First ever Trout

SharkeyP · #1 (**permalink**) 07-04-2009, 10:41 PM

My Son and I had one of those moments today that, just thinking about it now, brings a tear of happiness to my eye (getting sentimental in my middle age). Parents out there will know it's the school holidays, and keeping the little angels happy and entertained can be a challenge. My boy is nine, and very much of the 'PlayStation Generation'. Today it was time for his first fishing trip. I took him to our local stillwater fishery, Pendle View, just ten minutes down the road.

He was bursting with excitement, and a bit nervous as I drummed into him the importance of safety. To begin with I cast out for him and let him retrieve, and he missed a few good bites, although he felt the fish momentarily he couldn't set the hook. Then I taught him to cast by himself for a bit and he made a reasonable start, no worse than my own nine months ago, but didn't connect with any fish and got a few tangles, so he asked me to hook one for him, and I duly did, then handed him the now 'alive' rod and coached him through the playing of a fish. Within a couple of minutes, with a few lively runs, he brought it over the net and I landed it safely. He was as happy as I have seen him in many a month. His face lit up and has remained that way since. Just a small stocked Rainbow to some but the most important fish in the world to him.

Later on a major buzzer hatch erupted and the fish went mad on them, so I tied a little black buzzer on, floated it about 2ft down under a bit of 'float-do' and immediately had a fish on. A better fish and he played it very well for a couple of minutes but at the last moment he tried too hard to bully it to the net and the hook pulled out. He was devastated for a moment but it didn't really dent his happiness. A squally shower with a cold wind ended the hatch as quickly as it had begun and signalled the end of our short session. In the car on the way home he said "I think I understand you more now, Dad, I feel closer to you"... priceless!

Now he want's his own fly box (granted) and can't wait to go again. Pity the forecast is so changeable for the foreseeable future. Ah well, he has a lifetime ahead of him, and by the time he's my age he will be a much better fisherman than I will ever be. My wife is somewhat alarmed at the prospect of having two fishermen in the house!

SharkeyP