Family Yak Fishing

My 11 y/o twins couldn't care less about fishing.  They'd rather play with friends, watch movies or read.  Can you believe it?

But something funny occurred a couple of weeks ago.  They happened to see the AOTY Youth Division banner on the front page.  After a brief Q&A one of em says "I could win that", to which the other replies "yeah, if I wasn't in it".  I let the line go slack while pulling up pictures of the Pisco Kids fish.  The rod tip bounced "No Way!  I'd so beat you".  Tap tap "Yeah, we'll see".  The rod doubles over and line starts stripping as a chorus of "Sign me up for that Dad" explodes from the water.   

Our 1st attempts were at Unity Reservoir where the boys each picked up a smallmouth and Snorlax trumped Spatter's best efforts by raising with a 4.5" crappie.

This weekend they decided to duke it out at Haag.  It was raining in our neighborhood but the doppler radar showed the showers ending around Forest Grove.  We hit the lake just past noon.

Only 2 boats out.  Occasional sprinkles and short lived gusts was all of the weather that had made it this far West.  Apparently Nobody else realized this.


Kai drew 1st blood, working a Carolina rigged worm close to shore.


Taylor answered back shortly after with his own.


While the boys harassed the perch, I worked a deep seam between rock and mud hoping for a smally.  What I found instead sent the boys into a paniced race for something bigger.


After a hundred missed hook sets, and with time winding down, Kai finally found his mark on a Largemouth.


And, what's a day at Hagg without swimming? 


Snorlax demands a rematch.  Spatter says "bring it".  Dad smiles and looks forward to the next round.   

I wouldn't expect any less from your offspring Spottie. Thanks for the report and pics. Cheesy voice over: "The NWKA AOTY, bringing families together."

Z

aha! now i kno where those two names came from!  good to see the youth division picking up a bit.

I wouldn't expect any less from your offspring Spottie.
Z

Now you know where I get my competitive streak.   

Way to set the hook!!!

My 11 y/o twins couldn't care less about fishing.  They'd rather play with friends, watch movies or read.  Can you believe it?

I REALLY wish I didn't know what you were talking about. All of my 10 y/o girls' friends, cousins, neighbors,,,,are all dying to go paddling and/or fishing. She'll have nothing to do with it.
So does that mean I need to get a second one to complete the pair?
Guess I really need to talk to Pisco.




BTW: You know there is a trailer that holds four boats easy at my house in PDX that is collecting dust....
I pulled it with a Subaru Forester and I'm sure that Honda could pull it just fine. Might make it a bit easier to get the twins out and to haul home the booty from ORC, Moutcha, AOTY,,,,,,

I was witness to the Family Spot putting in at Hagg.  Spot's a nice guy, but was muttering something about a bass that could swallow a man whole.  He reeked of revenge tactics. 

Well, Spot, was there another sighting of this beast?

I was witness to the Family Spot putting in at Hagg.  Spot's a nice guy, but was muttering something about a bass that could swallow a man whole.  He reeked of revenge tactics. 

Well, Spot, was there another sighting of this beast?

I didn't find the monster smallie I"d hooked the night before.  I thought for a moment that the LMB above was it..  I even went out yesterday again looking for that monster.  Wound up with an upgrade but the fish I was looking for was easily 20inches and 5lbs..... Had a dozen hooks broken off in it's body.  Missing an eye it was and thick as it was tall.  When it launched from the water, it's dead eye would turn to you and take you in, like it could see thru to your soul. Aye.

I did catch it's little brother though.  Y'all can call BS on this story but I swear it's true.  I was working a shelf with a brush hawg when something slammed my gear.  It slammed it so hard in fact that my brush hawg was gone?!?!?  Paddle up wind, put on another hawg and WHAM!!!!  Same spot, same result......  What the?!?!?!?  Paddled back, rerigged and cast but left my bail open.  One short drag and SHAboink!!!!  I let it chew on the hawg for a full 5 seconds before employing a sweeping hook set.  This bad boy fought hard for several minutes.  Over the course of the fight it puked up one of the brush hawgs.  Once in the yak, my latest was still on the hook and the 1st was sticking part way out of it's throat. 

It was nice finally meeting you Andy! 
You're an animal, trunking it on a day like that. 

Way to set the hook!!!

My 11 y/o twins couldn't care less about fishing.  They'd rather play with friends, watch movies or read.  Can you believe it?

I REALLY BTW: You know there is a trailer that holds four boats easy at my house in PDX that is collecting dust....
I pulled it with a Subaru Forester and I'm sure that Honda could pull it just fine. Might make it a bit easier to get the twins out and to haul home the booty from ORC, Moutcha, AOTY,,,,,,

Thanks for the extremely generous offer!  If the boys keep gaining yak fishing momentum, I may have to take you up on that.  They've been bugging me all morning about going fishing again today.   

-Spot-

excellent, way to go!

It was nice finally meeting you Andy!  
You're an animal, trunking it on a day like that.  

Dude, I always trunk it when I'm rolling in my neon yellow Wakemaster 3000.  It takes too long to peel off the wetsuit when I pick up picnic moms from Boat Ramp C.  Word.

They've been bugging me all morning about going fishing again today.  
-Spot-

The cure has spread to the next generation. Can't wait to see Sptter, Snorlax, and Kapena on the big board!!

Z

They've been bugging me all morning about going fishing again today.   

-Spot-

Follow-up: 
Start with 5 kids, 2 adults 4 yaks and 3 wetsuits
Add glassy reservoir, no crowds and BBQ Chicken
Season to taste with mini smallmouth, perch and bluegill
Mmmm Mmmmm Good!

Kapena answered back today with a SMB upgrade at sunset.  He nailed it and others like a pro on a Spot Hawg.  That's my boy! 

-Spot-

Jeez, Spot, encouraging a couple of 11yo boys to beat up on a 7yo girl!   Pisco Kid laughed when I told her some boys thought they could beat her.
She's been pretty cocky since she started TaeKwanDo.

Wali, I've  been blessed with Janni. She's way more interested in bugs, than Barbie, and is really tolerant of uncomfortable conditions. Like her Papa, she really loves the natural world. She's been that way from day 1, and I've just been careful not to screw it up. Today, she was telling me what a hypothesis is!

Her older sisters, on the other hand... ... are oblivious to the natural world.

Janni is stoked on the world and one of the best co-pilots I've seen on a boat. You indeed are a lucky man PS. Below is a buddy in CA, SBD, who also is lucky to have a girl that loves fishing and the outdoors also.

Z