S.K.I.F.F. Trip #2011-11 – The Hampton Family — 23 Fish — Stillhouse Hollow






Today’s trip on Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir was the eleventh S.K.I.F.F. trip I’ve run for 2011.

Brianna H. with a “schoolie” largemouth we caught on a flatlined Pet Spoon over 33 feet of water in rough waters this morning.

Kailynn H. with a black bass that hit her Pet Spoon fished off of a downrigger at 29 feet over a 33 foot bottom in open water.

Damian H. with one of many sunfish he caught after “breaking the ice” with his first fish ever this morning.


S.K.I.F.F. (Soldiers’ Kids Involved in Fishing Fun) exists to take the children of deployed or deceased soldiers on fishing trips at no charge to the soldiers’ families. Below is my report to the membership of the Austin Fly Fishers and other SKIFF supporters …


25 June 2011

Dear Austin Fly Fishers and Friends of SKIFF,

This morning I met up with the Hampton family of Killeen and fished with the three oldest children of Amy and Damian Hampton. Damian is an enlisted man in the U.S. Air Force on a 1 year unaccompanied tour to Osan, Korea. I welcomed aboard Damian Jr. (6 yrs. old), Kailynn (11 yrs. old), and Brianna (12 yrs. old). Unfortunately, 3 year old Miss Vanessa had to sit it out until she gets a bit older.

Little Damian had never caught a fish before, so, that became “Job #1”. Job #1 was placed in the “Got ‘er done” column about 6 minutes into the trip upon our arrival at a very active weedbed (at Area 832) holding lots of sunfish. Damian’s first fish was a small longear sunfish that fell for an artificial maggot suspended under a float. For his accomplishment, he earned a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department “First Fish” certificate.

Sisters Brianna and Kailynn had fished before, but it had been a while and they didn’t recall much success on previous attempts. They, too, got in on the sunfish action which featured bluegill sunfish and longears, but no green sunfish today. After 15 fish and at least as many tangles, they began to inquire about “bigger fish”.

Due to high winds (again!) our ability to access the waters typically most productive this time of year was hampered. However, we did venture downlake just long enough (between Areas 829 and 062) to boat exactly one “big fish” per kid before “evacuating”, leaving that windblown open water behind. Those big fish included two largemouth bass (one each for the girls) and a white bass for Damian. These fish were all taken on Pet Spoons (1 bass and 1 white on downriggers and one bass on a flatline).

We returned to the relative protection of mid-lake and again targeted sunfish boating 3 more before mom and grandma showed up around 11 a.m. Then, it was show-and-tell time. Well, once little Vanessa saw what the big kids got to do, she realized she’d missed out! Mom and I thought it best to put a rod in her hand and to try for a little dockside action to alleviate the situation. Vanessa landed a small bluegill and was quite content thereafter. Now, with all the family gathered on the courtesy dock at boatside, the girls’ final request was for mom to ride on the boat with them, so, out came a few more life jackets, down went the throttle, and we pulled a few figure eights just outside the no-wake zone.

Amy had shared that their family’s start at Ft. Hood had been a difficult one, as they had no sooner transferred from the east coast to Ft. Hood than Damian got orders to Korea. So, the family had little time to settle in Texas before saying farewell to dad for a year. But, Damian’s tour ends soon, and they are all anxiously awaiting his return.

The kids loved the tackle boxes, blankets, and especially the SKIFF wristbands that are now a part of each trip — you’ll see them in the girls’ photos if you look closely.

As always, thank you for doing what you do behind the scenes so memorable days like this can happen for the family members of our servicemen and women!!

Sincerely,

Bob Maindelle

TODAY’S CONDITIONS:

Start Time: 6:45a

End Time: 11:25a

Air Temp: 75F at trip’s start.

Water Surface Temp: ~82.6F

Wind: Winds were S11 at launch tapering up to S16 by takeout .

Skies: Skies were about 70% cloudy.