Fishin with the Boys

Date:Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Location: Exeter Reservoir, shore
Bait: Old Fashioned Worms, Blue Fox Vibrax Spinner
Conditions: high 60's, Sunny, moderate Wind
Time of Day: Mid-Afternoon
Friends:Caleb and Aedan
Experience: 7 out of 10

As we were driving through Stratham, I gave the boys a choice. We can go to the library or go fishing. Before I could spit out the word, FISHING was shouted in stereo from the back seat. After three stops to find worms, we finally made it to the water.

It was a mad dash to get lines in the water. I wish I could clone myself in instances like that. "Daddy, I can do it myself. "Daddy, I need help with finding a worm? Do you think I need a bobber? Where should I fish? Hey look - a salamander. I need to catch him first. I caught one. I can take it off the hook. How come I'm not fishing yet? I need your help getting him off the hook?" All these questions came at me in the first 60 seconds of fishing.

All that to say, we had a blast. Caleb caught at least 10 fish. He was very diligent in keeping track of their length. He had bluegill and sunfish ranging fron 4 inches to 7 inches. He was definitely our volume winner for the day.

Aedan won the largest fish caught by someone under 18 with two 7" sunfish. This was his first time using his new Blue fishing pole to catch fish. He liked watching his bobber move because it gave him the chance to rip the fish's lips off - boy, did he try!

I even had a chance to get a few casts in. There was a rise happening off shore that neither boy seemed interested in going after. I tied on a Blue Fox Vibrax Rainbow Trout Spinner and cast it over his hole. He followed it in the first time, nipping at it all the way. On the second cast, he wasn't going to let it get by him and grabbeded the lure - a beautiful 10" brook trout - the first appetizer of the season. He was an awesome fighter for a little guy.

I have to say I count it a blessing to have two boys that love to fish almost as much as I do! It's worth every bit of stress and ever persistent questions to spend an afternoon with my boys having fun - watching them catch fish and salamanders, casting lines and munching on donuts. These are my fishing buddies.