with my kids catching fish and having fun. Life is short, kids grow up fast and these times are truly some of the best in my life.
Thanks Kidos!
That’s awesome!
Sounds like you’ve created some fishing machines
Great report Bob
A few more
(Quote).. Life is short, kids grow up fast and these times are truly some of the best in my life.
Simply great Bob!
Have always thought that your best reports don’t include a single word about muskies
Great job with the pics and raising the kids right
That rocks buddy!!!
Nice job with the kids Bob.
That’s part of what I call raising you’re kids right.
Great pictures too!
Nice report, but next time make sure to keep your ugly mug out of the report.
That is what it is all about right there Bob those smiles say it all!!!
WTG Bob!!! Are your crappies in spawn mode or post spawn now??? Great looking kids by the way…
Mark
Nice fish Bob! Always a great day on the water when the fish are bitting – kids must of had a fun day.
It doesn’t get any better than that!
Great report Bob
It was a very entertaining read
Looks like you’re quickly filling up the scrapbook with tons of fun memories
Very nice Bob. Its great to spend quality time with the kids and the fish are a bonus. Congrats
The bulk of these fish have yet to spawn. The males continue to get darker and darker with each passing day and those females have some big bellies on them. We have been very selective about harvesting these fish. I let the kids keep 4 fish and all of them were the males of course. Those big gals need to drop those eggs so we continue to see these beautiful pies in the future. We are heading back out again tonight with the kids. It should be another great evening, I can’t wait for the work day to be over
Next pictures I would like to see is Mr. Bowman practicing Heel Pulls and Heel Turns while getting ready for the dance floor
Awesome read, pictures and crappies Mr. B
DING DING..Round 2
Alex(Captain Crappie) and I hit the water with Max and his son Sam last night for another slug fest with these big black pies. Fishing was a little slower for us last night but we still managed to locate and boat some darn nice fish. The boys had a blast and Max and I got to enjoy a great evening on the lake with our kids. Same approach last night took the bulk of our fish, pink and white tube baits
Its amazing how black these males are getting in just the span of a few days.
That is sooooo cool!!!
Awesome couple of trips Bob,
you’re one lucky guy.
Jack
Very, very cool Bob. Keep the pictures and reports coming, those sundown shots were awesome!
Joel
It just doesn’t get much better than that!
Great report Bob and more importantly great job getting those little ones hooked on fishing at such an early age. 