My Kids and Fishing

Had some free time this afternoon and I took all three of my kids fishing. Now, I'm not hiding the fact that the real reason was so I could get my line in the water. But getting to spend time with them is more important. What tipped my scale was that my dad took me fishing, and it always seemed that I could never outfish him either. That wasn't the case today.

The wind has been blowing quite a lot and it has changed the beach where one of our tribs enters Lake Michigan. But there were still chromers frolicking. I had been reading and watching some videos on center pin reels and float fishing so I decided to try my hand at something like it. I used my spin caster (I know, I know. What's a fly fisher doing with a spin casting reel...) and kept the bail open as I threw some weighted spawn bags into the now formed lagoon. Several fish jumped again by the time I get my line wet. In fact, one of them did a complete gainer. I didn't have my camera to take that shot but it was amazing. Needless to say not even a bite. So, I grabbed my fly rod and helped my oldest daughter get some more practice casting. My other two children found some dead fish nearby. Overall it was a good time. I think with them, though, I'll go searching for Perch. I don't want to discourage them right away. But it is easy for them to have fun. I want to be like that. I want fun to bubble out of me for their sake. Dour is easy. Joy is sometimes hard to bring out. But being with them helps a lot.

Fall is here in SE Wisconsin. The weather has taken a decided turn for the more chilly and snow will be here soon as well. I was told that the steelies will continue to run until mid-October or so and some will even stay through the winter. All the tribs around here are milky and I'm still amazed that any sensible trout would dare venture through these waters. I miss those slick freestone streams in Montana, especially the Blackfoot.