Helping Feed His New Passion

[Smalliebigs]

Let me start by saying I have 42 Nieces and Newphews and it seems not many are in to fishing at this point but, most of them are pretty young still so there is still plenty of time for that to become part of their lives. I do have one Nephew Mason who seems to be already hoplessly addicted to river fishing and all the creatures that go with it. Mason is eight and his parents as a lot are in this day and age very busy with two full time jobs. His dad used to be into fishing but, he is the type of guy that goes thru fads with activities....taking on one at a time until he feels he has mastered it and then on to the next. I used to fish with him quite a bit before he and my sister had kids and now he hasn't picked up a rod in over ten years and really seems to have no interest in taking Mason, they are very wrapped up in Mason's select Hockey year round. Mason goes as far as calling me to take him and I love it but, as an over zealous uncle I seem to push him a bit and just have to let things happen as they may.

Mason can already handle my Coosas very well and I took it for granted how tough it can be to manage a solo vessle, a paddle, your fishing rod and the current. I took him out on a float to try to get him his first smallies a couple of weeks back and Mason flipped the yak as he got hung up on a log in deep current. It was pretty traumatic for him as it is for most when you flip, he lost his rod and his special little tackle box, the whole incident really scared him a bit. I should have known better than to try to have him paddle a solo yak or canoe and try to fish and navigate the river, it was a bit much and my sis was a bit pissed at me. To Mason's credit the moment he was back in town from a two week hockey tour in the upper midwest he was begging me to take him fishing again....man I love this kid

This time I figured we should try a wade trip so after performing my weekly slave labor for my dad we set out for a Big river trib my dad has just bought 63 acres on. We started up stream and man I'll tell you what I learned a few things that day. A second cold front had just passed thru the evening before and it was pretty windy and cool.....stupid uncle insisted on throwing my bigger topwater baits and only caught one decent 16 inch smallie. I think I should have scaled back the approach as Mason caught 5 Smallmouth, 3 nice Green Sunfish and 7 Goggle Eye. He was just in hog heaven and couldn't wipe the grin off his face. I just sat back and observed the little pro just tearing them up, we only fished for two hours and I think it was the most fun I have had fishing in a long time. I was really proud of him, he does need to work on lipping the fish as he couldn't quite hold on to the biggest smallie he caught which was 15 inches and it just tore right out of his fingers and back into the creek before I could get a pic for him. Old uncle was taught a lesson that day, scale back my lure selection a bit if these big fronts come thru. Mason was throwing a Yamamoto Tiny Ika in Grn/Pumkin Purple flash on a 1/16 ounce Roadrunner head with a blade....Mr. Krueger if your out there??? Thanks.

the fall rate was just right with this bait and the fish were eating the heck out of it.

Mason's first Goggle eye ever

he caught some Green sunnies on that bait as well

and the proud man with one his smallies...... I tell you what, I truly love watching a kid catch some fish......fun....fun....fun

He is already calling me to go next weekend.......He's hooked......It was my best trip of the year.

[On The Fly 6]

Awesome post. I have a niece who I'm gonna try to get into fishing until my son is old enough. The best Part about being an Uncle is, You get to give them back

[Mitch f]

Great post Scott! All you are doing is developing a future fishing partner to take you out when you get old! Smart

[Quillback]

Great to see the youngster getting into some fish!

That Yammie/Road Runner combo looks like a killer combo, I'm thinking that might fool a bass or two on Table Rock.

[cnr]

Nicely done. Ya gotta be nice to the young uns. He will be the one taking you fishing someday!

[moguy1973]

42 nieces and nephews? How many sisters and brothers (and in-laws) do you have? I bet that makes for a hectic Christmas!

[Old plug]

Our family is kind if splintered. My nephews are ll approaching are all in there 50s and i rarely see or here from them anymore. I have two grand daughters. If they will ever fish i have no idea because they or young yet. It sounds to me like your nephew will be going to college on that hockey playing. I have to grand nieces went to college on softball scholarships. It is a good thing. The big thing is you are forming a relationship with him that may last a lifetime.

[Smalliebigs]

LOL!!! I am still playing the name game at family functions Jim after 20 plus years of being with my wife ....I have a half brother and a sister, that cover 7 of them and my wife has 7 brothers and sisters, they cover the other 35....it's nuts!!!!!

42 nieces and nephews? How many sisters and brothers (and in-laws) do you have? I bet that makes for a hectic Christmas!

Awesome post. I have a niece who I'm gonna try to get into fishing until my son is old enough. The best Part about being an Uncle is, You get to give them back

You are sooo correct my friend....play with them hard and send them back to mom and dad and then uncle needs sleep.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Nice report SB. Way to help a youngster out, get him out of the waste-land that organized youth sports have become these days, and broaden his horizons with something much more meaningful and let him chase his true passion.

I got you beat with 44 nieces and nephews.

[Terrierman]

Nice work.