My wife and I were invited out for dinner to our friend’s house in Dwight. It just so happens their house is on a small lake that is full of nice smallmouth bass. After a great chicken meal, we were allowed to venture down to the lake to tie into some bass. I tried hard, but I was out-classed by, Rayleen, within minutes.
It was a great night to fly fish and I tried everything. The water was calm and the wind was non-existent. The only thing missing was surface activity from feeding bass. It didn’t stop Rayleen from casting out a frog to a particular section of the weedbeds and quietly lean on her dad’s leg.
I was in the middle of a fly change when Rayleen told her dad that she had a fish on. She was right. Her fishing rod was bending significantly as she and dad reeled in the fish. We were hoping for some aerials from the bass but it stayed completely sub-merged. It even got stuck under the dock for a minute.
Eventually, the bass came close enough to the dock for Kevin to grab it and help Rayleen pose for a photo. We estimate the bass the bass was in the 3lb + range. Not bad for a kid just over double it’s length.
After Kevin released the fish, I took my que to pack my fly rod up and retreat back to their house. I think I heard Rayleen as her dad at some point, “Why didn’t Bill catch a fish?”
She obviously has never fished with me before…
I’m a real competitive person by nature. However, I love to be outfished by a kid!
I always love to see kids being introduced to the outdoors. I remember fishing when I was a kid. Even if I only caught the smallest of fish, I was always so excited.
I say, Go Rayleen!