My grand girl Anika is 6 years old now, and wanted to try fishing. I took her out in the yard with Grandma's fishing pole and taught her how to cast. She picked right up on that and I told her she was ready to try for a real fish. She insisted on her own pole first, a Barbie pole no less. I stopped into the sports store and bought the same pink pole that Vernon has made famous on this fourm. When I took it to the check stand the lady gave me a funny look. "It is for me Mam." I said with a smile, "I am secure in my masculinity!" She gave me another funny look and rang me up. I think she pushed a button under the counter though, so I beat it out of there fast, after paying of course.
We had tried to catch a fish or two earlier this year, but it was so darn hot, not to mention the clouds of skeeters, so Anika wanted to give up early. The weather cooled down, and a couple weeks ago I came home early from work and took the little sweety fishing for smallmouth.
I set her up with a hook and a big worm and she cast out and waited for a bite.
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[attachment 38884 anikafish1.jpg]
That got boring real fast so she wanted to try out my pole and the rubber grub I had on. In no time she had hooked her first fish, it got off when she let it have some slack. I told her to try again and bingo! She got another one! Here she is playing it.
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[attachment 38883 anikafish2.jpg]
She was so darn excited about it. It was so fun to be there for that. Here she is holding up he very first fish, ever! A Payette river smallmouth bass. Just look at that face!
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She wanted to let it go, so we did. I changed lures and let her cast again. After a couple tries she got another one. She is as excited about this one as the first!
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[attachment 38881 anikafish4.jpg]
She wanted to pet this one before she let it go.
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[attachment 38879 anikafish5.jpg]
As I was getting ready to fish for myself, Anika had a bite on the trusty Barbie pole. She is holding her prize catch, caught on her very own pink Barbie pole.
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[attachment 38878 anikafish6.jpg]
We caught a lot more after that and each one was special. We let them all go home after we looked them over.
I had more fun fishing with that little girl than I had in a long time. What an honor to be there for her and help her spend a few hours on the river making a memory that she will have her whole life.
Thanks for sharing in my fun, DC
We had tried to catch a fish or two earlier this year, but it was so darn hot, not to mention the clouds of skeeters, so Anika wanted to give up early. The weather cooled down, and a couple weeks ago I came home early from work and took the little sweety fishing for smallmouth.
I set her up with a hook and a big worm and she cast out and waited for a bite.
<center>
[attachment 38884 anikafish1.jpg]
That got boring real fast so she wanted to try out my pole and the rubber grub I had on. In no time she had hooked her first fish, it got off when she let it have some slack. I told her to try again and bingo! She got another one! Here she is playing it.
<center>
[attachment 38883 anikafish2.jpg]
She was so darn excited about it. It was so fun to be there for that. Here she is holding up he very first fish, ever! A Payette river smallmouth bass. Just look at that face!
<center>[attachment 38882 anikafish3.jpg]
She wanted to let it go, so we did. I changed lures and let her cast again. After a couple tries she got another one. She is as excited about this one as the first!
<center>
[attachment 38881 anikafish4.jpg]
She wanted to pet this one before she let it go.
<center>
[attachment 38879 anikafish5.jpg]
As I was getting ready to fish for myself, Anika had a bite on the trusty Barbie pole. She is holding her prize catch, caught on her very own pink Barbie pole.
<center>
[attachment 38878 anikafish6.jpg]
We caught a lot more after that and each one was special. We let them all go home after we looked them over.
I had more fun fishing with that little girl than I had in a long time. What an honor to be there for her and help her spend a few hours on the river making a memory that she will have her whole life.
Thanks for sharing in my fun, DC
