SARAH'S FIRST FISH

It's not uncommon for friends of my kids to show an interest in the outdoors.  Many of them have never hunted, fished or trapped.  I've never turned down one of their requests to tag along and several of them have grown to love the outdoors.

My daughter's friend, Sarah, just graduated from high school.  She's been a regular around our house for the last year or so.  She accompanied Ashley and I on several trapping expeditions last winter and enjoyed it as we caught beavers and raccoons. 

One day earlier this summer Sarah made the comment she'd never caught a fish.  I couldn't believe it and told her we'd make sure she could check that off her list of "Things To Do Before I Go Off To College."  She was excited at the prospects.

Sarah actually caught her first fish without my help.  She'd accompanied some of her friends to a pond one evening where they caught "perch."  I told her they were likely green sunfish and only inches long shouldn't count as her first "real" fish. 

It was hard to schedule an early morning trip as both Ashley and Sarah worked summer jobs during the week and weekends were busy.  We loaded up the boat and headed to the lake one evening hoping to tangle with some big channel catfish.  It was 103 degrees when we launched at 5:30 p.m. so the evening was far from pleasant. 

Unfortunately, we fished until about 9:30 p.m. and while others in the boat caught only a few fish Sarah never had a bite.  I told her we'd do better in a couple weeks when she went camping with us.

Our wake-up call was at 5:30 a.m. but Sarah said she was up at 4:30 a.m. and wide awake.  I teased her that she was too "exthited to thleeeep" like that little kid on the commercial going to Disney World.  We loaded the boat with gear and were off as it got light.

It didn't take Sarah long to catch her first "real" fish.  She set the hook and the pole didn't budge and I knew she had a nice channel cat on the other end.  With a little coaching she had the nearly 5-pound fish flopping at the surface in no time.  She was excited and her smile said it all as she posed for photos.

Sarah's luck was good that morning and she caught another half-dozen just like it.  Our boat ended up with 20 keepers in just a few hours so it was indeed a productive trip. 

We weren't even back to the ramp when Sarah asked if I'd text her those photos so she could send them along to friends and family.  She couldn't wait to download them to her Facebook page.   

Sarah will remember that fishing trip for a long time.  I will as well.  It's always nice to see someone discover the joy of the outdoors and I was glad to be a part of it.