Pic of Bass my son caught

[carlcmc]

I taught my 5 year old son to use a spinning reel a week ago. So when we went out he used my new rod/reel (shimano compre 7' and shimano stradic with 30lb yellow power pro rigged with weightless texas rigged senkos). My 5 year old using my $250 setup ... :-)

Taught him in one day how to cast it out. The bass were just hitting ganbusters in this pond. 5 year old pond and was only stocked with a few adult largemouth which are reproducing as you can seen in the pic below. We caught about 50+ bass in from 11-2 that weighed from 1-2 lbs. The rod was so long and he was so small that the bass on the end was torqueing the pole around. Taught him how to set the hook hard to drive it through into the lip. He then proceeded to reel them up onto the bank. He even got 3 unhooked him self! he caught about 20 to my 30 some.

The pond was probably 7-8' deepest. Some partial emmergent vegetation, but lots of submerged thin to medium density weeds. Unlike the majority of time with senkos, these were not hit on the drop. We did slow 1/2 half turns of the reel which cause the senko to dart left and right like walk the dog action. The bass would (seeing through polarized glasses) flash out and hammer it. I caught some on a black spinnerbait with a artificial green minnow on the hook for a trailer.

Twice during the day he turned to me and said "Dad, I like spending days with you." *collective aaaaaah sound*

[Ralph Wiggum]

Cool, Carl. Was this in Rochester? I moved from there a few months ago and am making a guess at where you were fishing.

[carlcmc]

unfortunately no. It was in southern Iowa. My dad has 1500 acres that he farms and about 10 ponds. Some haven't been fished for 4-5 years :-). Same general area as the bass in my avatar pic.

[SledNeck]

Here's a pic of the bass my son caught last year when he was 6. He uses same rod and reel set up as me, he can cast better than alot of adult fisherman I know. He even fights me for partially submerged logs and openings in the weeds to cast in. Wont be long now and the bass will start heating up here. BTW my son caught twice as many walleyes as me opening weekend...and I was trying!

[delmuts]

got to love those pics !! i found out years back; set the kids up with good out fits once they can handle one.( maybe not a $250 one, but ?) they/you will enjoy having a rod and reel that you can count on, plus it will mean not having to wonder if it will hold up when they hook into a BIG ONE just be carefull. ( my kids would grab my rods and leave me with theirs! ) they still do! mine also got started using a baitcaster about age 8 or 9. good job dad!

[panolo]

Awesome guys! Teaching kids to fish is what it's about!

[Down to Earth]

Judging by to picture comparison of you and your son Carl, it looks like he's got that fish holding pose down well.

[carlcmc]

I actually came to that same thought today as well! :-)

[The_Duckslayer]

Those are the days that you will remember for the rest of your lives. Congratulations to all who are able to bond with their kids the way you guys have. Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

[Matt Johnson]

Great pictures guys! Awesome to see the kids catching fish! Hats off to all of you!

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson