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I took Henrique Warren fishing today. Henrique is 5, and is - for all practical purposes - my own grandson. I have known him since he was born and have been the principal male figure in his life from his first day. I spend as much time with him as I can, and his love for me is one of the greatest pleasures of my life.
Last October, for his 5th birthday, I gave him a small lightweight spinning rod. I think I got it at Academy for like twenty bucks, and honestly expected it to not last more than a month or so. We went fishing a few times with it, but he never caught anything all by himself. We fish mostly from shore in some bushy areas, and I spend most of the time retrieving his line from the bush. What we have caught, I either cast or landed for him. Never anything all on his own.
Henrique came over this morning and said "Uncle Walker, let's go fishing". Today is very windy, and the water is way to rough to think about going out in our little 11-foot whaler. Nancy (my wife) suggested that I just wade out to the Whaler carrying Henrique and let him fish from the boat while anchored in the front yard.
That sounded like a really good idea. We went to get his fishing rod. As we were walking back to the house, I told him how proud I was of him for taking such good care of the fishing rod. He said "Uncle Walker, my fishing rod is special. It came from you".
When we got to the house, I put Henrique on my shoulders, grabbed my cup of rum, and out to the Whaler we went. I put him up in the bow and let him cast away while sat in the back and enjoyed watching him - expecting only to be untangling his line from the anchor line.
He made about 5 casts and hooked up - not with the anchor line, but with a real fish - A small palometa (member of the pompano family). I sat there and coached him in. He wanted me to take the rod but i talked him through the fight. With 2 pound line, this was serious - palometa are strong fish.
He got the fish to the boat and I reached out and got it into the boat. He could not have been prouder - or me.
And yes - we cleaned, cooked, and ate the fish.
I don't care what size - a boy's first fish is a keeper.
Here is my boy with his fish.
Last October, for his 5th birthday, I gave him a small lightweight spinning rod. I think I got it at Academy for like twenty bucks, and honestly expected it to not last more than a month or so. We went fishing a few times with it, but he never caught anything all by himself. We fish mostly from shore in some bushy areas, and I spend most of the time retrieving his line from the bush. What we have caught, I either cast or landed for him. Never anything all on his own.
Henrique came over this morning and said "Uncle Walker, let's go fishing". Today is very windy, and the water is way to rough to think about going out in our little 11-foot whaler. Nancy (my wife) suggested that I just wade out to the Whaler carrying Henrique and let him fish from the boat while anchored in the front yard.
That sounded like a really good idea. We went to get his fishing rod. As we were walking back to the house, I told him how proud I was of him for taking such good care of the fishing rod. He said "Uncle Walker, my fishing rod is special. It came from you".
When we got to the house, I put Henrique on my shoulders, grabbed my cup of rum, and out to the Whaler we went. I put him up in the bow and let him cast away while sat in the back and enjoyed watching him - expecting only to be untangling his line from the anchor line.
He made about 5 casts and hooked up - not with the anchor line, but with a real fish - A small palometa (member of the pompano family). I sat there and coached him in. He wanted me to take the rod but i talked him through the fight. With 2 pound line, this was serious - palometa are strong fish.
He got the fish to the boat and I reached out and got it into the boat. He could not have been prouder - or me.
And yes - we cleaned, cooked, and ate the fish.
I don't care what size - a boy's first fish is a keeper.
Here is my boy with his fish.
Popper in the evening 
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