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- Mar 19, 2007
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In Houston there are few places to hike that get you out in the dirt without a drive. With kids it makes it tough. I usually get out alone - or we just go to small hikes locally.
Today we drove about an hour to Lake Sheldon Park (nice little park just north of Houston) that had some decent fishing and when not in a drought would have a lot more wildlife and views to offer. It is WELL maintained and very handicap accessible. There were two geocaches there to keep the kids interest and we headed off to hike.
When we got there we say this Asian dad (broken English - but FAR better than my Mandarin) and a son who obviously was born here as he spoke better English than me. Dad had his set up with a worm and red/white bobber and the kid instantly reported that he had already caught 6 Small mouth bass. Before I could doubt him I looked into the water (I wear polarized lenses) and saw a few bass swimming around. I didn't doubt him now.
Below the dock was a 8 - 10 foot Gator but as this is normal at the state parks in and around Houston I didn't think much of it. I watched the child try to cast (he was still learning) and was not putting the bait on top of the fish. I asked him if he could see the fish - he said 'kinda'. I asked him if it was okay if I could put him on the fish - he was excited and said 'YEA!'. I cast out past three or four croppie and pulled the bait back into them. As the bait began to settle - I handed the pole back to him and said 'You will get a strike very soon.' and prepared to hike away.
No sooner did I turn did he yank on the rod and hook a nice sized fish. He was reeling it in - and then I saw a blur from the corner of my eye. The gator (obviously used to this) snagged the fish out of the air (as he was pulling it up) and the kid started to head for the dock railing as the he had now caught a Gator!!!!
I grabbed the rod - pulled staight back (dad had WAY too much line on the reel - probably 15 - 20 pound test) hoping to get the fish out for the kid - but the line broke before that happened and the Gator ate the fish, hook, line, and sinker!
The dad jumped up and he said to me 'So THAT is why that Gator is just sitting there!' - we both laughed out loud and the kid said that he would never forget this fishing trip. I took a picture and we hiked off.
Here is the Gator after pulling the fish out of the kids hands:
Here are me and the boys after finding a couple of Cache's:
For those that care:
Knives with me:
SAK Alox Farmer
ML Straight Back Kephart in one of my sheaths.
TF
Today we drove about an hour to Lake Sheldon Park (nice little park just north of Houston) that had some decent fishing and when not in a drought would have a lot more wildlife and views to offer. It is WELL maintained and very handicap accessible. There were two geocaches there to keep the kids interest and we headed off to hike.
When we got there we say this Asian dad (broken English - but FAR better than my Mandarin) and a son who obviously was born here as he spoke better English than me. Dad had his set up with a worm and red/white bobber and the kid instantly reported that he had already caught 6 Small mouth bass. Before I could doubt him I looked into the water (I wear polarized lenses) and saw a few bass swimming around. I didn't doubt him now.
Below the dock was a 8 - 10 foot Gator but as this is normal at the state parks in and around Houston I didn't think much of it. I watched the child try to cast (he was still learning) and was not putting the bait on top of the fish. I asked him if he could see the fish - he said 'kinda'. I asked him if it was okay if I could put him on the fish - he was excited and said 'YEA!'. I cast out past three or four croppie and pulled the bait back into them. As the bait began to settle - I handed the pole back to him and said 'You will get a strike very soon.' and prepared to hike away.
No sooner did I turn did he yank on the rod and hook a nice sized fish. He was reeling it in - and then I saw a blur from the corner of my eye. The gator (obviously used to this) snagged the fish out of the air (as he was pulling it up) and the kid started to head for the dock railing as the he had now caught a Gator!!!!
I grabbed the rod - pulled staight back (dad had WAY too much line on the reel - probably 15 - 20 pound test) hoping to get the fish out for the kid - but the line broke before that happened and the Gator ate the fish, hook, line, and sinker!
The dad jumped up and he said to me 'So THAT is why that Gator is just sitting there!' - we both laughed out loud and the kid said that he would never forget this fishing trip. I took a picture and we hiked off.
Here is the Gator after pulling the fish out of the kids hands:
Here are me and the boys after finding a couple of Cache's:
For those that care:
Knives with me:
SAK Alox Farmer
ML Straight Back Kephart in one of my sheaths.
TF
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She got a big surprise when my mom confirmed the story and got angry that my kindergarden teacher would make such an accusation to a small child. Now that's another part of the story I won't forget 