Wish I Was Still There

[redbird]

Arrived at RR on Sat around 3pm, and the weather was great. Set up camp and fiddled around with gear then went and bought my boys tags and not myself, just so I could help them until the horn blew , we only had about an hour and a half left by that time anyway. My 10 year old lost a couple and caught one in the fly only area on a jig as this transpired I was helping my 13 year old learn to Fly cast and he caught a minnow on a #16 adams. He was thrilled, and I was thrilled with his casting.

Sunday the weather was not as nice but before we left for Church I had caught 5 or 6 on glow balls, we didnt keep any fish the whole trip. The boys slept in and let Dad fish by himself in the morning. At lunch the rain moved in with a couple showers (good time for a nap) When the rain stopped I was in such a hurry to get fishing I ripped a hip wader getting it on (they were about 6 years old) but still had good coverage up to my knees so I went fishing with the younger of the two, and we caught about 4 or 5 more on jigs and glowballs. We quit before the horn and went into Cassville and everyone got a pair of waders (cept mom, she wasnt interested.) Started raining again and man it didnt stop all night. I would awake to thunder and heavy rain on the camper and just wonder what the river was going to look like in the morning (visions of Chocolate milk in my head)

I slept past the horn because it was still raining, but looked out at 8:30 and it was looking suprisingly good, up a little, but still very clear. The oldest son and I were on the water in 30 min and I was mostly helping him cast. It was cool in the 40s so there were no bugs. We were throwing glowballs again and his casting was still good, getting him to set the hook on them was tougher but he did land one, and he missed probably 5. (Im not starting him off with a bobber) I had 4 or 5 before lunch. It was kind of misty all day and after lunch the three of us fished together the high point of the trip to this point was my oldest 20 yards upstream with a fish on and my youngest 10 yards down stream with a fish on, and me in the middle trying to figure out who to help first! Now I know why my Dad kept taking me fishing even when I was a teenager. Good times, I caught a few more, but only really counted what they caught, I wasnt even paying attention to my fishing just watching them. I was chilled to the bone and not relishing the idea of cooking outside again was thrilled when Mom suggested we head to town and eat some Mexican food. (Glad we werent tent camping)

Tuesday morning was just my older son and I fishing again and for a kid who has said no thanks to my fishing invites 90% of the time in the last 3 years he spent almost 4 hours fishing with me and was getting pretty good at hooking up on the glowball, he caught 4 and I think I had the same, I was just so jazzed at how good he was doing. His focus was awesome! We got out after lunch just he and I and the weather was getting awesome. Some bugs were coming off, but the fish didnt seem to be looking up just yet. I changed from a glow bug to a soft hackle. I wanted to catch a fish on something that at least looked a bit like a bug. I started swinging the soft hackle across a riffle and bam! Trout on. Next cast a nice one around 14 inches. Next cast the same. My son was still using his glowbug upstream from me so I got his attention and motioned him over. We didnt have long before we had to leave so I handed him my pole and told him what to do while I took his outfit apart. He got at least 4 more and missed a couple to boot. What a time! We had to go though. As they say always leave them wanting more. Sorry no pics this time.

[laker67]

That was a great report. Keep those boys fishing. It sounds as if they are doing well and have a great coach.

[redbird]

That was a great report. Keep those boys fishing. It sounds as if they are doing well and have a great coach.

Thanks Laker

[mic]

What an awesome trip. These are the times one remembers. Thanks for the report and the smile.

[Capt. Hook]

My son is only three so I know I will have to wait awhile, but your story made me a bit jealous.

[redbird]

Dont be too jealous. Enjoy what you have while you have it. When my oldest was 3 he said we were "bubbies", because he couldnt say buddies. Now he is nearing 14, and the cuteness factor is all but gone. But watching him learn to fish like a man (or overgrown kid) is a new reward.

[Buzz]

Great report Redbird. I taught all 3 of my sons to fly fish at Roaring River and we still take a trip together now and then. Somethings you never forget.

[mhall02]

That is where I leaned to trout fish with my Dad at around 8, and later self-taught myself on flyrod. Great memories I had with Dad, I miss him terribly at times.

[Buzz]

Roaring River is a magical place.

[redbird]

That is where I leaned to trout fish with my Dad at around 8, and later self-taught myself on flyrod. Great memories I had with Dad, I miss him terribly at times.

I miss my Dad too. He is the one that gave my brother and I a great love of the outdoors and especially fishing. Sharing a river with my boys, I feel closer to him,in a different way,than I ever have. I hope when I get where Im going he and I can throw topwater plugs again, Im sure he has found all the best spots by now!

You are right Buzz, you can almost feel the memories in the water there.