Stinkymutt
Active member
I had been planning a fishing trip with my 9 yr old daughter for weeks . Every weekend something came up or it was raining. The Black Flies are out full bore , if your not from new england you just dont understand these little bastahds . They are horrible blood suckers that swarm like bees . Cant take deep breaths because 10 of em will get lodged in your throat kinda thick . But when the flies are out the trout are biting ( at least I hoped) . So Finally this past friday I made the plan in my head , told the wife and got shit ready to go. It promised to be a beautiful day according to weather forcast. My daughter was more than happy to hear the news we were going fishing in the morning. I had to build a rear canoe rack for my truck and load canoe and gear and was up till 11 high as hell doing all this yet nothing was forgotten ? Up at 4:30 to finish loading cooler , 1 beer , ice and sandwich supplies. We headed out at 5:30 after I had plenty of coffee . The ride to this particular fishing hole we were going too was an hour and a half away on dirt public land roads. Along the way we picked up my 14 yr old nephew to tag along ( I would need the muscle) . We met a buddy who was fishing in the same area who had just seen an albino moose down the road " a ways " . Being a once in a lifetime opportunity to see such a great animal we took a detour. We scoured the road for the moose but he was gone. This set us back an hour and I was getting grumpy from no meds as of yet . Finally we hit the destination at 8:30 a.m. and unloaded truck into canoe. At this hole the canoe needs to be dragged through the woods about 150 yds , but very thick underbrush type woods and yes the black flies were out in force. I was swearing and grumbleing and finally made the water. I snuck off for a little attitude adjustment as I was steaming by now cause of bugs and dragging canoe loaded down right through a hell hole with my daughter trying to ride in canoe for me! Then we hit the water , and I have to say the world just slipped away. We started catching fish right away and I was listening to my daughter talking about how beautiful the scenery is . We fished till noon in swarms of black flies and never once did I hear the words " I want to go home" . No way my lil girl was a trooper from the start she caught some very respectable trout and had a smile on her face the whole time. I had given her my head net so she was out of the swarm. But anyway we stopped to have lunch on shore and fished a small hole below a beaver dam. But as im sitting there my little girl cuddles up to me and says "dad I love you " then " Dad do I have a long time to be a kid". For some reason this struck a cord and im even tearing up writing this. What answer can I give my wonderful daughter and not lie to her . In this days cruel world we are forced to grow up too quickly and learn " life lessons" . The only answer that I could summon up was " baby you will always be a kid as long as that kid lives inside you " . Ended up she was one fish shy from her limit for the day and she was arguing to stay so she could catch one more. Not complaining about the bugs or heat or the walk out to the truck . We had a great memorable day and that one phraze is forever sounding in my head " dad do I have a long time to be a kid ? " . I have some great pics but it would ruin them to block out that smile on her face and post it in public forums.
Peace
Mutt
Peace
Mutt
