Thread: Madisons Introduction

I spoke with the SIL Mike and made a date to chase some 'gills that are in the St Johns close to the house. 2 of the Gdaughters haven't been out with me to chase fish and I told him to bring the oldest and lets go drown some crickets. Done deal. I saw the truck pull in as I was dropping the Other Woman off her trailer, and the youngest came out of the passenger door. At 7 years, Madison is all energy and fun to be around so I knew this was going to be a good day. One of my CDC brothers had given me the skinny on an area that was holding fish (Thank You) so off we went in search of. A beautiful, almost cool ride took about 5 minutes while God painted the sky pink as the sun rose and hit the wispy overhead clouds. No other boat traffic had started yet and it was like we had the main channel of the river to ourselves.
If memory serves, Madison had never been out in a boat like this and was really enjoying it all so far. Started on a bank with some downed timber and a little deeper water and it was on, only to slow down when we worked into shallower water. Showed Mike how to thread a cricket, a little depth adjustment of the bobber and Madison as the Cricket Queen and we were fishing. I asked her if she wanted to try catching some and was told maybe after the doughnuts in a little while. She would just bring the crickets when Dad or I needed them. I had a Beetle spin on an ultralight from a previous trip with Ernie and gave is a cast, and caught an 11" Crappie sitting on the dropoff just off the bank. The only one to visit this day. I had a corner on the market for the fish barely 4 fingers long, I must have caught 10 of them. Madison stood by her dad and got some one on one coaching and was quickly rewarded by her first fish, and the picture to save it with. An hour or so later she landed the biggest fish of the day, a dandy Copperhead gill that really gave her a tussle, featured in another of the pics. The sun beginning to get above the treetops I noticed that we were on the sunny side and moved across the river to some needed shade. Mike pitched in and the float went down instantly and the Warmouth in the picture came to visit and get his picture taken.
By now the boat traffic and the heat had started to build so I went to look for somewhere out of the main channel and deep enough water and we found some not far away. One after the other the crickets dwindled and we were down to using the dead ones, which the queen refused to handle but she would bring us the cage. This last spot will be my first next trip as it just kept giving up good fish. Crickets all gone, sweat becoming a bother, and I think Madison had had enough we wrapped up and headed for the ramp and the ride to help dry our shirts. This part I know she liked cuz I kept hearing "all ahead full!" Doesn't take long to fall in love with the wind in your hair.
All in all it was a very good day with lots of fish caught and all released for another's enjoyment on another day. Had we kept the good ones there would have been well over a dozen Copperheads and warmouth to make an outstanding dinner. Many firsts today that will make for good memories later on . I'm hoping to get the older Gdaughter out and show her some of this before all the school stuff takes up her time. The short trips fit both the child and this old man. My week had caught up to me and it was time for a sandwich and a nap after the cover was back on the boat. Hope you have enjoyed the read, cuz I sure enjoyed the trip and once again---Thanks for visiting with us today.............Skeet

Another grasshopper to master her skills, good job "G-PAW" skeet...