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I fished with a good friend 4/7/10 and 4/8/10 with my son at the Cowlitz River. I took a couple days off so my son could get his first Steelhead. 2 day total: 6 fish between my son and I.

Spring Break 2010. When I think of Spring Break, images of MTV or hot sunny beaches in Hawaii or kicking back with friends is what comes to mind. The weather we faced those 2 days weren't anthing near that. It was cold, it was windy, it rained, it hailed, it even snowed.

We arrived at the river a bit before sunrise to find another angler already on the river drift fishing. My son decided to sleep for a bit until the bite got hot. He's a teen now, so that's how they roll I guess. It couldn't have been 2 minutes fishing when I get into my first fish. I landed it, picked up my fish, run to the car and wake my son up showing him a freshly bonked Chromer. His puffy eyes quickly look like the fight or flight response and quickly dons his waders. I tag my fish and patiently wait for my son to join us in the drift line. He had a little bit of difficulty working a longer rod and mending his line. He's fished combat before so I had no worries when he said, "Hey dad, I think there's some fish further up." I glanced over to the area he pointed at and thought, "Yeah, there's probably a fish or two there." It looked a bit too fast for a Steelhead to lay, but if he worked his gear in that seam, he'll probably get one. "Go for it, please be careful", I said to him.

I ended up bonking another one and so did my friend. I was giving my son about 15 minutes and was already packing up our gear because the bite ceased and it was pretty fricken cold.

A father knows the different tones a child will make when they are in trouble, in pain, hungry, or bored. My son's excited voice is heard thru the howling cold wind, "Fish on Dad, I got one!!" At first I thought it was just another smolt or a foul hooked smolt because that's all he was catching while he was over there. The older guys he was fishing next to kinda look irritated because they had been fishing that same spot all morning and here this kid comes along, they shake their heads and reel in their lines to allow my son to play out his fish.

I was very impressed watching my boy let the fish take off, letting it have line. I had 10lb Flurocarbon tied for his leader and 12lb main, so he knew to let the fish tire in the current. His fish took off for several hot spurts up and down the river and even at him. Maintaining balance is key when fishing the Cowlitz and my son took his time walking back to the bank to land his first Steelhead!! He got 2 "handy's" from me the 2 days, but this fish was all him. He told me on the way home, "I just knew there was a fish in that hole dad, I just knew it." That's my boy...

Until next time....



I

Toni

4/9/2010 5:04:00 PM

Good job!!!

mav186

4/9/2010 5:06:00 PM

Wonderful story Jens....thanks.

deezy38

4/9/2010 5:31:00 PM

Sweet can't wait toll tomorrow. To get down there. Thamx for the report.

dylanE

4/9/2010 6:50:00 PM

hell yeah buddy thats awesome. now its your turn to hook me up saturday :) i need to actually feel a fish on my line along with my buddy.

fishaholictaz

4/9/2010 7:40:00 PM

awesome! I can't wait until I can get my boys to the cow. when they are older!

daniesea

4/9/2010 8:18:00 PM

Great report! Sounded like alot of fun and bonding! :)

Anonymous

4/9/2010 9:13:00 PM

nice jens way to get your kid on a beautiful fish man!! thats a nice chromer

BentRod

4/9/2010 9:21:00 PM

:)

salmonslayer117

4/9/2010 11:49:00 PM

Now that's what I'm talkin' about bro! Way to train 'em up. I'm tryin' to do that with my oldest (12) and he's interested, but I think he's still a ways out. Congrats to all! You got some nice ones too jens! Gotta get down there soon! My new license needs some mileage on it!

Nelly1

4/10/2010 1:49:00 AM

Nice job guys! Wow jens, you can really paint a picture with your stories!

kinghunter

4/12/2010 1:48:00 PM

Jens you left out the part where you were screaming - "loosen the drag", " don't pull too hard", " let the fish take your line", " walk backward", wow still Trenton was able to land that fish, good job.

jens

4/12/2010 2:44:00 PM

What are you talking about kinghunter? ... I noticed your smile has gotten a lot brighter since you have been using Oral- B or is it Johnson & Johnson? You make it sound like I leave my kids in the car all day while I fish or something? or carry them across raging rivers during the winter time...Who does that?

kinghunter

4/12/2010 2:51:00 PM

Now now, calm down Jens, or your true color will start coming out and you don't want people to see that here. What's with your defensive behavior? And how would you know what kind of toothbrush or even care? Man you got too much free time, maybe you need start another hobby, like GOLF!! Don't you miss it? I do.

jens

4/12/2010 3:03:00 PM

The only color I see is that you are green with envy. Probably drove you crazy having Trent fishing right next to you and he hooks up while you were drifting all morning. Muah!! The only shock was not seeing you cast over his line. He even said you could re- hook his fish so you could play with it if you wanted before he bonked it, I guess you didn't hear him. Oh well, you'll catch a fish one of these days. Keep at it bud.

kinghunter

4/12/2010 4:09:00 PM

Hahaha, thats funny Jens, I didn't know he landed that fish on that day, if my memory serves me right, oh yeah he lost that fish before I could help net it. But I wasn't jealous with envy like you think, but more proud that he had the patience to stick it out as long as he did. Wow Jens, please get off that high mighty horse of yours. Just because you catch more doesn't make you a better person but more of a jerk, see how your turning out man-grow up. Stop screaming at your kid, let him fish.

jens

4/12/2010 4:36:00 PM

The only person I recall screaming is that Gamie at you when you were casting past the boundary line.

kinghunter

4/12/2010 5:58:00 PM

haha, thats a good one Jens since you weren't even near the dam. Now your making up crap as you go. Damn I forgot all about that damn ticket and you had bring it up again. Your mean man.

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