It was a hot weekend in this part of the country, hot enough to spend a day on the river, a lazy day if you will. We decided to allow for everything. We brought the boat, suits, poles and even the grill. A better day could not have been planned. The family decided to start the day out with a ride up river to the dam and we would journey back down during the course of our day. It was beautiful, the river was high enough that we didn't see the rocks that fill the river, making it treacherous for anyone with a boat that sits more than a foot in the water. Not a problem for us though we only need a 2 inches of water once we are planed out! (Insert super big smile) Sure do love being on the air boat, and I know the kids do too! We flew up river chasing an Eagle a head of us. It was majestic soaring above the trees, like it was our escort. Freedom, heart and soul Freedom. I can't explain it any better than that.
We get up to the Chippewa Dam and there is people on the banks everywhere, it was WI Free Fishing Day. Everybody was trying for a fish without having to buy a licence, a big day in the state. We dropped anchor just before the rapids, and proceeded to set up poles for kids. My honey got little 5 year old Emma's out first, gave her instructions and proceeds on with his own pole. I had set up my boys and was working on my own when Em says "my pole is wiggling".
"No, its fine honey" I reply thinking the current is playing tricks on her.
A little while later she says "Mom, my pole is really wiggling!"
"It's fine honey", I say as I set the weights on my line.
Next thing I know she's squealing, her pole's drag is screaming as the line is being pulled out and a bass is jumping out of the water trying to spit out the hook!
"REEL IT IN!" My husband and I yell, both of us dropping our gear to assist her. She got a little scared when she seen the fish and wanted to throw the pole into the river, she wanted no part of the fish on the end of her line, I could see it in her face. My honey took the pole, and we continued to talk her into it. "Em, you can do this, it'll be the biggest you ever caught, maybe the biggest of all the kids". Everyone now nodding and coaxing her back to taking the pink Barbie pole.
With a reluctant pole handling girl, we continued to talk her though it. "Reel, pull up, down and reel, hold, bring it up, play it out, down and reel..." The whole time that Barbie pole is a screaming for mercy, the fish is trying to jump and spit it. She did great, she played him out like a Pro! My honey picked the fish out of the river to show Emily, poor girl backed right up to the edge of the boat. We all congratulated her as my honey measured it. 14 1/4 inch long. We talked her into taking a pic if Daddy held it for her. That's my girl, anything for a picture!
Not a bad start to the day if I do say so myself, the rest of the day was pleasant. Two more bass made it in the boat, not too bad. :)
We get up to the Chippewa Dam and there is people on the banks everywhere, it was WI Free Fishing Day. Everybody was trying for a fish without having to buy a licence, a big day in the state. We dropped anchor just before the rapids, and proceeded to set up poles for kids. My honey got little 5 year old Emma's out first, gave her instructions and proceeds on with his own pole. I had set up my boys and was working on my own when Em says "my pole is wiggling".
"No, its fine honey" I reply thinking the current is playing tricks on her.
A little while later she says "Mom, my pole is really wiggling!"
"It's fine honey", I say as I set the weights on my line.
Next thing I know she's squealing, her pole's drag is screaming as the line is being pulled out and a bass is jumping out of the water trying to spit out the hook!
"REEL IT IN!" My husband and I yell, both of us dropping our gear to assist her. She got a little scared when she seen the fish and wanted to throw the pole into the river, she wanted no part of the fish on the end of her line, I could see it in her face. My honey took the pole, and we continued to talk her into it. "Em, you can do this, it'll be the biggest you ever caught, maybe the biggest of all the kids". Everyone now nodding and coaxing her back to taking the pink Barbie pole.
With a reluctant pole handling girl, we continued to talk her though it. "Reel, pull up, down and reel, hold, bring it up, play it out, down and reel..." The whole time that Barbie pole is a screaming for mercy, the fish is trying to jump and spit it. She did great, she played him out like a Pro! My honey picked the fish out of the river to show Emily, poor girl backed right up to the edge of the boat. We all congratulated her as my honey measured it. 14 1/4 inch long. We talked her into taking a pic if Daddy held it for her. That's my girl, anything for a picture!
Sorry I couldn't figure out how to rotate the pic.
Not a bad fish at all!
