how much fun it is to spend an evening catching small crap fish with a nine year old. We just spent five days watching our grandkids while their mom(our middle child) attended a work convention. We went down to the river four times and spent a couple hours catching small to tiny squawfish. It was a blast and something I used to do with my kids when they were that age. We don't get to see the grandkids often as they are six hours away and they and their parents are super busy. When we do see them there is usually a string of activities to do(ball games,karate,ballet etc.) so we don't get to just hang out. Both the boy and his five year old sister (and grandpa) can't wait until next time.

Very cool. Most exciting day of their summer.

That’s the stuff their memories are best made of and something they will cherish and pass on one day.
Pretty work!

Very nice.Enjoy

Excellent!
Can't remember what I ate yesterday but can recall fishing/ hunting trips with family when I was 5.

Funny you mentioned this, my middle son came over to drop off some peanuts and we went fishing. He actually left before I did and when I got there he said he wasn’t catching anything but dinks. I told him he still had a lot to learn yet and my first cast produced a 4+ pounder, lol. He was about to throw the rod but decided against it since we were using my stuff. We still had a great time. We fished some and then went and watched the dove field for a little bit. We watched about 100+ birds come in and went back fishing. We’d cast at the same time and same spot and he’d catch another dink and I’d catch a 2 pounder. He technically out fished me based on numbers, but I kicked his butt in size. It was hot, but still fun. Anytime with my boys is a fun time.

One of my fondest memories is of my dad taking me to catch sunfish and bullhead in the neighbor's farm pond when I was about the age of your granddaughter. None of them had any size to them, but they bit as soon as you threw out your worm most times. Was definitely a fun time.

I have very fond memories of fishing with both my grandfathers. I hope your grandkids have fond, lifelong memories of fishing with you.

They pay $6.00 on up to catch each squawfish. If I was a kid in an area that had squawfish, I would fish for them all the time.

Keith

I learned long ago when you take the little ones fishing, it's not the size that matters to them. It's the bite that keeps them busy that they enjoy.
Good post!

According to Wikipedia, the world record for a Squawfish is 7 lbs, 14 oz! Talk about a thrill for a kid, or anybody!

A lot of the ones we were catching wouldn't make the 9 inch minimum for the bounty program. The kids were going for quantity not quality.