Another Fishing with the GM Day

[Koz]

For those of you that don't know, we hold Fishing with the GM days at my hotel and I teach kids (and sometimes adults) the basics of fishing and how to properly release fish. No, we don't fish for bass because that requires too much patience and it's not high percentage fishing. We have $8 Zebco spincast reels that I set up with tiny hooks, a small bobber, bait with redworms, and fish for bluegills.

 

We only had 6 kids attend today (usually it's 10-12) but each kid caught at least two fish. We had on 2 year old - yes two years old - catch 3 fish and he actually reeled in two of them himself. In two years we've now had 87 kids attend this program and every kid has caught at least one fish.

 

One kid even caught a baby bass today. That's one more bass than I caught this morning  Actually, I only get in a few casts at these events. I spend my team teaching the kids and baiting hooks.

 

The only thing that marred the day was when some idiot came down our small cove in his bass boat and drove right through where I was fishing with the kids. As he approached, I suggested he don't even bother flipping docks in our cove because the 90 degree water was only 3 feet deep, there was no vegetation around, and the bass have been setting up at the deeper drop offs, off of points and at the entrance to coves. But of course he thought he knew better and steamed right through where we were fishing. 

 

Of course, he caught nothing. In my mind I wanted to test my target casting skills and launch a treble hooked bait at him, but I took a breath and let it go. Besides, why would I want to lose a perfectly good lure?

[schplurg]

Everything you said is awesome. I remember you mentioning this last year or so. That is a really cool thing to do!

 

I think I want a job at your hotel! Every time you mention it it sounds so cool.

 

Edit:

Maybe I can buy that restaurant next door and solve that issue for ya LOL.

 

Edit 2:

Glad you mentioned resisting the "fire a lure at 'em" thing, even if you were half kidding.

 

I'm thinking more along the lines of a projectile I can fire with the rod that is not attached to any line. Maybe feed an old lawn dart through the first 2 guides of a heavy rod and fling that sucker!!!

 

Yes, I'm kidding! I hate that tough guy talk. And can you believe lawn darts actually existed? Man I grew up in a fun time!

[TnRiver46]

4 hours ago, schplurg said:

Everything you said is awesome. I remember you mentioning this last year or so. That is a really cool thing to do!

 

I think I want a job at your hotel! Every time you mention it it sounds so cool.

 

Edit:

Maybe I can buy that restaurant next door and solve that issue for ya LOL.

 

Edit 2:

Glad you mentioned resisting the "fire a lure at 'em" thing, even if you were half kidding.

 

I'm thinking more along the lines of a projectile I can fire with the rod that is not attached to any line. Maybe feed an old lawn dart through the first 2 guides of a heavy rod and fling that sucker!!!

 

Yes, I'm kidding! I hate that tough guy talk. And can you believe lawn darts actually existed? Man I grew up in a fun time!

My mom still has a set of lawn darts haha. I think she believes they will draw antique level price one day 

[Woody B]

5 hours ago, schplurg said:

Glad you mentioned resisting the "fire a lure at 'em" thing, even if you were half kidding.

 

A full sized spook with no hooks would be great.   I've considered keeping a baseball in my tackle box just in case I need to bounce something off an idiot.  

[TOXIC]

Great that you offer that.  When I was pro staff for Bass Pro Shops, we did an event for disabled kids where a week before the event, a company would come in and drop like 5,000 lbs of catfish in an office park retention pond.  We provided all the rods and reels and bait needed and members of the National Wild Turkey Federation brought in a trailer and actually would filet any of the fish that the kids wanted to take home.  The office lot worked great because there was a lot of parking and wide open for wheelchairs.  We baited and removed fish all day.  It was exhausting but one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.  It went on for 2 weekend days for 2 weeks.  

[schplurg]

12 hours ago, Woody B said:

 

A full sized spook with no hooks would be great.   I've considered keeping a baseball in my tackle box just in case I need to bounce something off an idiot.  

 

See the "Do you carry a gun in your boat" thread. You never know what kind of idiot you are throwing a baseball at.

[Woody B]

On 6/27/2022 at 7:27 PM, schplurg said:

 

See the "Do you carry a gun in your boat" thread. You never know what kind of idiot you are throwing a baseball at.

I wouldn't actually throw a baseball at anyone.......and I do carry a gun in my boat.  If someone pulls a gun on me they better shoot me pretty fast.  

[TnRiver46]

2 minutes ago, Woody B said:

I wouldn't actually throw a baseball at anyone.......and I do carry a gun in my boat.  If someone pulls a gun on me they better shoot me pretty fast.  

Only throw the baseball at them if they’ve already hit 2 homers this game