Feed the Fish, Feed the Kid

Flashback: October 2, 2018

A look back at a trip from 2018 that was unposted. Fishing with Sebastian. The acorns are raining down and he creates an artwork from ones he finds on the boat ramp. Then he gets serious about the fish and lands a nice bass.

Fish and Hike with Sebastian -- Summer, 2018

This is mainly a family post, but if you might enjoy a kid messing around in water on a hot day at the height of summer then take a look.

Thanks Again, Yellowwood

During the heat wave a couple of weeks ago Sebastian and I went to Yellowwood. We ended up at the boat ramp after I racked my brain trying to figure out where he could catch fish. It was so simple but it took me this long to think of it.

Sebastian saw fish in the water right away and went to work. A well-appointed bass boat came into the inlet and tied up below the campground. It was an illustration of The Stages of Fishing from simplest to most complex.

I don't know how those boys in the boat did but Sebastian saw a long shape glide over the concrete ramp four feet offshore, dropped his bait close to it, and had the excitement of seeing that bass turn and eat it. His best bass so far.

He hooked another bass but it came off. Then the bass disappeared so he caught a few bluegill.

Then he was ready to hike. The trail was a new one for us. It took us through a fringe of trees and out along the spillway.

At the foot of the spillway we crossed on the the rocks and ate our sandwiches on the flat rock.

We crossed back to the trail and kept going. It took us along the stream that issues from the spillway. There was much to explore and we determined to come back and hike farther next time.

We headed for the truck, We were hot and tired but what a super afternoon it had been. Thanks again, Yellowwood!

Instant Fun: Just Add Water

You get the cousins together for a fishing trip and you never know what might happen. Well, you have a pretty good idea. The kids just gradually sank into the lake up to their necks. After awhile a very stern young woman came out of the boat house to tell us that swimming was NOT ALLOWED. So they waded out and we got down to some fishing. The bluegill were hungry and everyone caught some. It ended up that the littlest cousin, who hadn't caught a fish in his life, caught the biggest one. Another kid hooked on fishing.

Not Mine, Ours.

Somebody needs to listen to the children.

7-Year-Old Girl - Fly Fishing Talent

Wonderful kid.

Last Fishing Trip Ever?

Another Griffy fish and hike. He caught a fish, but he most wanted to catch a frog in the woods. I thought that would be impossible. But there it was hopping through the dead leaves, and he caught it. As for the fishing, since this trip he has told me that he doesn't want to fish anymore. Said, "I HATE fish!" More a comment, perhaps, on how much he would rather go to the playground at the park these days. He has loved making new friends there. At my age, I'm content to have my best friends be fish, but that's not something to encourage in a four-year-old.

Yes

It was a summertime family adventure at Yellowwood. We piled into a rented rowboat. Lidia and Sebastian soaked worms, to no avail. Jeremiah threw his plastic baits for the first time in years. He lost some fish in the weeds, and then finally wrangled one to the boat. He's been asking me if we can do that again. The answer is yes.

Swing Time

We pick up one more carton of night crawlers, and Sebastian and I head for Yellowwood for a change. We're going back to the Picnic Table, but we park near the campground playground. Sebastian is delighted. He needs to try it out before any fishing happens.

Then it's down the hill to the Picnic Table. Before the many trips to the dam this is where he and I fished. His mom and cousin Iris have been here, too.

It's a fine afternoon, with just a touch of fall in the air. An elegant little sailboat pirouettes around the lake like a ballerina to add to the charm.

We fish a little, but nothing is eating the night crawlers. We decide it's time for us to be eating the lunch we packed. There's just one problem. Yellowjackets. 'Tis the season. There are only a couple buzzing around Sebastian's PB&J but that's two too many for him.

We pinch off a bit of sandwich to decoy them away from us. I think it's working very well, and clearly the yellowjackets are enjoying their treat.

But Sebastian almost scoots me off the bench trying to get farther away from them. He does not believe my cockeyed notion that they won't harm him if he doesn't harm them.

He finally decides to avoid unnecessary conflict by ceding territory. Everybody is happy.

We fish some more. I mean I fish some more. Truth is he wants to go back to the playground. I make him stay until we catch at least one fish. He passes the time by throwing rocks. I explain to him once again how fishing and throwing rocks are incompatible lakeside activities.... Oh, never mind.

I finally hook one and Sebastian agrees to hold it for the photo. He flashes his fake smile to show that he's not that impressed and now can we go back to the playground?

We hike back up the hill. He needs to take a rest when we get to the top. Fortunately, there's a stump handy.

I load up the truck and he runs over to the playground. When I head over he is perhaps using mental imagery and visualization to prepare himself for some serious swing time.

And that's what we do. We swing like crazy. Seems like a good way to finish up a fishing trip. Try it next time.