Daughter 5, IB 1, but almost none

[islandbass]

My daughter and I went fishing Friday, June 5, for about three hours on the shores of Lake Union again, just five days since our first trip.

It was one of those forgetful days. I forgot to pack her rod so she I let her use my Compre spinning rod. She opted for 6# mono over 8# and it was a wise choice.

Fortunately, I had two casting rods and two Curado D reels, one with 8# and the other 10# test.

She hooks into the bass number one in the first few minutes, a 3/4-pounder by eyeball scale. Unfortunately, I forgot the camera in the car so no picture for that one. It was her third bass ever and biggest to date.


Taken shortly after the first caught bass. Great concentration!

Daughter 1, Dad none. Then I feel a bite and lose it (the bite/nibble). Then another, and another and I keep losing them. Either I have a great excuse that drop shotting with a casting setup is awkward to me or these are super dinks or I am just losing my finesse touch. I am hoping it is none of those choices.

We move to another spot. I switch to a Rapala X-Rap just to try it out. My daughter scores bass number 2, another small one. It didn’t matter to her because she was going for numbers. The best I could get were a few stares and follows by dinks with the X-Rap.


Bass #2

We decide to move to another spot but this time I tell her to pick it. She scouted ahead but within my visual range as I gathered our stuff. She signals she has found the spot. When I reach her, she says, “This is a fishy spot.” One of my adages is, “Go with your gut.”

We throw our baits in and I finally hook into something of fair significance. I get it close enough to the surface to see its whitish belly and it manages to get off somehow. I am a bit dejected after this one and my only consolation is that all of these strikeouts could get me listed as a DH for the Seattle Mariners.

I am glad that my loss was my daughter’s gain. Her bait wasn’t too far from mine and seconds after I lost mine she nervously says, “Papi, I have a strong one.” She was excited and a bit scared she might lose it. I calmed her down as much as I could and told her the steps to properly play the fish and in time it was hers. It was a new personal best. Two in one day; that is sweetness in my book.

The bass I lost was probably not the same one that struck her lure, but I have observed on many occasions in my short fishing experience that when one bass gets excited into getting onto a lure, nearby bass sometimes get just as excited. In addition, they tend to be about the same size. This is 100% an observance.


Third Bass


She was totally stoked but she didn’t want to lip it at all. A passing cyclist was kind enough to take the photo.

Bass number four came just a little later, then number five (a dink, so no photo) and it was time to wrap things up. By tally, dad was crushed defeated, pummeled, pulverized, and… proud. I don’t like to lose at anything (but never am I a poor sport) but this is a loss I don’t mind at all.


Fourth Bass

As we were walking back to the car, I asked if I could have one last chance with “just a few more casts” at the first spot and she said, “Okay”. We bump into an acquaintance of mine through a local fishing forum and fished with him. And finally, praise the Lord! We had a double on, the guy and I. It was a decent sized bass, about the same size as the one I caught on Sunday. I am relieved that I would not be going home skunked.

This was a phenomenal day for both of us, especially my daughter. I’m going to chalk this one up for the memory books.

-ib

June 5, 2009

Conditions: Partially cloudy, occasional sun. A short, but quick cooling trend the night before.

Daughter’s Rig: 6’6” Shimano Compre rod, Abu Garcia Cardinal 101a reel, 6# Trilene XL mono, Sniper Snub
Dad’s Rig: 6’6” Shimano Clarus rod, Shimano Curado D reel, 8# Spider wire Red mono, Sniper Snub
Extra Rig: 6’ Daiwa Strike Force rod, Shimano Curado D reel, 10# Sufix Siege mono, Perch Rapala X-rap.

[bamabassman]

another truly awesum day man. so glad you and your daughter are having such a great ime together fishing. also glad to see someone other than me is getting the tar whupped outta them by a gal, hahahaha. congrats to your daughter. she is doing just fine i see. not gonna give her any advice, she don't need it, hahahaha. think maybe she can give me some pointers though? hahahaha. thanks again for a fantastic set of pics and a great story.

[Bassboss]

wtg guys! Hope fully she'll get as into bass fishing as much as you are one day!

[Jim80]

Nice Ib she seems to be doing better and better every time you guys head out , I'm glad that you both enjoyed the trip .


Jim

[TravisRush]

I'm sure anyone on this forum could take over as any position player on the Mariners...maybe Brandon Morrow wants to get into bass fishing? It might "save" his spirits

[islandbass]

Thanks for the comments, guys! We hope to go again some time this week. I'm going to hopefully break out my real bass gear to give me a fighting chance. Someone pointed out that she caught a limit and he's right! Ouch, just pour some more salt in my wounds!

Bama,

I am glad to know I am not the only one that stinks at fishing. If my fish catching skills matched my passion level, KVD would have some competition.

Originally Posted by TravisRush

I'm sure anyone on this forum could take over as any position player on the Mariners...maybe Brandon Morrow wants to get into bass fishing? It might "save" his spirits

Tell me about it. It just might help him.

[brushhog]

I routinely get pulverized by my 11year old son and 8 year old daughter... The fishing gods favor the young. That's why I believe the next world record bass will be caught by some kid with a worm and a 5 foot Ugly stick pan fishin' somewhere!

[Bubba_Bruiser]

Awesome reads coming from you IB. You might be fishing from that rigged Ranger if she she keeps it up.

[nofearengineer]

I think kids have two advantages when fishing:

1. They don't "know" fish aren't in that spot. We adults tend to "fish memories" as they say, and even the most skilled among us do it from time to time, and we miss those fish a kid might catch.

2. I've got medical documentation showing me my hearing isn't that good anymore (mostly my left ear from standing next to a drummer on stage all those years). I'd be willing to bet their sense of touch is more sensitive too. They probably pick up tiny hits we wouldn't (when they're focused of course...most of us have been fishing with a kid who really doesn't want to be there before). Think about it, they haven't dulled their tactile nerves with years of mindless manual labor...I bet carpenters or steel workers lose a little bit of touch every day hammering on stuff like they do.

Or....... maybe I'm just making excuses.

[aikenyounggun]

glad you takes your kid... i know you guys have heard me say this a lot but we need to all take kids... my dad took and still takes me... i dont see enought kids at High school that fish.....

and fishin is better than drugs