I've been looking forward to getting the kids out on the lake and getting them on some bass. I really want them both to catch a 3 or 4 pounder. They will be hooked for life when that happens. They are getting old enough now to handle stouter rigs. No more Barbie and Spiderman outfits. It's time to get down to some real fishing. I bought both of them some Zebco 733's spooled with 20lb cajun line and put them on MH rods that they can handle. I put a Carolina rig on Charlie's and a spinnerbait on Elizabeth's. Figured when it came time, we'd be ready to go.
Charlie and Elizabeth are out for the Summer now and both made all A's all year. That deserves some celebration. What better way than to take them fishing? Today was going to be the day. Great weather. Record high today with 90 degrees, sunny, winds light and variable. After church my wife took the youth group on a hiking trip so Dad and the kiddos decided to head to the lake. Packed up a cooler full of snacks, drinks and some hot dogs and headed to Lake Barkley State Park. I've learned with Ms. Bitty Bladder that it's best to use a ramp with facilities. We stopped to gas up and realized that I forgot my wallet. Back to the house, get the wallet, kids go to the bathroom again and we start over. Gassed up, made the drive and put the boat in the water a little after 3:00. We're all good and excited.
We arrive at the first spot. A stump row off of a flat in Hobson's Creek. I pick Charlie's new Zebco 733 with the Carolina rig and proceed to show him how to cast it. Casting that CR can be a little tricky you know. I pushed the button, cast and notice that the rod lightens significantly. I looked down to see the reel sinking in 13 feet of water still in free spool.
I had to pull all the line off the reel before it would come up. Surprisingly, no major tangles and I had it back on the rod in 3 minutes or so. Thought to myself, "Well idiot, this time it might be a good idea to actually attach the reel." Put it in the reel seat and hand tightened it. Ok, let's try this again. Push the button, cast, and notice that the rod lightens significantly. Look down to see the reel disappearing once more into the murky depths. 
The kids thought it was hilarious. I guess it was. This time the tangles were major. I spent the next 45 minutes untangling 90 yards of Cajun Line.
I went into a zen like state. I was like a tangle ninja. The whole time the kids were jumping off the boat and swimming around. I'm glad they were having fun. Got the line untangled, the kids back in the boat, the reel torqued down in the reel seat with a pair of pliers and we idled back over to our spot again. Five minutes later I get a text from a buddy who is on the lake and saw my truck at the ramp. Our kids are same age and good friends. As soon as I mentioned the text, the fishing was over. All the kids could talk about was tubing with their friends. So we head out, meet up and follow them to Goat Island (JT's favorite spot).
We switched off kids. While some tubed, others fished. At one point all the kids were on the ski boat and there just happened to be some bushes that looked like they needed to be flipped. I had about 15 minutes to myself and managed two little buck bass guarding fry.
Thus saving this post from the "Off Topic" or "Boating" Sections.
We had our dinner on the boat as the sun was setting and headed in.
They were all smiles all the way in. Elizabeth said it was the best fishing trip she's ever been on.
There are lots of days left this summer to get some "real" fishing done with them. That day of putting them on some bass will come sooner or later. Today was a great start to the Summer and some good practice. I'll take it. I love those kids.
