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I went fishing with my 15 year old son on Saturday. It was a fantastic spring day and river conditions were perfect. We debated about hitting the tidal Potomac for snakeheads and largemouths or the upper Potomac for smallies. My son chose smallies and so we loaded the trailer up and off we went.
Unfortunately, we arrived at the Breaks with only one paddle. We were lucky we didn't lose both. While loading up, I handed two paddles to Jr. and told him to put them on the trailer so he did. For some reason that I don't get, he just threw them on and didn't bother to secure them. He's certainly old enough and smart enough to realize that the paddles need to be strapped down on the trailer. That's what I get for not double checking behind him I guess.
Anyway, instead of just heading back home we decided to go ahead and fish anyways. So I let Jr. use the one paddle and I navigated with a large stick/tree branch. River conditions were perfect. Clear and a tinge of green stain in the deeper parts, water levels and flow were optimal.
So I did the best I could to navigate down river and the stick/branch worked remarkably well considering there were no blades on it. Needless to say my fishing suffered and I got skunked. However I made it through the Breaks and back up the canal successfully.
Jr. managed a 14 inch smallie, a 12 incher, and a 11 inch largemouth bass. We saw lots of big smallies and some carp. While fishing in the canal, Jr. hooked into a monster fish with a crank bait. The fish broke him off and he was using brand new 8 pound test braid. I'm guessing it was a carp, but we didn't get a look at it.
Great day to be out on the river and still lots of fun with my son. Fishing could have been a little better and we both learned a lesson the hard way. Can't wait to get out there again with my son next weekend.
13
The launch.
My paddle for the day.
Jr. standing in the Coosa
Taking a break on some islands and a shot of the river.
Unfortunately, we arrived at the Breaks with only one paddle. We were lucky we didn't lose both. While loading up, I handed two paddles to Jr. and told him to put them on the trailer so he did. For some reason that I don't get, he just threw them on and didn't bother to secure them. He's certainly old enough and smart enough to realize that the paddles need to be strapped down on the trailer. That's what I get for not double checking behind him I guess.
Anyway, instead of just heading back home we decided to go ahead and fish anyways. So I let Jr. use the one paddle and I navigated with a large stick/tree branch. River conditions were perfect. Clear and a tinge of green stain in the deeper parts, water levels and flow were optimal.
So I did the best I could to navigate down river and the stick/branch worked remarkably well considering there were no blades on it. Needless to say my fishing suffered and I got skunked. However I made it through the Breaks and back up the canal successfully.
Jr. managed a 14 inch smallie, a 12 incher, and a 11 inch largemouth bass. We saw lots of big smallies and some carp. While fishing in the canal, Jr. hooked into a monster fish with a crank bait. The fish broke him off and he was using brand new 8 pound test braid. I'm guessing it was a carp, but we didn't get a look at it.
Great day to be out on the river and still lots of fun with my son. Fishing could have been a little better and we both learned a lesson the hard way. Can't wait to get out there again with my son next weekend.
13
The launch.
My paddle for the day.
Jr. standing in the Coosa
Taking a break on some islands and a shot of the river.
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