If you don't know it, we love it when kids want to fish. We are looking forward to a time, perhaps this fall, when we can take our nieces and nephews fishing. It really is more fun for them to catch fish than it is for Rick or me to catch fish!
Today I had the thrill of fishing next to 11 year old Brady, Eric's son. Brady's dad set up a fly rod with a beadhead nymph and we walked on down to the river and waded upstream to one of my favorite riffles, near the bank, but where we're able to make our way out a little deeper. Brady has had some very good lessons from his dad so it was easy for him to cast the nymph upstream, mend his line, and keep it fairly tight. He did a great job and didn't seem to get tired of it. We moved out a foot at a time and a little downstream, covering as much fishable area as possible. It didn't take long (10-15 minutes) for Brady to hook a fish. He actually hooked the fish, not one of those times when the fish takes the hook while it's dangling downstream. Brady worked the fish onto his reel, but it got off after a few minutes. It was a nice, big trout. That seemed to energize him. So many people come to this river and don't hook a fish like that. I hoped it wouldn't be the only fish for Brady.
So we checked the fly and moved back upstream and worked our way out, again a foot at a time, fishing the area he could cast to. And you can guess what happened! He hooked another fish, a big one, and together we moved backwards to the shallow water. All the time the fish was fighting and pulling and Brady was able to get the fish on the reel and let it run, then reel it in again. The fish gave him a few good runs and jumps, but he kept his cool. He was able to bring the fish close to shore and his dad netted it. It was a great rainbow trout! Brady went on to fish on his own and hooked another big trout that ended in a long distance release.
Do you think he's happy? Do you think his dad is proud of him? I hope he's hooked on fly fishing! It'll give him a lifetime of fun!
Friday, July 18, 2008
Kids & Fish ~~ Fish & Kids
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment
It's easy to leave us a comment. Use the drop-down arrow & you can type your name or be annonymous. (Leave us a hint) Comments are not published until after we read them & we'll only publish what's appropriate. We will reply if you leave us a comment.