Gr8ful Fish
04-09-2011, 07:04 PM
Headed to L&H in Wall with my 9-year old son this morning for the NJ Trout opener. Once again, the folks there did a fantastic job of setting up a great and fun event for the kids.
I guess my boy started off a bit "rusty" after the long Winter; because he lost/missed at least 6 or 7 bites within the first 45 minutes. It was torture for him to miss them or lose them without landing them, and I could see it was even more torturous for him to see others plucking trout, pickerel, and panfish all around us. :eek:
Eventually, he got back into the rhythym of waiting for the proper moment to set the hook, and he started catching fish one right after the other. In about 3 hours of fishing time with his "tried-n-true" worm & bobber combo, my son managed to catch & release:
2 rainbow trout
1 brook trout
1 largemouth bass
1 black crappie
10-12 bluegills
I was proud as peacock today, but not because of his fishing success. Rather, I was proud of the fact that despite the fact that we didn't get back home until almost Midnight Friday night, my son was standing at my bedside at 06:00 saying "Come on Dad, we have to get going early, so we can get a good spot!" :D
I think back 35 years ago; and as I scratch my bald head and gray beard, I can clearly remember a very similar 9-year old kid waking up early on the opening day wide-eyed, filled with excitement, and bouncing off the walls with enthusiasm for the opening day of trout season. If I close my eyes really tightly, I can almost hear that same boy saying "Come On Dad, we have to get going early so we can get a good spot!"
He's got the fever & it fills my heart with joy to know that my son may be blessed with the love of a sport that has truly brought me a lifetime of appreciation, enjoyment and love of the outdoors! I hope 35 years from now, he'll be fortunate enough to hear those same magic words.
- Gr8ful
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb93/Gr8ful_Fish/JamaicaApril2011640.jpg
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb93/Gr8ful_Fish/JamaicaApril2011638.jpg
I guess my boy started off a bit "rusty" after the long Winter; because he lost/missed at least 6 or 7 bites within the first 45 minutes. It was torture for him to miss them or lose them without landing them, and I could see it was even more torturous for him to see others plucking trout, pickerel, and panfish all around us. :eek:
Eventually, he got back into the rhythym of waiting for the proper moment to set the hook, and he started catching fish one right after the other. In about 3 hours of fishing time with his "tried-n-true" worm & bobber combo, my son managed to catch & release:
2 rainbow trout
1 brook trout
1 largemouth bass
1 black crappie
10-12 bluegills
I was proud as peacock today, but not because of his fishing success. Rather, I was proud of the fact that despite the fact that we didn't get back home until almost Midnight Friday night, my son was standing at my bedside at 06:00 saying "Come on Dad, we have to get going early, so we can get a good spot!" :D
I think back 35 years ago; and as I scratch my bald head and gray beard, I can clearly remember a very similar 9-year old kid waking up early on the opening day wide-eyed, filled with excitement, and bouncing off the walls with enthusiasm for the opening day of trout season. If I close my eyes really tightly, I can almost hear that same boy saying "Come On Dad, we have to get going early so we can get a good spot!"
He's got the fever & it fills my heart with joy to know that my son may be blessed with the love of a sport that has truly brought me a lifetime of appreciation, enjoyment and love of the outdoors! I hope 35 years from now, he'll be fortunate enough to hear those same magic words.
- Gr8ful
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb93/Gr8ful_Fish/JamaicaApril2011640.jpg
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb93/Gr8ful_Fish/JamaicaApril2011638.jpg