Bass on a Spiderman rod!

For as long as I can remember, I have always had a passion for fishing.  This passion was instilled in me by my Dad who got me involved in the sport at a very early age.  I was lucky to have a small pond located on the family farm.  I can only imagine the number of times that I cast a line across that pond. Millions of memories fill my head of those days.  Let me see if I can paint a picture with words of just a few of them.

The sun peeked over the horizon and transformed my bedroom walls from baby blue to bright orange.  The chirping of the robins in the yard signaled that the days were getting longer and warmer.  One deep breath of the spring morning air and I was up and at 'em.  The one thing on my mind was getting Dad's shovel and finding a few worms to dangle in the small pond that sat within view of my bedroom window.  When I think of fishing, I often think of those mornings of spring fishing fever.

Dad always found time to take me on an adventure to the family pond.  In my younger days, Dad and I would grab the cane poles and dig a few worms from the pasture behind the house.   Then we would set off for an hour or two of fishing.  The trek to the pond was an adventure in itself.  A long winding trail sliced through a thick forest of oaks and pines.  One day that is etched into my memory is a day in which I persuaded Dad to let me ride on his shoulders.  We headed down the path humming a tune that Dad made up and singing a song from the "Wizard of Oz"..Lions, Tigers, and Bears 'Oh My'.  Well, lets just say at about the time my Dad said "Bears", a snake decided to show his head on the trail.  I think my Dad hit mach two and lost his shoes.  I'm not sure how I stayed on his shoulders.  I never cross that spot on the trail without thinking of that day.

My fishing memories of that pond are endless.  These memories include the early years of chasing tadpoles and minnows to more recently watching my son catch his first fish.  I used to pretend to be Hank Parker.  I would set up a scenario which put me a fish down with only a few minutes remaining in the Bassmasters Classic.  I seemed to always find a way to catch that fish.  Whether it took me a few hours or not.  As I got older, I would always try out new baits in the pond.  I can remember catching two bass with one cast on a new rattletrap.  I was amazed.  I learned to throw a baitcaster, tie different knots, site fish, fish topwater baits, fish the carolina rig, and on and on and on.

As I look back on those memories, I understand now the impact that being outside and with my Dad had in my life.  Now that I'm a Dad, I try to strive to teach my son those same things.  Take a kid fishing because maybe that one memory will turn into a million.

Below is a video of my son catching a bass out of the pond I grew up fishing.  Do you have a favorite spot that fills your head with memories? 

This is a video of a few bass we caught several weeks ago at a pond in Chester.  I'll provide a little breifing on the day but I'll keep it short and let the video speak for itself.  A few friends and I decided to give the kayaks another try at this pond a few weeks ago.  If you read my blog Kayaking for Lunkers you know that we landed a few big bass out of this pond back in March.  Back in March the fishing was slow but the fish were big.  On this day the fishing had picked up but most of the fish that we caught were what I like to refer as crumb-snatchers.  We did manage to pull in a nice three pounder though.  Check out the video!  It was a beautiful morning and I was glad I got to spend it fishing with great friends.  Hope you enjoy.