Well, I took my Wife's 11yr old Goddaughter fishing in Hanningfield this morning.

As it was her first time fishing and out in a boat, I decided that bait fishing with light rods was the best option. So it was a float rod for her and spinning rod for me and a pot of lob worms.

Unluckily for me, Dennis and Ian, Hanningfield regulars, saw me without a fly rod in my hand and I came in for some serious ribbing about cheating and being South African

They werent teasing us too much when they motored past 10mins later and saw young Alesha in this pose.........






This was Alesha 5mins later after catching her first fish ever and her first trout and what a cracker it was too ; full fins and very good condition. It gave her a serious work-out with ripping runs and massive lunges.







It was my turn 15mins later.............







The ribald comments from the other boat dried up a fair bit apart from the fact that estimates of 8lb were a bit off the mark. 10.6lbs and my best ever!

Our bag of 4 fish topped out at 22lbs


Alesha is well and truly hooked and my Wife reckons I was fairly floating on a cloud of pleasure when we got back home. I have decided to apply for part-time parenting of little Alesha as she was an utter treasure to take fishing. Not an ounce of squeamishness when the worms came out, insisted on trying to cast (very well, too) and wanting to administer the Final Rites with the Priest. She also looked on avidly when I gutted and cleaned the four fish.


I have never known a lass like it and certainly never a wee lad

Alesha has asked to go out on the Thames Estuary trips next:eek



If I have a kid, I can only hope it is a little Alesha




Ben

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Nice photos-and some very nice fish. Well done for taking the lass along. I'll bet she loved it-and why not?-any angler would be happy with a fine trout like that as her first fish. And she also brought luck to you as well-what a cracker!?

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The scenery in the Grand Coulee area of eastern Washington was worth the air fare on its own!

Super story mate.. I love to hear stories like that.

You don't have to tell us that she loved it, its written all over her face..

My grandson Adam is just getting to 5 years of age now, and I can't wait to take him fishing...

Cheers

Keith

Excellent Ben, sorry, as you'll notice in pm, I got confused and thought it was tomorrow you were going However, if you really want to go coarse fishing you're going to have to do it properly and catch some coarse fish

Funnily enough, Hanningfield was the venue of my first ever fly fishing trip, with brother in law who lived in east London at the time and introduced me to fly fishing. I only had one fish...but it was 5lb 2oz so not a bad start!

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Looks and sounds as if you both had a cracking day and those fish aren't too shabby either.

I whole heartedly agree with you about taking kids fishing. I took Alice and her friend Eloise (both 4 years old) to the lakes yesterday afternoon for a spot of maggot drowning. We had 70 odd roach and skimmers on a 4m whip, in a little under 2 hrs. Alice has been with me half a dozen times but it was Eloise's first time, needless to say they had a whale of a time playing with the maggots and fake plastic baits, playing and helping to net and return the fish.

(Only wish I'd taken my camera)

Days like you and Alesha have just had are the ones which live long in the memory. Obviously I love every minute I'm with Alice, but it's those times when we share a day out that remain etched in the memory.


Carl

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If you're frightened of dying and you're holding on you'll see devils tearing your life away. But if you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels freeing you from the earth.

Nice quality fish Ben and good on the wee lass for enjoying her day

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I've taught three grandsons and two sons to fish. I get enormous pleasure when they do well. I was out on friday with one of each. The grandson had 9 my son 6 and I trailed behind with 4.It was just fantastic to be out fishing with them all.When you invest your time in children you get repayed a thousand times over.

BK

Very true, until it comes to hard cash

Looks like you had a great day out, Ben. Envy you.

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"Take not out your 'ounds on a werry windy day" Surtees.

Nice to see kids enjoying a day afloat, but, she isnt wearing a life jacket on the first two pics. Is this allowed on Hanningfield? SDont mean to p1ss on your parade Ben but surely she should have had one on all the time. Nice fish by the way.

Nice one Ben

Now all you have to do is teach her to cast a fly

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