Think I found a new home for "extra" gear

[Ratherbfishing]

Lately I have taken under my wing an 11 year old boy who loves to fish.  His dad died of cancer about 2 years back and his grandpappy can't fish much anymore (heart condition).   He's an enthusiastic little bugger and is always wanting to try new/different baits, etc.  I've been hesitant to lend him my baitcaster as I can envision many backlashes in our future but he's used my spinning gear to good effect.  Some of the baits he's wanted to use haven't been particularly suitable for where we were but I've endulged him as I think it's more important to satisfy his curiousity rather than catch fish (which he's done anyway).   As I am getting older I've been wondering WHAT I was going to do with some of my surplus baits but I think I now have the answer/solution.  I've already made up a small box for him and will probably add to that as time passes.  Everyone should adopt a little kid.

[jr231]

Lol feeding my own is chore enough ! 

 

It's a good thing you're doing though. 

[Ratherbfishing]

4 hours ago, Yeajray231 said:

Lol feeding my own is chore enough !

 

It's a good thing you're doing though.

 

My dad died of cancer when I was 11 so when I heard of this boy through my friend (who works at his school), I felt it almost mandatory.  Well, not mandatory, exactly... or even necessary.  Perhaps "irresistable" is the right word.  I just know how much I would have enjoyed having an adult take me fishing.  And I enjoy it anyway.  I call him "Bubba" and, sometimes, "Crappie King" (because he caught more crappie than I did last time we were out).  We sing "Crappie King" to the tune of the Spiderman theme.

[tcbass]

Nice of you to take him under your wing and mentor him.

 

 

For under $25 bucks you could buy him his own rod as a gift and let him borrow your lures when you go out. I know it most likely would never be forgotten.

[eyedabassman]

20 hours ago, Ratherbfishing said:

Lately I have taken under my wing an 11 year old boy who loves to fish.  His dad died of cancer about 2 years back and his grandpappy can't fish much anymore (heart condition).   He's an enthusiastic little bugger and is always wanting to try new/different baits, etc.  I've been hesitant to lend him my baitcaster as I can envision many backlashes in our future but he's used my spinning gear to good effect.  Some of the baits he's wanted to use haven't been particularly suitable for where we were but I've endulged him as I think it's more important to satisfy his curiousity rather than catch fish (which he's done anyway).   As I am getting older I've been wondering WHAT I was going to do with some of my surplus baits but I think I now have the answer/solution.  I've already made up a small box for him and will probably add to that as time passes.  Everyone should adopt a little kid.

Congrats to you and that little boy will always remember you and what you did for him! You may have changed that little boys life in a good way! So thank you for stepping up and doing a good deed for a young man!

[Ratherbfishing]

14 hours ago, tcbass said:

Nice of you to take him under your wing and mentor him.

 

 

For under $25 bucks you could buy him his own rod as a gift and let him borrow your lures when you go out. I know it most likely would never be forgotten.

 

I have an extra rod/reel he can have now.  It's the line I'm worried about.  Lol.  How much line one goes through is directly correlated with how many kids you have with you.

 

He's a good stick, though.  Last time we went out the fishing was rough but we caught 3 bass apiece.  Apart from helping him tie on, he did all the work.

[Basseditor]

So cool. 

[Jeff H]

2 hours ago, basseditor said:

So cool. 

I agree!

[fishnkamp]

Congrats for what you are doing. Believe me, the most expensive thing we own in life is not our possessions, it our time!

 

The time you are sharing with this young man will be repaid many times over with the memories and good times you will both share.

 I am 55 years old and honestly do not remember much from my earliest years, but I remember every time I went fishing with my dad!  Especially when I hooked my own jacket hood when I made a bad cast.  I was only 5 years old then, but I remember it.

Sharing some spare equipment and making up a tackle box for him is terrific. Teaching him new techniques will be fun, and who knows you may learn some thing from him.

 

Someone else mentioned you may have changed that young man's life. It is a fact!  He is learning what it is to be a "good man" by your example, he is learning that others care and he will repay that going forward.  Young kids that get into fishing rarely get involved with drugs either! 

[BaitMonkey1984]

Kudos to you. I have a neighborhood kid who loves to fish and always asks me to take him out. Kind of hard to say no when he sees that my ranger is more often not in the driveway then in the driveway. His parents recently purchased a lake house so he is now going to be able to fish regularly. The kid has always loved to fish but only got out a few times a year. So I asked him to explain the water clarity, vegetation, etc. I told him to come on down and he got some nice braided line, hooks, weights, and a bunch of soft plastics that I don't use for various reasons. But I also made sure to give him stuff that was going to work, so he could catch some fish. He seemed very happy and I am happy that I am helping him out like my grandpa helped me get started. Plus, it is good to know that those baits i paid good money for are being used and not wasting away in my garage. If everyone did what they could, whether it was rods, bait, line or time this world would be a better place. Get the kids outside into the outdoors. 

[tcbass]

On 5/19/2017 at 8:09 AM, Ratherbfishing said:

 

I have an extra rod/reel he can have now.  It's the line I'm worried about.  Lol.  How much line one goes through is directly correlated with how many kids you have with you.

 

He's a good stick, though.  Last time we went out the fishing was rough but we caught 3 bass apiece.  Apart from helping him tie on, he did all the work.

 

 

What type of line do you need (braid, mono) and what poundage? PM me your name address and I will send you new two spools. 

[Brian Miller]

You're an awesome person for taking this little guy under your wing. I'm sure you're making a HUGE difference in his life! God Bless you!

[Ratherbfishing]

Am just happy to take a kid out AND get some use out of some gear/lures that might otherwise gather dust.  I woke up one day and discovered the bait monkey had wrought (wreaked?) havoc on my impulsive side.  (It drives me nuts to have a lot of stuff laying around unused).  But I never had children of my own (helps if I'd gotten married) so this arrangement is the best of both worlds.  The boy is probably doing more for me than I am doing for him.

[idabass]

Awesome thing your doing. I'm sure it's great fun to watch him gain skills and knowledge. My eight year old son is my best fishing bud and I love seeing him get better and better.

[Ratherbfishing]

17 minutes ago, idabass said:

Awesome thing your doing. I'm sure it's great fun to watch him gain skills and knowledge. My eight year old son is my best fishing bud and I love seeing him get better and better.

 

One of these days the little bugger will catch a bass bigger than my personal best and I'll never hear the end of it.  :  )

[fishnkamp]

That may be true, but think How awesome the smile on that young mans face will be!!!

 

My wife never fished before we met. Together we have fished with lots of guides, many world famous like Bob Clouser. She has been able to catch some huge fish, many of them are larger than some of my male fishing partners have been able to catch. The family biggest belongs to her, it was on a guided catfish trip and it was a 34 1/2 pound flathead catfish.  Guys at work asked if I was embarrassed to be out fished by her.  My response was simple, this summer we will celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary and we dated all through school.  So, I asked if he noticed the HUGE smile on her face.  Every married man knows when the wife is smiling like that life is good.

 

If that young man smiles like Linda did you will be king in his heart. 

[Ratherbfishing]

On 5/22/2017 at 9:48 PM, fishnkamp said:

That may be true, but think How awesome the smile on that young mans face will be!!!

 

My wife never fished before we met. Together we have fished with lots of guides, many world famous like Bob Clouser. She has been able to catch some huge fish, many of them are larger than some of my male fishing partners have been able to catch. The family biggest belongs to her, it was on a guided catfish trip and it was a 34 1/2 pound flathead catfish.  Guys at work asked if I was embarrassed to be out fished by her.  My response was simple, this summer we will celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary and we dated all through school.  So, I asked if he noticed the HUGE smile on her face.  Every married man knows when the wife is smiling like that life is good.

 

If that young man smiles like Linda did you will be king in his heart. 

Update:  Took him out yesterday evening.  The dawg caught two bass on the same bait (same cast)!  I've been fishing 40 years and haven't done that!  So he's already besting me.  Happy to see it!

 

Your wife sounds like quite a catch.  It's good you didn't throw her back!

[Hot Rod Johnson]

It's always great when a 11 year old boy takes his best friend fishing and get to spend some quality time with him... He will cherish these moment for the ret of his life... Plus he will be able to share the experiences with his children... You have done a great deed my friend and you shall be well rewarded in the future, mark my words...