Never seen anyone fly a kite using a fishing rod. That's a great idea. Haven't been kite flying since my nieces were little kids (about 35 years).
Great way to spend the day with the grandkids.
Gary
The white one is one of 3 trolling rods. The Daughters kids (Now 20 and 17) use to go to the Colorado river with us on Easter Vacation. We were rollin to the river, a 6 hour drive for us. Grandma and the Granddaughter are asleep. And a small voice comes out of the dark.
Chase, 4 YO asked me, "Grandpa. What's fish taste like?"
(Startled me at the wheel. I didn't know anybody was awake.)
"Well, it tastes like fish. And it's really good cooked right." I said.
Long pause, I could tell we were at a landmark moment... "Yeah..., but what does it taste like?"
OK, Grandpa has to field this carefully. "Well, it sort of tastes like chicken. You like chicken, right?"
"Yeah." Another long pause...
"Why do you ask?"
"Because.... I want to catch a fish..... and eat it."
OK, this is a rite of passage. This young Grandson is wanting to make a really big step. I told him once were were set up, and the boat in the water, we'd get up early, when it was still dark and go fishin.
So the second day there, I got up and got him up. He was ready to go in a jiffy. We quietly got on our pontoon boat and moved out on the river. My brand new trolling rod was ready, in a rod holder, and I had him let out the line until the counter said 5-0. 50 feet. I put the boat in gear at an idle, and he let out the line and set the reel. Then he and his dog ran up to the front gate and watched down to look for fish.
I made sure everything looked good from the captains seat, then glanced back at a rod dancing around. I put the motor in neutral and told him "Chase, you got a fish!" which sent him running back to the pole.
He started reeling in with that choppy triangle crank motion a youngster starts with. I helped him get the pole out of the holder, then around the Bimini top to the side gate, where he could fight the fish standing. He asked for help once, but I told him I wanted him to reel in the fish. He was doing fine, just wasn't to sure of himself.
There was a couple of times when the fish ran and I told him it was OK, just hang on. Eventually he got the fish up beside the boat. I liked to swallowed my cud, it was big. I leaped for the boat net, and he brought it around where I could scoop it up. About a 5-6 pound large mouth Bass.
And it was his first ever fish. Almost half as long as him. And we ate it. Fed a bunch of us. Normally I catch and release, but this was his first. Thank Goodness he liked it.
So when we got home, I ordered another trolling rod. I told Grandma I couldn't take away the rod Chase caught his big Bass with. She said well O...K...
Next time we went, his big sister wanted to catch a fish.
Danged if she didn't catch her about a 4 pounder on the newest rod and reel that trip. We held it overnight in the tank, then released it the next morning fully recovered. Well, you just know that meant
another new rod and reel...
And that's why I have 3 trolling rods that are alike. And it works good. One to Port, one to Starboard, and one straight off the back.
Now we have a new batch. Mason 6, Ava 4, and Mia almost 2. And Mason wants to go fishin with Grandpa.....
Ya know Gary, it's never too late to fly a kite. ;)
Using a rod and reel makes it easy to roll in. :D
