I got to take my twelve year-old daughter fishing this afternoon. We had a short window to fish in, but she wanted to go. I'm afraid the day is coming when she won't want anything to do with "old Dad", so I take about every chance I get. We got to the ramp and a guy hollered to ask if we were going crappie fishing. I said yes and he asked if we wanted some minnows he was about to throw out. I said yes and my daughter ran over to fetch them while I prepped the boat. We got out on the water and I cut the jig off one of the 10-foot jig poles and rigged it up for a minnow (as best one can on a 10-foot jig pole). Crept up on a stump and Sweetheart dropped her minnow right beside a log under water. I thought she had gotten hung up when the bobber went under and the boat was drifting a bit. But she's hollering "I've got one! I've got one!". I take a closer look just in time to see what I'm pretty sure was the broadside of a ol' whiskers rolling over. Fish threw the hook, and Sweetheart was shaking with excitement!!!

I didn't catch a fish... didn't even get a bite.

AND it was the best fishing trip I've been on in a long time.

She thought we were just fishing....