A GREAT TIME ON THE WATER

It was the middle of August before my son Reese (4) and I really had the chance to take the boat out together fishing. Most of our summer weekends were spent at Grandpa and Grandma’s lake home and although we had fished off the dock plenty, we were finally able to get out in the boat in our home state of North Dakota.

Reese typically doesn’t just jump into new adventures, as most of his actions often times seem calculated.  So, even though he liked the idea of going fishing and enthusiastically said yes when I asked him, the moment of truth was met with uncertainty.  All buckled up and on our way out of the driveway, Reese became a little frantic, and all of a sudden didn’t want to go fishing.  I am not one for making kids do what they don’t want to, but I do believe that sometimes kids need a little push to get them out of their comfort zone.  So, after a little coercing and a quick mention of all of the snacks I had for him for in the boat, he was once again on board for our little adventure.  I can’t stress enough the importance of snacks!  It is a little bit of a reward for being courageous, but even more so for the simple fact that, I don’t think kids ever get full!

After a quick forty-five minute drive, of which Reese spent napping, we were at the lake and unloading the boat.  I always like to give Reese a job such as holding the rope or carrying the cooler.  Even though it may be something really simple, I believe it instills a sense of pride that he is able to help out.  It wasn’t long, and we were fishing!  The first spot we tried was really slow, but it didn’t matter.  Reese had his snacks and I was enjoying every minute of conversing with him and really getting to see the inside of a four-year-old’s mind.  That being said, Reese wanted to catch fish.  So, we headed on over to the other side of the lake.  It was a small lake, so it didn’t take more than a few minutes.

Once we arrived at the north end, we dropped our lines and within minutes, bobbers were dropping!  At first we were just catching some small perch, but Reese didn’t mind.  He was having fun watching.  Yes, watching.  He didn’t want to fish, he just wanted to watch me, more than likely so that he could keep eating snacks.  After weeding through a few small perch, my bobber went done again.  I set the hook to immediately see the arc in my ultra light panfish rod.  Just as I was reaching for the massive sunfish devouring my jig head, it fell off and plopped right back into the water!  Reese and I both let out a loud, ahh!  It was alright though, Reese emphatically ensured me that we were going to catch many more.  He was right!  One after another we pulled them in, and with each catch, Reese’s excitement grew.  I was the happiest dad in the world.  Not because we were catching fish, but because of the excitement that I was witnessing in my little outdoors man.  What made it even more exciting was that these sunfish were some of the biggest sunfish I had ever caught in my 34 years of existence.  Big enough to the point where I mentioned mounting a couple.  Reese was all in for that!  He is a big fan of the deer that I have on the wall at home and jumped at the chance to have a couple fish right beside them.Watch Full Movie Online Streaming Online and Download

Even with the success we were having a four year old can only spend so much time away from his mom.  With the snacks almost expired, it was time to go home.  We had a great day on the water and Reese was already requesting to do it again soon.  Reese was so excited to show his mom and sister Brinley (1) all of the fish we caught.  I was especially excited to see the reaction my wife (Greta) had when Reese told her we were going to mount a couple.  She met him with a swift approval and thought it was a great way to remember our outing.  I couldn’t agree more, and the joy I received on this day is one that I won’t soon forget.War for the Planet of the Apes movie trailer