Big Daddy
07-26-2006, 10:49 PM
Today, I FINALLY took my ten year old daughter Sarah on her first trip, alone in the boat, with Dad. All the other times, her two brothers usually tagged along, and that was usually a bank trip. It was very nice to spend an evening out at Portage Lakes with her, catching fish and just talking and having fun. With her little brother Nick as prolific a fisher as he is, I think she felt a little squeezed out, and I'll admit, I was feeling guilty about not taking her as well. Tonight was a first step to a stronger relationship with her, and I can tell, she's hooked... :)
First off, I got her involved with me helping to get the boat ready to launch. She was in charge of the life jackets and reminding me to put the plug in the boat. When we got to the boat ramp, I told her to hold the rope as I backed in the boat, letting out a little slack til it floated off the trailer. She was very nervous, but handled it well. She couldn't wait to get in the boat and get to fishing. She was asking me about what we'd catch, what the names of the different lakes there were, what bait we had, just all the things a kid would ask. She told me she really got a kick out of the name of the lake we fished... Turkeyfoot. :)
We pulled up on our spot, a nice drop off near the speed zone, and I showed her how to hook a twister tail on her jig, and then how to tip it with a waxworm or couple of maggots. There were a few "eeewwwws" but once the first fish came in, she was beyond that. I told her that no matter what, I'd take a picture of her first fish. Wasn't much, but she was happy.
http://www.ohiogamefishing.com/photopost/data/500/97DSCN02561-med.JPG
About a half hour in, I nailed a decent crappie. Her face lit up, remembering fish I had caught and brought home. She just wanted me to take her pic with it. How could I say no? http://www.ohiogamefishing.com/photopost/data/500/97DSCN02581-med.JPG
She even gave the fish a kiss before releasing it. LOL! I told her that every guy that asks her out on a date will see that picture, so they'll think twice about kissing her!
http://www.ohiogamefishing.com/photopost/data/500/97DSCN02601-med.JPG
We both caught some decent fish tonight, two were Fish Ohio class redears, this one was a HOG and a half.http://www.ohiogamefishing.com/photopost/data/500/97DSCN02631-med.JPG
http://www.ohiogamefishing.com/photopost/data/500/97DSCN02611-med.JPG
I also nabbed a real nice crappie, and Sarah had one on too that was bigger, but it broke her line at the boat before I could get the net. She did say she knows the fish is there, and she's determined to go back and catch it. I let her take a pic with my fish. He went back too.http://www.ohiogamefishing.com/photopost/data/500/97DSCN02671-med.JPG
The evening filled with smiles, laughter, and a whole lot of fun came to a close with a Dad happy to get his daughter out on the water with him, and a little girl beaming at the prospect of getting back on the water to catch the ones that got away. Boy, I sure do love fishing. ;) :D http://www.ohiogamefishing.com/photopost/data/500/97DSCN02691-med.JPG
First off, I got her involved with me helping to get the boat ready to launch. She was in charge of the life jackets and reminding me to put the plug in the boat. When we got to the boat ramp, I told her to hold the rope as I backed in the boat, letting out a little slack til it floated off the trailer. She was very nervous, but handled it well. She couldn't wait to get in the boat and get to fishing. She was asking me about what we'd catch, what the names of the different lakes there were, what bait we had, just all the things a kid would ask. She told me she really got a kick out of the name of the lake we fished... Turkeyfoot. :)
We pulled up on our spot, a nice drop off near the speed zone, and I showed her how to hook a twister tail on her jig, and then how to tip it with a waxworm or couple of maggots. There were a few "eeewwwws" but once the first fish came in, she was beyond that. I told her that no matter what, I'd take a picture of her first fish. Wasn't much, but she was happy.
http://www.ohiogamefishing.com/photopost/data/500/97DSCN02561-med.JPG
About a half hour in, I nailed a decent crappie. Her face lit up, remembering fish I had caught and brought home. She just wanted me to take her pic with it. How could I say no? http://www.ohiogamefishing.com/photopost/data/500/97DSCN02581-med.JPG
She even gave the fish a kiss before releasing it. LOL! I told her that every guy that asks her out on a date will see that picture, so they'll think twice about kissing her!
http://www.ohiogamefishing.com/photopost/data/500/97DSCN02601-med.JPG
We both caught some decent fish tonight, two were Fish Ohio class redears, this one was a HOG and a half.http://www.ohiogamefishing.com/photopost/data/500/97DSCN02631-med.JPG
http://www.ohiogamefishing.com/photopost/data/500/97DSCN02611-med.JPG
I also nabbed a real nice crappie, and Sarah had one on too that was bigger, but it broke her line at the boat before I could get the net. She did say she knows the fish is there, and she's determined to go back and catch it. I let her take a pic with my fish. He went back too.http://www.ohiogamefishing.com/photopost/data/500/97DSCN02671-med.JPG
The evening filled with smiles, laughter, and a whole lot of fun came to a close with a Dad happy to get his daughter out on the water with him, and a little girl beaming at the prospect of getting back on the water to catch the ones that got away. Boy, I sure do love fishing. ;) :D http://www.ohiogamefishing.com/photopost/data/500/97DSCN02691-med.JPG