The Sunday before Memorial Day my in-laws always have a family get together. It's a day full of the outdoors, fishing, four wheeler rides, impromptu baseball games and water balloon fights. It's always a good time and this year was no exception. We usually catch and filet 150-200 bluegill to feed everyone. My boy is 3 1/2 now and has been talking about fishing all winter long, we have been out to the local lake a few times this spring but didn't catch anything. He was pumped to be going fishing this past weekend and with the spawn in high gear, I knew we'd be able to catch him some fish.
Saturday was prep for the party day but after the chores were done we were able to ride the four wheelers a bit, take a paddle boat ride and we tested the bluegill fishing to make sure things were going to be good for Sunday.
Here he is on the four wheeler - didn't take him long to figure out the throttle!
Paddle boat ride!
Of course we had to work in some swingset time as well...
Didn't take him long to land his fish bluegill
While on the dock, I noticed this dragon fly changing from nymph to adult - pretty cool to see in person. There is something so prehistoric about these things.
I set him back on the dock, tucked out of the way so the birds wouldn't find him so his wings could dry out. Less than 1/2 hour later I watched him take flight for the first time - it was awesome.
Sunday brought some more sun and all hands on deck for fishing - we had to catch supper! It didn't take long for Evan to land his first bluegill of the day and it was a dandy...
Lighting was working against me here but here is another nice one...
I could catch these all day long on a light action rod and never get tired of it...
Love the coloring on these guys...
The Hiking Buddy was at my side all weekend - here is comparison picture with one of my bluegills and the HB.
The Large Mouth Bass spawn looked really good this year, the pond was loaded with small fry. This one either hit or was snagged by a jig on it's way in.
Once we had enough fish, it was time to clean and get ready for the fry.
Evan couldn't wait to eat "his" bluegill - actually he scarfed down three helpings of fish Sunday night!
Fresh caught bluegill, homemade onion rings, fried asparagus out of the garden, taters out of the garden all fried up with lard from the hogs we butchered back in February - hard to beat!
And you can't forget dessert - homegrown strawberries over homemade cake!
Once things settled down a bit, I took the Hiking Buddy back out for a few more photos on the dock, light was fading so they aren't my best but I really love everything about this knife.
If you made it this far...thanks for looking!
Saturday was prep for the party day but after the chores were done we were able to ride the four wheelers a bit, take a paddle boat ride and we tested the bluegill fishing to make sure things were going to be good for Sunday.
Here he is on the four wheeler - didn't take him long to figure out the throttle!
Paddle boat ride!
Of course we had to work in some swingset time as well...
Didn't take him long to land his fish bluegill
While on the dock, I noticed this dragon fly changing from nymph to adult - pretty cool to see in person. There is something so prehistoric about these things.
I set him back on the dock, tucked out of the way so the birds wouldn't find him so his wings could dry out. Less than 1/2 hour later I watched him take flight for the first time - it was awesome.
Sunday brought some more sun and all hands on deck for fishing - we had to catch supper! It didn't take long for Evan to land his first bluegill of the day and it was a dandy...
Lighting was working against me here but here is another nice one...
I could catch these all day long on a light action rod and never get tired of it...
Love the coloring on these guys...
The Hiking Buddy was at my side all weekend - here is comparison picture with one of my bluegills and the HB.
The Large Mouth Bass spawn looked really good this year, the pond was loaded with small fry. This one either hit or was snagged by a jig on it's way in.
Once we had enough fish, it was time to clean and get ready for the fry.
Evan couldn't wait to eat "his" bluegill - actually he scarfed down three helpings of fish Sunday night!
Fresh caught bluegill, homemade onion rings, fried asparagus out of the garden, taters out of the garden all fried up with lard from the hogs we butchered back in February - hard to beat!
And you can't forget dessert - homegrown strawberries over homemade cake!
Once things settled down a bit, I took the Hiking Buddy back out for a few more photos on the dock, light was fading so they aren't my best but I really love everything about this knife.
If you made it this far...thanks for looking!
