A Rewarding Day

[The Baron]

I checked off a “to do” list item yesterday and got a friends two young sons out fishing (10 and 11yo). My friends (husband and wife team) are farmers and they do more before breakfast than the average person does in a day… and they go all day at that pace.  Their farm is immaculate and they are two of the nicest and most interesting people you could ever ask about anything farming related.  Plus, they have 4 kids!  I’ve hunted geese and turkeys on their farm for years (which is how we met and became friends) and I’m always asking how I can help.  I’ve split a little wood and helped cover silage bunks, but when it comes to farm work I’m highly unskilled labour and Bob usually declines my offers with a smile. lol.  But, they know I like fishing and one day last year when I asked Bob if I could help, he said take the two middle boys fishing - they’re very keen and I just don’t have time to take them.

 

That’s the long winded introduction for how I ended up with these two avid young fishermen on my boat.  I took them to a small lake close to their home, one that I’ve started fishing regularly so I’m getting to know it a bit.  The boys had their own typical hardware store gear and things started out very slow with them using wire leaders and an assortment of items from their plastic tackle boxes.  They were having a hard time casting very far and the wind was not helping.  After trying a few ideas, I found a hump just off the windward shore and anchored upwind of it, so I could cast straight downwind to it from the back of the boat.  I pulled out a dropshot setup and after a couple casts I found the spot and pulled in a 1.5# largemouth.  Having only caught sunfish and a few small bass, they thought that was a big bass and one of them proudly netted it for me (not that I needed it, but the oldest was on the net like a pro when he saw the fish. lol).  I said OK, who wants to fish with this rod but, much to my surprise, they both passed to keep using their own gear.  Two casts later I got a 2# largemouth and that was enough to convince one of them to try my dropshot rod.  We settled into a great 30-45minutes of me casting out and then handing them the rod.  After some lessons, they got onto the technique and caught a few.  Some were lost on slack line until they learned how to retrieve the fish, then we’d rotate between kids.  The designated fisherman would sit on the rear seat and I’d cast, then hand them the rod.  They’d catch one and then switch.  It didn’t take long until the younger boy hooked a 3# and there was much excitement.  I turned to get the net but the older boy was fast on it again, so I stood back and watched him net the biggest bass he and his brother had ever caught.  That was a very satisfying moment for me and the boys were very excited (I blurred the photo for privacy, but rest assured we all had huge smiles!).  They caught a few smaller fish after that, then I realized we were drifting as the wind gusts got so stiff the anchor had slipped.  I could not get back on the exact spot (or perhaps the fish had just turned off anyway) so we moved on.  Caught a few random smaller ones after that, but the highlight of the trip was over. 
 

Those boys were keeners and it was 5 hours (with the last 3 nearly fishless) before they were ready to call it a day.  I took those two happy boys home and cleaned their 4 keepers for mom while the boys recounted the day to her (when I asked mom and dad in the morning if they wanted any fish kept to eat, they gave an emphatic yes).  Mom thanked me very much, said the boys are so keen but she and Bob don’t know much about fishing.  Dad was of course farming but texted me after his typical 14 hour day ended to thank me very much, saying the boys were still on cloud 9.

 

I had a great time with the boys and will definitely take them again.  I learned lots today, about how precise spots can be and a few things on how to use my fish finder (which is all new to me this year).  I also learned that helping out a farmer does not always mean doing farm work.?

 

Did I mention how much I love our “new” little Bass Tracker 165?  I couldn’t be any happier with it (although if I had a 19ft… ?? )

[TnRiver46]

Good on ya! I can still remember trips like that when I was their age and friends dads took me fishin

[huZZah]

That’s awesome. And you’re awesome for even being willing to do it.  And they even caught fish!