Kid Fishing @ L&H in Wall / TOP NOTCH !!!

[Gr8ful Fish]

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.

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!"

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