Take A Senior Citizen Fishing
In my articles I talk about taking a kid fishing and just to
see the expression on their faces when they catch the fish is priceless and personally
rewarding.
Well, I thought a lot last night and what better way to learn about Bass
fishing than to take a Senior Citizen fishing.
Believe me, there are stories and facts that I have learned from Grandpa
and Dad that I could never get from reading about it. They were fishing along time before a lot of us were born,
and things that they use to do to get Mr. Hog to bite.
A good example is I took my Dad to Pickwick Lake and wanted to teach him
how to Bass fish.
You got to remember they can not take the beating a younger person can take
in a bass boat so show a little kindness.
We sat up on a rock shore that I just knew had to have some fish and along
came this guy in a big bass boat and almost swamped us when he saw that we were in his spot. He turned the boat
and never let up on the gas. This is a good example of what you can expect to see on the lakes; not all Bass
guys show kindness.
Any way, we did not fair on the bank so I moved to a cove that had a lot of
lay downs meaning trees in the water. I figured that we would not be disturbed. I told my Dad "Hey" over there
right next to that tree something came to the top of the water. He threw the creature bait (soft plastic) that I
had rigged up for him that looked like a crawdad.
First cast was perfect, and then dad told me that he thought the line was
hung in the rock. When I looked at where he had casted, his line was headed for deep water very fast. I told him
to rear back and set the hook because he had a Fish on the line.
Now I have said the look in the kids eyes were something to see but looking
into my Dad's face was a joy. I bet it put ten more years onto his life. He fought that bass like a Pro and
we got it in the boat. Dad then told me that was the biggest bass he had ever caught.
We weighed it then as I was starting to lean toward the water to
return it back Dad got a hold of my arm and asked what I thought I was doing. I explained that I do not
keep bass and he told me in no such terms that I was going to keep this one. It weighed 7 1/2 pounds and we
took a picture of it and put it in the live well.
That was the only fish we caught in the cove, and I stress to everyone;
don't stay out all day. The
Senior Citizen's can not take it. Short trips and you will make their
day.
When we got back in to the Lodge, Dad was going around telling everyone and
showing them the picture of his hog. He was so proud of his fish. Can you believe it when I tell you he was
telling everyone that my scales were broke and the fish weighed 10 pounds on the water?
I will cherish that trip and will carry it in my heart forever. Don't
forget Grandma and Grandpa and listen to the stories that they have to tell. You just might pick up on something
that will help you land that Hog.
Keep the Hooks Wet
Steve McGoldrick
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