Slow morning ends well

[Little grey men]

The alarm chirped to life in the early hours, but I thought after a late night party I'd give myself another half an hours sleep. Snuck into my boy's room and whispered the magic words....Fishin mate ?... any other early morning disruption ( school ) would have him just grumble and pull the blankets over his head. The magic words were said and he, like always sat bolt upright with half sleepy eyes with his usual answer of.."yep" .

We made the short hike to our normal starting spot a lot later than I would have liked. 6:30 seems like the morning's half over, but It's a great time to be out there. We were graced by three beautiful black swans flying low across the water right in front of us. Some sights just stop you in your tracks.

It seemed as though the big boy's didn't want to play today and I was too tired to chase them, as the rat bass came out in force. The week before had me hooked onto a bass in the same spot that just about stole my rod,( after me doing a very dopey thing, and laying my rod on the ground after a cast, to empty a stone from my boot, as the Old Glory Spro sank slowly to the bottom it was grabbed. I actually had to chase my rod into the water, new woolen socks and one boot on, the boy thought it was great fun, that got my heart pumping ) I could barely turn the big coot, I know there's some good sized fish out there but this thing had some real thumping power, more like a Cod...hmmmmmm Cod, I loved feeling his tail pumps through the graphite rod as he dissapeared into the deep and spat my lure. Not to worry, as Winston Churchill I think once said " A bad's days fishing sure beats a hard kick in the face " It was either him or my Uncle Phil.

What made the morning really special was my boy hooking his FIRST BASS on a spinnerbait. Another fish for him to check off his hit list. Caleb the MIGHTY FISHERMAN "guppies tremble at the mention of his name"
You'll notice that he is holding all of the fish as it's his job to release them after I take a quick pic. He certainly gets a buzz out of being splashed by them as they take off back into the water.
A quick phone call to his Mum and a celebration Bacon and egg McMuffin had him smiling for quite a while...If he had a tail he would have wagged it.

[Roo]

good one LGM. a couple of nice fish to top off what appears to be a magic morning. Sometimes the scenery is the best bit but those "rats" don't look too bad to me. Maybe thats the trick, get thr little bloke to hold the fish, makes them appear quite a good size. the young fella would have had a ball feeling the strike of a cranky bass.
What water are you fishin in?
Cheers Roo.

[Little grey men]

G'day Roo, North Pine Dam. The biggest of the morning went 36cm, perhaps not a rat...more like a small possum. I've been getting him ready for a bass strike for a while now. Making sure he holds the rod the right way and so on. I must admit I'd be nervous if he hooked onto something over 45cm. That would get very interesting.

[Fitzy]

What great report LGM.

How old is Caleb? His small frame makes them bass look bigger than the sizes you mentioned.

You're teaching him all the good stuff, a credit to you.
My son is five & I'm yet to take him fishing with rod & reel, preferring to go to small creeks with hand scoops occasoinally. Not because I dont want to, just want him to be able to fully comprehend what he is doing & to ensure he will have the attention span to enjoy it.

Also fishing is my thing, want him to develope his own life interests instead of imposing my thing onto him, so I do as many different things with him. However he is starting to ask to go fishing so the time is probably right to introduce him to it.

Thanks for the report.

Cheers,

Fitzy..

[Little grey men]

Hey Fitzy,
Caleb's five and a half, I gave him a handline when he was four years old and I've taken him on every fishing trip since then. My father and I went fishing one night on the Maroochy River while on holidays and left him at home as it was too late to take him. He wouldn't speak to us the next day until his Pop bought him a packet of Squidgees. When ever he catches something different he calls his Grandfather as soon as he gets home.
When we fish, about half the time is spent fishing and the rest of the time is spent exploring and taking pictures of interesting things to put in his fishing album.
He also gets a kick out of different lures (all with crushed barbs) . Everything I tie on my line he has to have as well.
Thank God for G vibes and cheap Kokoda spinnerbaits.
Oh and one further thing for anyone taking kid's fishing. Make sure they wear some form of eye protection to guard against flying hooks.
I usually don't measure smaller bass, I just judge the size by the new towel they lay on ( Cheers for the tip M62 ) it has two lines exactly 40cm apart and the towel is excactly 60cm long a handy piece of gear, to minimize the fish out of water time.

[bdowdy]

great stuff lgm just love taking my 5 year old fishing and seeing his face light up, its priceless isnt it, think my young fella is bit spoiled tho as he caught everthing from cod to gar and it took me years to catch what he has in his short time fishing.cheers bdowdy

[basskid]

What a little trooper mate,
Good on ya's for actually getting out there when you had the chjance ( i wish i had that chance) but it was a good effort and a few rat bass are still fun.

[wamjam]

Good to see ,looking foward to seeing my little mate hooking is first fish .
Thank for the story and pics.
wamjam

[Mike Delisser]

Love the report & pics LGM. I'm hearing a few good things about the "Spro".
Cheers
Mike

[Little grey men]

Yep, the Spro's are quite a good lure, I'm finding myself using them more than the Jackall's. I must admit that it has a lot to do with the fact that they are roughly half the price of a Jackall with almost the same performance.

[the_matrix]

Mate thats the best report Ive read in a while.
Its awesome to see your young fella into the fishing, the smile on his face says it all! Well done to you and Caleb, and great to see his grandad inspiring him as well.
Some great advice there too for others, better than to learn the hard way.

My wife has just had twins (boys) and already I am dreaming about taking them fishing.
Easily the most exciting time of my life.
Thanks for sharing
Cheers
Jas

[nuggstar]

on ya mate and kids

[Little grey men]

Hey Jas, congratulations on the birth of the twins..Geeez mate, two boys hey ?
You'll be spending twice the amount of time on tangled lines and answering questions about the possibility of whales in freshwater impoundments.


Hey Bdowdy, I know what you mean about your boy catching up fast, Caleb has actually caught two species I'm yet to catch.

[tanglefoot]

All good fun when the billy lids come with ya

[Hardb8]

LGM,
Ya report has taken me back to when I was that age.Some of my fondest fishing memories.It's great to see young Caleb enjoying our great out doors instead of a playstation.Can't wait ta read the report where he lands a 50+ .

Pic #3......Priceless .
Thanks for shareing. B8.