My middle son turned 9 yesterday and, given the option to do anything with the old man today, asked to go fishing.
¡Vamonos! mijo.
I was reminded, once again, just how blessed I am--to have children who think this sort of thing is cool, and to have so much terrific small water in the neighborhood to explore with them.
Middle son did well today, alternating between the C. Barclay Synthesis 68L (3-weight) and 66 (2-weight), and brought bluegills, green sunfish, longear sunfish, and largemouth bass to hand. When I asked him what the best part of the day was, on the way home, actually catching those fish was number five on his list. It may have been number four if we hadn't found a ringtail skull on the rocks above the river.
Here he is starting the day on one of the headwaters forks of the San Gabriel River.
We don't really do shore lunches, but snack breaks are integral to our creek sessions.
He really digs longears. So do I. To paraphrase Greg Brown in "Eugene," they are God's reminder that creation is a good idea.
Moving on to another fork of the river, we had to sample this picturesque pool. Lots of longears in there!
Heading upstream now ....
Oh yeah, baby. That fish was
mad at that double barrel frog!
Well done, kiddo.
And the careful release ....
The young Jedi -- Padawan, I suppose -- on the walk out.