Hey guys, I’m pretty desperate and I could use some help...please.
Look, I’m kind of not a good dad. I have a 7 yr old and we’re not very close. I really want him to experience how fun fishing can be, but I haven’t been fishing in 30 years.
I spent the better part of a week doing research, watching videos, and trying to get just the very basics I would need to at least give him half a chance to catch a fish. I learned that bluegill and crappie are fairly common in Pocahontas State Park, and I saw people having success with Rebel crickhoppers.
So I bought a pole, a crickhopper, some 4 lb test, and some crickets. I took today off (One of my last few vacation days) to go try to apply what I’ve learned before taking him...and it was a complete disaster.
Once I got to the state park (right by the boat launch) I realized I had absolutely no idea where to go. I mean, I could go to the little floating docks, but that seemed too easy. Surely you couldn’t catch fish in the most obvious and heavily trafficked area in the park, could you?
So I asked some guy and he said to try at the bottom of the dam. So an hour later, after I got lost, I find my way to the little stream just past the dam, and the water’s only 6” deep. How the hell am I supposed to fish in that?!
So then I make my way all the way back to my original spot. I fish off the docks, up and down the banks. Nothing. I wanted to switch to a bobber and a cricket since they weren’t taking my lure near the surface - but I realized I have no idea how deep that part of the lake is. Since I suck at EVERYTHING dealing with fishing (I almost quit just trying to figure out how to restring my reel) I had no desire to put that much effort into swapping out my whole setup just to have my bait sitting on the lake bed. So I gave up.
Can anyone please help me? Teach me how and where to fish? I simply don’t have the time to spend several years fishing off and on to build up that kind of experience. And if I start now, my kid will be 20 by the time I learn enough.
So I hate to sound this pathetic and desperate, but please help me. I’ll even pay. My kid deserves so much better than the half-assed attempt at being a dad that I give him.
I’ll give my number to anyone who wants to talk. Thanks.
