Decided to venture down to Alder as the wind was too gusty to take the boat out. Have a good spot where we consistantly catch panfish so took my daughter to go see if the crappie were in. The weather was worsening with the approaching low so chose a spot that had the wind blowing into the bank. Fished short line on ultralight gear tossing casting bobbers with a long leader to suspend a worm about two feet off the submerged grass. This was my daughters first time fishing for crappie (as well as one of her first times fishing). Got her rigged up and she started casting. I moved down the shore and worked an inlet where a stream comes into the lake. Quickly hooked and lost a nice smallmouth. Soon my daughter had figured out how to slowly work the bobber in and was into fish. Within the hour she landed 4 good crappie, a perch and a medium sized smallmouth. I managed to work the inlet between helping her land fish.... managed to coax the same fish I lost to hit again and landed a nice 3 lbs smallie. She had a blast. Soon the rain came in but not before my daughter asked to fish 'for just 5 more minutes'............. that is music to a dad's ears.

mav186

5/19/2009 4:02:00 PM

Doesn't get any better than that!

willial13

5/19/2009 9:27:00 PM

Super report. Some advice that I think you probably don't need. Keep the trips short enough to get that request regularly, and you'll have a fishin' partner. I didn't, and my adult son doesn't fish at all now. Too many long steelhead and salmon trips with infrequent action, and poor weather. I was a poor fishing mentor, sounds like you are an excellent one.
Larry

Jake Dogfish

5/20/2009 8:03:00 PM

Thats a great tip willia13. I have had the same problem getting friends hooked on fishing, and i realized now to keep it short and sweet... Seems to be working better.

rubioloco

5/21/2009 8:22:00 PM

Thanks for the comments. Will add that I have fished and hunted with all three of my daughters over the years. My oldest love to go but I try to go when the weather or conditions are right for action. Your comments on keeping it short are spot-on and will add that you need to fish WITH them not take them along while you fish. Frustration of missed bites, tangled lines and bad casts will sour them quickly. Put down your gear and stand by them as they learn. It will go a long ways. Also make the fishing just a part of the experience. Mainly with girls who like the birds and flowers and frogs..... be sure to share that stuff with them too. Make it fun and they will be back!!! Good fishing to all of you!!!

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