Thread: Fishing with my son and his friend

I took two boys my 9 yr old son and his friend to horseshoe lake in Madison Co on 11/22/08. This was my second time on the lake. On the way to the lake we saw about 40 turkeys running around in a field. The boys were pretty excited.

Ok I was just as excited as the boys. Turkey are fun to watch.

Anyway we fished for about 2.5 hours. After undoing many tangles and re-tying I caught 3 fish all were about 10 inches. My plan was to find the hot spot and then just let the boys catch them while I keep the poles ready to fish. I never found the hot spot or should I say that someone else was on the hot spot. There are lots of bank fisherman on that lake this time of year. Everyone was catching some. But two guys on one brush pile were killing the crappie. One of the two would cast out and pop the jig once and let it sit for about 15 seconds. Bang crappie on. It was fun to watch but the crappie seemed to be stacked on that one brush pile and I was hoping to get the kids on something like that.

I was not too happy after about 1 hour of this guy pulling in one after another.... he must of had 50 in his bucket. I am sure he was over his limit. No one needs that many crappie and it sure isn't good for the health of the lake. Let someone else have the hot spot and come back another day is what I think he should have done. He didn't catch the fish that fast the hole 2.5 hours but he did pretty good. Probably over 100 fish total. I have seen this many times before at other lakes. I don't understand why people feel they need that many fish?

Well all that said we had a great time. I have learned over the years you don't always catch as much fish with young kids going along but in the end the kids have a good time and so do I. I have been trying to teach my son how to catch bass on a jig and pig for 3 yrs now, just a month ago I was standing with him and he had on a jig and pig when the line started toward the middle of the lake. I told him to real down and set it as hard as he can. Up jumps a 2.5 lb bass. My son caught the bass and his smile is one of the best things I have every enjoyed while fishing. My only regret is that I forgot the camera that day That is why fishing is so much fun.... You don't have to catch them to enjoy it. Watching others catch fish is just as good. Especially your own children!

One last tidbit.. I caught a 4 lb carp on a red/chartreuse jig. That was the first time I have ever caught a carp on a crappie jig. Pretty weird. I thought I had a hybrid on or a monster crappie. I was jigging in about 18' of water and my jig was 10 ' down.

The picture is my son holding two of the 10'' Crappie

sounds like your a great dad, keep up the good work, maybe next time you will be on the hot spot.
good luck on your next fishing trip.

That's a fine looking boy, you should be proud.