February 19, 2008

[kevin]

February 19, 2008

Here in New England at least in Massachusetts, our school systems take two weeks off during the winter months, one in February and the other in April. My son wanted to go out and try ice fishing once and this was the perfect opportunity at getting him acclimated to the ice and fishing through a hole. He does very well in the summer months but never showed much interest for going out in the winter until now.

http://media4.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080219/001837.jpg

We decided to spend some time close to home so if he didn’t care for the ice fishing experience then we could get home fairly quickly. We went to the lake that I frequent quite regularly and had a good feeling that this lake would give him action to keep his interest peaked. After getting everything unloaded you could see the excitement in his face and also his step and as was pumped to get out and try this thing we call ice fishing.

http://media5.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080219/034241.jpg

We get out to the first spot and drill a couple of holes and then the explaining of equipment and things that he can touch and not touch especially when it comes to the auger blades. After getting the Vexilar going and explaining to him what he was seeing he actually seemed to understand that the green he was seeing was his bait and the red that was around it was the fish he was trying to catch.

http://media5.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080219/002627.jpg

I rigged him up with T.H.E. Jig as well as my lines and we proceeded to fish. The first location wasn’t showing any action and I decided to drill more holes a little ways away. As I finished drilling the holes I turned around and looked at David and he was fighting a fish that he had caught all on his own. The smile that he had on his face when that fish came out of the hole was priceless and one that I will be remembering for quite sometime.

http://media5.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080219/024239.jpg

Since now he was hooked on ice fishing he caught a few more from that hole and when the action slowed down he wanted me to drill more holes over there and that is what we did. He started getting the hang of setting the hook and also how to jiggle T.H.E. Jig to entice the fish into biting. The action started slowing some and so did his interest so he did like any other boy and ventured around a little on the ice.

http://media4.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080219/034249.jpg

Then the highlight of his day was to have a snack out there on the ice and this was a big moment for him as he thought he was so cool sitting there eating and fishing. We moved a few more times searching for some fish and as the afternoon wore on, so did the cold front that was coming through. The temps were dropping and the wind was picking up speed but he was a trooper and didn’t want to leave at all.

http://media5.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080219/024011.jpg

We were out there over 4 hours and he still wasn’t ready to go but the bite was getting none existent and you could see that his interest was waning. So he decided that it was time to go home and play in the backyard for a while, but he is definitely looking to shaping up to being his father’s son. He is hooked on ice fishing and wants to go again this weekend and I may now have a new buddy to take along with me fishing.

One thing that I have learned over the years is that you cannot push these kids into doing the things that we enjoy doing thinking they will as well. I want them to come to me and tell me that they want to go and try these things out so that way their interest is their doing and not me forcing them to do something that they don’t want to. I have found over the years that if you rush kids into these things they take a disliking to those activities and don’t want to do them at all as they grow older. I look forward to many more days on the ice with him and watch that excitement grow in him over the coming years.

Here is our video from the great day on the ice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxFueOshIn8

[Illinoisgiller]

Always neat to get out on the ice with a son in tow. :icon_cool::icon_cool:
He will carry the great memories of these trips for a lifetime.
Thanks so much for sharing the great pictures and story.:party0011::party0011::party0045::party0045:

[heath19]

i can remember the days when i was that little and went ice fishing with my dad. i was hooked from the first time i set foot on the ice and could never wait to get back on. i am told that i knew every fish in the mississippi river before i knew my abc's,lol. better watch out or that little guy is gonna be out fishing you before long:icon_biggrin:

[CrappieKeith]

What a day...Dad and Son together having fun.
WTG Kevin!

[Timotha7]

Thanks for sharing the pictures Kevin!

That is fishiing!

[highrider]

Thanks for sharing Kevin. Great pictures and a memory that will last forever!
Rich

[Fishaholic]

great pics, how old is your boy??
ganna take my oldest out when it gets a little warmer around here and gret some pics
he will be 4 in april, he loves to cast and reel,cast and reel. think he might be a bass fisherman...lol

[kevin]

He turned 6 last month and every year he gets more into things like this and enjoying all of them...:party0045:

[capt.kirk]

Jason,Let him cast an reel an cast all he wants,set him up a target to throw
at,He may suprise you after a while with how he catches on to it,Im
68 years older than dirt and i still practice casting.
You no that may be a really good contest at 1 of our get togethers????
set a gallon bucket out at say 25 yards give each entry 5 casts to
Qualify then keep moving it back till the last man/women is the Winner the
Casting Plug has to hit the Bucket for 5 points,in the bucket 10 points,
Saw this done at a sports show in Ky,Its amazing how good they are.
Down there the show furnished the equipment,so no one had there Favorite
Rod from home. :icon_eek: Kirk

[CrappieKeith]

ok ole long in da tooth.....LMAO
That's a great idea Capt.

I have to give Kevin credit as there are some Dad's that are not taking the time to do what your doing.
Showing him to fish is awesome and I feel a little giddy when I see him hauling in those fish with T.H.E. Jig!
If he can do it .........

[berkleyboy]

Love to see you taking the time to share the experience of ice fishing with your son. It takes some work and lots of patience to help the youngsters learn fishing, but the benefits are well worth the effort. Great report Kevin!!:party0045: