Taking Kids Fishing?
One of my fondest memories is how my grandfather enjoyed taking me with him to fish. He was patient and took the time to teach me the fundementals. He also insisted that if I were to go fishing with him, then that was what I would be doing, not running around and playing. He had a lot of love for me but also had respect for fellow fishermen.
Yesterday I spent the afternoon on Lake Eufaula in eastern Oklahoma crappie fishing. I drove over one hundred miles, wagged all my gear down the side of a rocky hill to get to this prime crappie area, and went to fishing.
An older gentleman was already there and three folks were in a boat anchored a little ways from shore. All of us were catching crappie and having the time of our lives.
Then it all ended.
Here came a couple of "bubbas" tramping down the hill, carrying their fishing poles, beer, lawn chairs with three little red-headed freckle-faced boys right behind them. Yelling and carrying on like the hill-billies they were, the fishing adventure soon turned sour for us that were already there.
These little boys were into everything and all over the place. Bubba would hollar "Now boys, leave those nice gentlemen alone!"
Little boys must have been deaf.
Digging in our tackleboxes, throwing rocks into the water, scampering around hooting and hollaring, and prodding our fish basket with a stick occasionally.
Now, don't ask me why I didn't say anything. I've been all through this before on different occasions. You can't say anything with these type of people, not if you don't want a cuss fight or worse started.
They're rednecks, illiterate, stupid and disrespectful. I always carry my handgun and will never say anything to anyone. If someone wants to whip my old crusty butt as I'm walking away, I would use the gun to change their mind. I'm too old for this crap anymore.
The older gentleman with me left shortly after the folks in the boat had had enough. I decided that I would just go too. Not worth it.
Bad thing about it, the small lake I have been fishing in locally (an excellent crappie lake) has been really slow and they haven't been biting. Lake Eufaula is where all the action is and I made a two hundred mile round trip to catch my first mess of crappie this year. It was spoiled by ignorant people that have no respect for anyone.
So, the moral of the story;
Take your kids fishing, boys or girls. They'll enjoy it and always remember you for the time you invest in them. But don't take them if they're going to interfere with others. Leave the little farts at home, especially if you're planning on fishing and not devoting all your time to them.
AMERICANS: Willing to cross a frozen river to kill you, in your sleep, on Christmas, totally not kidding, we've done it.