We bought a pasture about three years ago and it's always been a dream of mine to have a place to call ours. There were two stock ponds on the pasture one of which was about three acres but inches deep. This pond the guy that owned the pasture before us dug down till he hit the natural spring below. I'm hoping that's enough to keep it from drying up but it had me nervous about two years ago when it was widdling away. Looking at the pond in the pictures it isn't too big but it was nearly 10 feet down dried up when the rains combined with the spring to fill it back to it's brim.

Well three years ago we started with minnows and bluegill. I don't remember the exact numbers but we tried to make it so that we could get a steady supply of bait fish for some larger fish to make it. About a year and a half ago we dumped 100 very small channel catfish in the pond 3-4 inches a piece. This was probably the roughest winter we've had for a while and the pond was froze solid and covered by quite a bit of snow throughout the year. I wasn't sure if anything made it through. If there's one thing I've done well in my life it's getting this little girl in the outdoors. She's been my trapping buddy since the day she could walk when she's not in school and any time I ask to go fishing she beats me to the truck.

I remember back when I was a kid fishing with my dad as he showed me "deer sidewalks" which eventually peaked my interest in tracking animals in general. I spent a majority of my summers as a kid hauling a bucket full of bait and one fishing pole to the river by bike. My parents never worried where I was they knew I'd be home right after the last round of bites right before dark. I never got into the typical issues that a lot of people seem to have these days with kids as I was carrying a .22 pistol by the time I was 12 and stalking any animal I could get my hands on without getting into too much trouble (my grandmother almost murdered me a few times when her bluebirds fell over in her tree line). My dad stopped out before doing cattle chores this morning and enjoyed some time with us in the middle of nowhere doing nothing.

She's got a little brother that's showing quite a bit of interest in the outdoors as well, but he's still in the stage where I pack him every time he goes along. I was anxious to see what had made it in the pond over the last three years as we've tried to build something we could take the kids to enjoy. I was rather impressed at this little girl's patience as she would tell me as she whispered that's just the wind dad, I moved it a little bit there, and then....I didn't move that at all! That's a fish! She may have told me a number of times to "shhhhh the fish can hear you talking."

We weren't disappointed the bites came often and the channels have at least tripled in size for the most part. They don't look like much till you put a 7 year old behind the wheel and a small fishing pole. She fought those fish with everything she had today and I think she's going to turn out just fine.

Great story overall!
Very well done.

Great memories being made. Thanks for sharing.

At least you don’t have to worry about riding your bike up any hills.....

Priceless memories for sure.

Started my son and daughter when they were 3 and 4 years old...now there 29 and 35 and they still fish.

I started taking my granddaughter when she was 3 also and she is 12 now...loves to go fishing with her pap.

A few pics to enjoy.

Yup, I think these young ladies ARE turning out out just fine.
Must have terrific dads.

Osky

Very nice! Congrats to all parents who are doing it right.

that's great

Jeff it sure doesn't hurt if they've got a good papa to keep them going. The first picture with her glasses were because before we could start fishing she had to shoot her rifle she got from papa for Christmas. Today was the first descent day since then I've been around to get her out to shoot it. She had to learn about safety before she could let it rip.

Speaking of Papa got to give the guy credit he's been hauling her around just as much if not more than I have. Here's a picture of them creek hopping one morning after the rain. I guess now that we have a pond to call our own it's a little more fun then just jumping bridge to bridge. This was about a year ago. She's growing up fast.



Since she turned four she's been his right hand man when it comes to the cattle. She got off at noon everyday for a year but her education didn't end there. She spent hours upon hours taking care of the cows with him. She especially loves calving season when they get to ride in the truck with them. She sings to them and pets them in the cab.



She even spent enough time with the calves they'd let her walk right up and walk among them in the feedlot before they went to the pastures for the summer.



Here was one day they dropped a load of cattle on the pasture. Looking back I believe she was 5 at the time. Not too many kids get to experience that anymore.

My wife and I both suffered neglect and abuse as kids and we swore we'd never subject our kids to what we experienced growing up. We didn't. I cherished my kids, still do and would give my good arm to do it all over again. Enjoy every minute of it, it will be gone in a blink.

My oldest (28) on a bear hunt. She connected that night. My youngest (25) tending beaver traps with me.

There is no doubt Wade that you & K are doing it right. I’ve seen it first hand. When I’ve been there trapping with you and she rode alongside us in the truck excited as can be when you had caught a bobcat & coon. I’ve said before great kids, family & friends I was fortunate enough to have met.
We build memories with our kids every chance we get in the great outdoors. I think those are the ones that they will remember and cherish the most.

Some really cute stuff there !!

Good reminder there's still a lot of good in this country. It's worth fighting for.

Great thread.

Your title for this thread is perfect .You will ever regret the time spent with young kids. You may forget some of the details of your outings as time goes on .But you are creating memories that they will never forget . Thanks for posting

Great family pictures. If the whole country was like this...………...

That's the truth. I remember some very fond memories hunting and fishing with my father. He drove truck for 35 years. Sometimes he'd drive all night without sleep so he could make it home for opening morning of deer season, and he'd have a box of groceries waiting for me in the truck to keep me quiet. At the time it was just another day in the life of a kid that loved the outdoors, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I think I'm going to take the three year old down there this weekend if the weather permits, and let him have a run on the fish. See what he does. He already told me we could go fishing but we can't catch sharks. I think he's safe.

Boy oh boy would I ever be looking to find an inflatable shark and have some creative surprise fun this weekend....

Osky