Fished a “Kids Fish, Too” trip this morning with a dad (Thom G.) and 3 boys, Carson age 3, Garrett age 5, and Kyle age 6, all from Georgetown. This trip was in celebration of Garrett’s fifth birthday.

THE BIRTHDAY BOY, GARRETT

LITTLE BROTHER, CARSON (a.k.a. Greg Louganis – just a little inside humor between dad and I)

BEST BUDDY, KYLE

Start Time: 7:25a

End Time: 11:00a

Air Temp: 56F at trip’s start

Water Surface Temp: ~69-70F

Wind: Winds were NNW at ~7-11

Skies: Skies were mostly clear

Lake Elevation: The lake has now leveled off at ~ 620.54 ft. ASL

We got on the water a little later than usual today and so forfeited the pre-dawn topwater bite, but did just fine, all things considered. The topwater I’ve found has required some pretty accurate casting, perhaps too accurate given the boys’ age on today’s breezy trip.

I checked out the Area 103 / 108 complex and saw nothing on sonar and left without wetting a line.

We began fishing in the vicinity of Area 429 / 430 by downrigging for white bass with Pet Spoons over 14-26 feet of water. On our very first pass we saw plenty of fish on sonar on and up off bottom and so my fears about the cold front that passed through yesterday having a negative impact on the fishing were relieved. The boys did well taking turns at catching the fish as the white bass cooperated for about 2 hours solid. During this time, we caught 10 white bass and 2 largemouth. The boys eventually expanded their horizons from just reeling in the fish to letting the line out to get the downrigger set, netting fish, retrieving the downrigger ball, and more. By around 10a, the white bass were playing out and the boys’ interest in this approach was waning, so we changed up a bit.

We headed to the south bank and did some flatline trolling. The Bombers came up with 3 largemouth, 2 caught and 1 escaping on the jump. Subsequent passes yielded little, so we changed up tactics once again.

We headed to Area 203 and baited up with poles and floats looking for the first sunfish of the year. As we got to this area and got our first line in the water, a large school of spottails showed themselves. After the two older boys learned to appreciate the importance of landing their presentation in the shade where the fish were hiding, they were able to catch these fish with little assistance from me. In all, we landed 9 spottails. By this time, we were about 4 hours into the trip and just about to the limit of the boys’ attention span.

Dad and I exchanged knowing glances and we headed back to the dock after an enjoyable, successful day on the water.

Now, at this point, the youngest, Carson, had 2 spottails in his fist and wasn’t planning on letting them go until he was back home in Georgetown! Well, the other boys then needed souvenir fish, too. Carson was willing to share one, so that left us one souvenir fish short. I quickly broke out the pole once again and quickly had a green sunfish in the boat so all 3 boys had something to take home to mom.

I just had to laugh at our birthday boy’s parting comment — his dad asked him “What do you think about doing a fishing trip for the rest of your birthday parties as you get older?” Garrett was very ready with a reply and, without batting an eye said, “Well, I’d like to do a fishing birthday party for every birthday up until I’m 19. Then when I’m 19 and about to turn 20, I want to go to Chuck E. Cheese instead.” And so ended Garrett’s big day on the water!!

TALLY = 23 FISH, all caught and released (save the two spottails and 1 perch the boys took home to mom as souvenirs!!)

Bob Maindelle, Owner, Holding The Line Guide Service and Kids Fish, Too! Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Guide, Belton Lake Fishing Guide, Lake Georgetown Fishing Guide, Walter E. Long (Decker) Lake Fishing Guide. Offering Salado Fishing, Killeen Fishing and Ft. Hood Fishing