Barbie rod catches the first fish.... again

[Wizfisher]

Took my 3 year old out for a couple hours today in an attempt to get her first fish. She had been fishing a couple of times but up until today had only caught a small turtle while we were in Fort Wilderness in Disney.

Re spooled her little Barbie rod that was handed down to her from her older sister. Her older sister caught her first fish on the same rod about 7 years ago. Put on some lo-vis 12 pound test and tied on a small hook. Don't know what size it is.

Loaded up the truck with her Barbie rod, a few hooks and some bobbers, a container of worms, a hot dog, a small folding chair, some drinks, a bag of peanuts, and the camera. Strapped the kid in her car seat and headed to a neighborhood nearby that has a little pond next to it.

Once there we set up at a spot that had the least amount of weeds near the shoreline leaving the wind at our backs. Set the chair up and put a worm on the hook. She said they are nasty but had no problems touching one? She even held it for a couple minutes. Showed her how to cast (again) and told her to keep an eye on the bobber. She kept insisting that I cast it out for her though.
About 15 minutes later it started to rain. Nothing too heavy, but slightly more than a drizzle. She didn't want to go in the truck so we stayed fishing.

Took a walk around the pond only to end up back where we started. Every spot we went to had more weeds or the wind would just push the bait into the weeds.

The bobber went under and I told her to reel. She reeled it, and reeled it, and reeled it (that's how she explains what she did) until the fish was on the shore and she had her first catch. Picked it up and asked her if she wanted to hold it while I took a picture. She said yes, but then refused to touch it. I held it next to her while I took a picture of her first catch. She was really excited and couldn't wait to get another one.

She did catch one more little blue gill but it slipped out of my hand when I unhooked it and it got away.
She also hooked into a turtle but it started to pull line. She got upset and handed me the rod and told me to reel it.

After being out there for almost 2 full hours she said she wanted to go home.
Packed up and called it a day.

As we got out of the truck at the house I handed her the Barbie rod and told her to carry it inside.
She looked at me and said "thank you Daddy for take me fishing" and my heart melted.

Those little moments are what make the last couple weeks of bad luck (two vehicles broke down) almost forgotten. We are now a one vehicle family so I will be doing more of these local fishing trips more often.

Getting set up


Holding the worm


Waiting for the first bite


Rod bending action


First fish


One proud 3 year old


The turtle she wouldn't reel in

[SFKitten]

Cute, cute, CUTE!!! thank you for sharing

[id-10-t]

kids and fishing makes for some interesting moments


Were you scared to hold that fish with your hands

[SnookMook]

Good stuff. I love that turtle. My Uncle John caught a giant snapping turtle from a dock on a lake in upstate New York when I was about four-years-old and watching him bring that thing onto the dock is what got the bug for fishing in me and I never looked back or let up.

I'll be 48 in July. LOL

[Wizfisher]

Were you scared to hold that fish with your hands

LOL, no, I was trying to get her to at least hold it with the pliers but she wouldn't so I just took the picture like that.

[mikev]

All right, this post is nothing more than a MAJOR suck-up by Wiz.

Posting an absolutely adorable little girl fishing with a Saltwater Sportsman visor is shameful I say, just shameful! What a suck-up!

I'm assuming that she takes after her Mother? She's too adorable to favor you, I'm sure!

She's really great, nice pictures, thanks for sharing them.

[Wizfisher]

Me sucking up? It kind of just happened as she wanted to wear my hat.
I didn't even realize she was wearing it in the pic until I posted it on FS.

She definitely takes after her mother. Thank God.

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

[mikev]

You know I'm just messing with you, right?

[Wizfisher]

yes.

[Seth]

Great adventure story, brilliant