Just wanted to let people know of a new convert to world of fly tying and fly fishing. This new addition to this great pass time happens to be my 9yr old daughter.

Since I recently got back into fly tying she's been trying her hand at it too and I must say that for a 9yr old there are some impressive patterns coming out of her, in particular a very well tied damsyle pattern. She has of course been begging to have a go at trying to fish these patterns and too and this Sunday just gone was that opportunity.

We headed down to Albury Estates nice and early in the morning, was rather chilly and fresh (there was ice on the lakes) so probably not the best day for someones 1st venture into the sport. I was very surprised by how much attention she paid to how to cast etc... and she then spent the rest of the day successfully managing to cast about 2 rod lengths worth of line out which she seemed more than happy with, infact when I offered to cast the line out further for her she was quite adament about me not helping. Well lets also just say that the nintendo DS got a good amount of game time from her too but she did spend more than 1/2 the day out there.

The only down side is that she did not manage to catch anything, the only success for the day in our little group of 4 happened to be me. But she's dead keen to go again, "when it's a little warmer".

I'm just stoked and impressed with her determination and the fact that she understands that not everytime you go out fishing do you catch and that practice is what it is all about. This is one sport that is definately open to pretty much every age group and does not matter if you are male or female to enjoy it.

Chirpyaphid

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@flyauction on twitter

That's a lovely post. Always great to hear about newcomers first experiences of fishing (any method). I taught my lad when he was nine, he came a few times caught a few fish but then got bored.

Just recently he asked to go again. He doesn't have all the thermals and waterproofs you need at this time if year so I told him to wait until it got warmer.

My club water allows children or grandchildren of members to fish for free but it can be tough compared to small stillwaters. He gave it a go for about half an hour once!

I'm happy to let him take it as it comes. Maybe giving him a fly tying lesson is a way back in for him. He is interested in all the different flies and methods. I hope your Daughter doesn't have to wait too long for her first fish!

SharkeyP

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Often thinks not travel widens,
Stay at home the Trout obliges.

Yeah,

Cheers guys, put a smile on my face! I don't have kids but do have a wee clutch of godkids and honorary nephews and nieces who I love taking out with varying degrees of success - mostly bait and spinner 'til they get a bit older.

So satisfying at times, despite some of the frustrations, and one young lass who asked questions, listened and carefully watched had me enraptured when in a couple of hours, she went from complete novice to weighting her body throughout the cast like someone who had been fishing for years. A lovey couple of hours was spent pointing out the pikey places along the water and the shock of seeing her plug land exactly where I indicated it should go almost every time hardly wore off!

Happy days,

Andy

PS - And don't you find it funny how they often express concern about not harming the fish and putting it back until they catch one. And then they want to bash its brains in and take it home? Bless them . . .

Loved your story Chirpyaphid,

I get to teach (or should I say to coach) a few hundred children every year and there is nothing like it. My son is 27 now and took up my old pass-time : carp fishing (he didn't ask for help (was born into it) and wanted to learn it by himself...and did!). You must be a lucky man with such a daughter. I hope she perseveres and maybe, one day...she'll be tying your flies. They must be better at it than we are

Kind regards and wish your daughter luck at catching her first (as we say here : bonne merde!!)

Johan

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Johan Janssens

Nice post chirpyaphid,
Made me think about my son, who's 11 and just starting to take an active interest in fishing.
I got him a spinning rod for Christmas and we were out with it last weekend, but didn't catch anything - still, it was nice to just spend some quality time together and natter about all kinds of stuff, which is something we don't often do in this busy modern world.
I'm going to take him up to my local trout fishery for a quick lesson once the weather gets a bit more bearable - he came up with me last year but it was too windy for him to start out, and he didn't like the idea of fishing with power bait because it meant he had to kill anything he caught (sensitive wee soul that he is!).
I think he'll really take to fly fishing - he's got good hand-eye co-ordination - and being able to catch and release will keep him happy.
Thanks for your nice story - I hope your daughter sticks at it, for both your sakes.
Steve

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There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.