Classic AquaSport
General Aquasport Forums => Chum => Topic started by: Group W Bench on November 04, 2012, 10:44:14 PM
-
I fished with my boys, Caleb (8) and Gabe (6) in a kids' catch and release tournament today. It is days like this that make me realize just how blessed I have been with 2 healthy/ happy boys (albeit 100% boy). Stacy and I had a great day with the little guys, with Gabe winning biggest fish, and Caleb getting 2nd for most releases. The little captains' bags were better than most adult tournaments. Gabe ended up winning a nice G Loomis rod with Shimano Stratic reel and a box of DOA jerk baits for biggest fish. He had a great attitude the entire day, even after we were pretty late for lines in. Early voting was open at the Pinellas Courthouse on the way from church to Clearwater Beach so we decided to avoid the mayhem on Tuesday. The tournament organizers obviously do not fish often with kids, as the prize reel was spooled with braid. Braid is every parent's nightmare. Braid, a 6 year old, and a 10 knot breeze are the functional equivalent to the onramp to the apocalypse. Still, the prizes were very nice.
Caleb did not have such a good attitude as Gabe. He is somewhat hypercompetitive (must be from Momma ;)) and was distraught about Momma and Daddy communing with the Almighty and fulfilling their civic duty at the expense of his fishing time on the Sabbath. Caleb won a nice Diawa rod/reel combo for 2nd place on releases with 11 releases, but ended up losing it for 2 weeks under Mommy/Daddy rules for being a sorry sport. His friend who won was an 8 year old girl, which absolutely killed him. She had 19 releases, and basically beat him like a drum. Getting beat by a girl fishing is devastating at 8. Having her "think you are cute" is even worse. Missing out on fishing with daddy this coming Tues. night while little brother gets to fish is downright inhumane in his mind. He overheard folks talking about how she was fishing with a guide for the tournament, and was indignant that she won with the assistance of a "pro". He was confident that the little girl who rightfully won had "cheated" by having a guide and said as much to her. He had to apologize and wait 2 weeks before the rod/reel is his. No fishing until his 2 week penance is over. Despite the total lack of sportsmanship on the part of one of my progeny, it was a great day on the water with the little guys.
(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/group_w_bench/IMG_20121104_153937.jpg)
Showing off the spoils. This is Gabe's "I'm da man" pose.
(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/group_w_bench/IMG_20121104_155539-1.jpg)
Gabe, our little "Master Angler".
-
It's a shame that kids have to grow up.
Still, it's good to see a father take his fishing. I firmly believe it builds a stronger social structure and we can always use a little more shoring up in that area.
And for that, not only we but all of Mankind thanks you. :thumright:
PS.... nice Yamaha hat. 8)
-
Great story Eugene! Appreciate you sharing that with us, and the great pics too!
Enjoy them while they are this age. As soon as that first bit of 12 year old testosterone kicks in, "Times, they are a changin" :mrgreen:
Nice to see you're raising them up right, in a mannerly fashion. You are in the minority there from what I've seen. Keep up the good work :thumright: :thumright:
-
In the immortal words of 4 time Olympic sailing gold medalist Paul Elvstrom:
"You haven't won the race, if in winning the race you have lost the respect of your competitors."
It's hard for eight year old boys to feel that way when little girls beat them though.
-
Good stuff! :thumright:
Although I have to admit, I have to side with Caleb. Give up fishing time for church? :thumbdown:
-
Give up fishing time for church? :thumbdown:
You'll may end up in Hell for that comment BA........
I'll save ya a spot, if you don't mind sittin' next to Scott. :twisted:
-
Scott did you hear that? :shock:
:mrgreen:
-
Scott did you hear that? :shock:
:mrgreen:
You can run but ya can't hide. :wink:
-
Give up fishing time for church? :thumbdown:
You'll may end up in Hell for that comment BA........
I'll save ya a spot, if you don't mind sittin' next to Scott. :twisted:
Me too, me too!!!
-
Nicely done!! And that really is a quality rod/reel set up - WOW!
-
Gabe and I are hoping to try it out tonight and do some dock fishing. The rain isn't doing much for our chances though.
-
I wimped out on Caleb's punishment, and only made him wait a week to go fishing. He offered to let his little brother go to the Bucs game yesterday with Grandpa if he could go fishing with me instead. It's like negotiating with a union negotiator. They know they are going to have the upper hand when it comes to fishing. What's a dad to do?
It was well worth having a banana for a backbone, and not sticking to the punishment as the fishing was pretty great on these winter low tides.
(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/group_w_bench/Snook.jpg)
(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/group_w_bench/Drum.jpg)
-
I am so looking forward to taking Rogan out fishing with me....at what age did you start taking yours out?
-
I wimped out on Caleb's punishment, and only made him wait a week to go fishing. He offered to let his little brother go to the Bucs game yesterday with Grandpa if he could go fishing with me instead. It's like negotiating with a union negotiator. They know they are going to have the upper hand when it comes to fishing. What's a dad to do?
It was well worth having a banana for a backbone, and not sticking to the punishment as the fishing was pretty great on these winter low tides.
Time served with a suspended sentence for good behavior. That is not a banana backbone that is sound adjudication. How soon the "next time" occurs will show how well the lesson was learned, all kids are trainable and it appears your training program is working :thumleft: ... Really nice fish!
-
Wes,
Even at 2 or 3 they love playing with the bait. As long as momma is comfortable with them being on the water, then no age is really too early. The secret to fishing with kids is that they love catching, not fishing. We almost always throw the net, black out the livewells, and chum heavily with handfuls of crushed whitebait. We even churn up the mangroves with whitebait chum when fly fishing and have the kids cast their flies into the frenzied fish.
If redfishing is tough with the kids, I will cork a red with a short piece of line and bobber. The red will almost always go back to their school, and the kids cast to the bobber for the next hour. When you are done fishing, snag the bobber w/ a topwater lure and take the hook out. It may not be the most purist and sporting form of fishing, but for me it's about keeping the kids reeling in fish.
-
Excellent!!
I'm glad you took him fishing too.
The trick with the redfish on the bobber reminds me of an old joke...
"What's the greatest thing about prostitution?"
"You sell it.....but you still got it."
:salut: