…and The Development of a Bass Fisherman
Check it, the second backlash we couldn’t get out this summer, courtesy of my 9-year-old son. This summer was his first time fishing only a baitcaster, did pretty darn well with it.
That pic was taken Monday evening, the day before the kids went back to school here in NJ, meaning the official last day of summer. And yes, we went a-fishin’.
This summer was a big one for my boy. He graduated from almost all spinning to baitcasting only, and he wanted no more of catching bluegill, perch or any other small fish…mostly. It’s all about big(ger) fish now, and to him that means bass. Even the usually helpful chain pickerel aren’t as cool to him as a 1.5-pound bass – which he now calls small.
I’m sure some of you reading this have gone through this already with your kids, but this is my first time – and I have to say it’s surprising…I guess like everything new with kids is a surprise.
What I mean is, I’ve taken him fishing for everything that swims. Never focused on one species more than another, though he of course knows I’m a bass-head. (Think he still believes I’m a great fisherman, but that should disappear at some point!)
Check that focus...and yes, that's a Bacon Rind in a cucumberish color.
Meaning he chose to focus on bass. One day in Maine he fished all day for just one good bass bite, refusing to chuck in the towel to fish for white perch or yellow perch. All day! And no complaints.
Was pretty proud of him because he’d never seen me do that. He just wants big bass and that’s it.
Which brings to mind a riddle to which you all know the answer: What does it take to make someone a bassin’ angler?
One nice bass.
Someone sees one good fish, feels it on the end of the line, it’s all over.
Which is why my daughter now is bent on learning how to use a casting rod so she “can fish for bass.”
Don’t know if this bassin’ thing is a genetic defect or what, but it’s pretty cool!
One more thing: My son also has a few bait preferences now, all are soft-plastics: hula grubs, worms and a Top Secret bait we were asked to test, all in pumpkinseed, cucumber (this color works!) and purple.
I assume those preferences will change/be added on to this fall or next spring, but it’s interesting to see how bait preferences form from a blank slate.
6 Comments
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Bill M
September 7, 2011 at 4:19 pm
My boy is 27 now… wait till your kid casts a 20+’ Deep Diving crankbait all day and reeling ’em in. I tried to keep up, but my shoulders separated from my body after 1/2 hour.
He’s a Machine!
admin (mostly Jay)
September 7, 2011 at 5:03 pm
Cool story Bill! Does he beat you in tourneys every time?
Rich Arnold
September 8, 2011 at 12:21 pm
The good Ol Bacon Rind by Gambler! Whatever you do, don’t use that bait in Chartreuse with a Carolina rig while fishing the ledges on Lake Eufaula, AL!!! You could get your arms ripped off!! My 13 year old son fished his first tourney in July with me on G’ville and did well. He still uses the spincaster. I have tried to goad him into the baitcaster, but when he can keep up with me catching them crankin, I can’t win that arguement. Time to take him flippin the grass matts!!
Alex Voog
September 8, 2011 at 2:09 pm
If you think he’s hooked now get him a SPRO or Tru-Tungsten frog, and let him see the water under the duckweed hump up a half second before a 3 or 4 pounder flushes the toilet on it. GONE. He will be GONE! I believe your wife will be saying: “Jay, you’ve RUINED him!”…… I swear, my adrenaline level just jumped typing this!
admin (mostly Jay)
September 8, 2011 at 2:32 pm
2 things: 1. Got a Spro froggy tied on one rod right now. 2. Wife has said that to me about him and just about everything else…
Darin
September 9, 2011 at 7:53 am
The Spro was what got me hooked!!!