NICE DAY FOR A 9-YEAR-OLD

It's always fun to experience good times in the great outdoors no matter the age of the participant.  However, it might be even more special to a youngster, or anyone for that matter, to enjoy a successful adventure outdoors for the very first time.  Such was the case for a buddy of mine's young son on a father and son outing made for the memory books.

Garrett Athon, 9, and his Dad, Craig, hit the turkey woods early with high hopes of bagging Garrett's first turkey.  He was excited, albeit admittedly a little sleepy, at the prospect as they crawled into their "tent" as Garrett described their pop-up blind.  Birds gobbled and both father and son were optimistic. 

As it got light a jake came into near-shotgun range but wouldn't hold still long enough for Garrett to get a clean shot.  They patiently waited and another came streaking past and towards the decoys offering a nice shot for a beginning turkey hunter.  Garrett described what happened after the shot..."That thing was flopping all over the place!" 

With his first turkey under his belt and still plenty of a beautiful day left they loaded up into Craig's Ranger boat and headed to the reservoir.  Craig had done well with a few limits of walleye in recent weeks and hoped to get into some more good fishing. 

It wasn't long and Garrett's rod bent double and initially his Dad thought he was snagged.  But when the drag started screaming it was apparent there was a big fish digging for the deep.  After a 20 minute battle Garrett finally had a giant flathead flopping beside the boat when Craig scooped it up with the net.  Garrett left little doubt as to it's size and his Dad said anglers, campers and even people on the highway could likely hear the audibly loud, animated description of what he'd just caught.  Rightfully so, as the big flathead later tipped the scales at 27 pounds.  

Both father and son will remember that day forever.  And there's a good chance many more memories just like it will be made in the future.