Fish On

 Over the summer, the boys really took an interest in fishing. Especially the older boys. Grandma and Grandpa Packard encouraged the new found love and bought them all new fishing poles for Christmas (Except Cache, who got his for his birthday). They have been dying to use them all winter. 

The weather finally warmed up a bit and it just so happened a local inlet had just been stocked with fish. We gathered up our gear and hit the river. We haven't fished a river yet, so I prepared the boys for failure. I told them this would be a great opportunity to learn about their new poles and practice casting. I didn't realize we would have such great success. 

Tayden was the first to catch a fish. He's the son that has become most interested in fishing, regardless of his lack of success at Snackards in Ashton. He has done lots of research and watched lots of videos about fishing, so it was really exciting to watch it pay off. He was ecstatic as he reeled in rainbow trout. Promptly after he got the hook out and the fish situated on nylon string, he headed back to the same spot. Within 5 minutes, he caught another! 

We soon realized that was the sweet spot and let Beckett have a turn there. Not long after he began, Beckett caught a fish. And so it went, each boy taking a turn in the sweet spot and each boy catching a fish. Tayden and Beckett were fishing completely independent, Cache only had supervision and I helped Kyle cast (much like helping a kid bat) while he reeled. We ended up with six fish, Tayden caught three and one for each of the other boys. We let three go and kept the others to cook, although Luna was sure they were for her. 

It was a beautiful night on the river and I see many more fishing trips in our future. I told the boys, I might not be hunter, but I can get behind fishing. I would really love for this to turn into a family hobby. Especially if the boys are self sufficient! It was the best family night.