Eric Patterson said:
Dave
As a boy smallmouth were my favorite because they fought so hard. I bet your grandson got a real kick out of the tail walking. Great stuff.
Eric
Eric,
I think he was more excited just because he was able to cast to and catch these fish all on his own. He has previously caught bluegill and crappies, both open water and thru the ice, but always with some assistance. Eighteen months ago, I gave him a small short ultralight pole and spinning reel for his birthday. Something he could keep at his place and call his own. I showed him all the proper steps that needed to be done to execute a cast with a spinning reel. After that my daughter told me he often would go out into their yard to practice casting. Earlier this spring I went over to practice with him. I tried to get him to cast for accuracy but,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, he was all about distance.
I set the scene by telling him the sidewalk was the shore, the grass was the water and the bird bath was where the fish were holding. Pretty soon he was edging along side the house into a different position, yet walking on the grass. I asked him; "What are you doing? You can't walk on water." His reply, "There is a line of boulders here I'm walking on."
He just cracks me up. I can't hardly stay one step ahead of him now. I can't imagine what it will be like by the end of the summer. If he catches the 1st fish (because I'm helping him and that is the goal), all of a sudden he is the better fisherman. If he catches more fish, (again because that is the goal) he is the better fisherman.
So this time out, I get a fish on my pole and hand it to him to reel in. He is happy. Next thing I know he has a fish all on his own and it is a decent bass. The biggest fish of his lifetime. He is all smiles. At that point I told him, game on buddy. We will see who the best fisherman is now. I actually ended up ahead of him and I let him know it. [
] We both had a good time and that my friend, is what makes the world go round.
