Thread: Crappie Training Day

There was just a few hours of light left in the day when I grabbed my hat and started out the door. Immediately I hear my little girl asking “Where are you going daddy?” “I’m going to the lake to look around a little bit, I won’t be long.” “Mom, I’m going with Dad!” She yelled out to her mother who was in the next room. So off we headed. Before long, the two of us we were idling away from the ramp and I am hearing “Go faster daddy, go fast!” So then the wind began to blow and as we made our way we were bouncing off the waves. Then suddenly there were giggles and smiles coming from her way.
The boat slowed as we reached our destination and then we just idled along. Even though she did not seem to understand, I took a moment to explain to her the sonar screen and what we were seeing. A small cove lie just ahead and soon the DI sonar would reveal to us what appeared to be a small clump of brush holding at least a few fish. Out goes the marker buoy.
“Catch one daddy, Catch one” she exclaimed. Low and behold on the first cast a Fish On! “Put it in the box” she insisted. I did as she commanded then suddenly the lid slammed shut then she sat on top of it saying “Were going to take it home and eat it”. “Not today” I said “It will be dark soon and I know someone who will need to be getting a bath and into the bed.” “Maybe another time but first we need to put some water into that live well or this fish will die.” As the livewell filled with water another fish or two came into the boat. “Put it in here daddy! Can I do it?” She asked. Taking the crappie by the lip she placed another keeper crappie in the livewell. “Can I play with the fish in there?” She asked. Certainly I said. As she proceeded to play in the livewell , I just focused on enticing another bite before the sun was completely gone.
“Well it’s about dark we need to go now. Can you put those fish back in the lake before we leave?” I asked. “I can’t get their lips” she replied. So I reached in and lipped the fish for her then handed them over. I bragged about how she put those fish back in the lake like a real pro. Like none I had ever seen. Her freckled face responded quickly to the approval with a big smile.
Arriving back at the homestead, she excitedly filled mom in with all the details of her outing with dad and how she had gotten to release the fish. Afterwards, it was bath time then off to bed.

Love it brings back some memories for me