Thursday, April 21, 2011

We Fish With Crickets...Sometimes

Yesterday Hadley and I spent the morning together on a friend's private pond looking for a few bluegills to bring home for dinner. 

This small pond has more bluegill, some quite large, than I've ever seen in one place and it can certainly stand having a few culled for the frying pan.

Who would have guessed that the lowly cricket would be such a delectable delight to bluegill?  Each cricket placed on the hook didn't stand a chance and as soon as it hit the water it was slurped up.

Hadley happily fished with her Pioneer Anglers custom three weight Lamiglas Fly/Spin build.  This may be the perfect pond bluegill fly rod/spinning rod since it's easy to cast short to medium distances and really makes game of bluegills of any size.

A typical bluegill from the pond though several that were caught were quite a bit larger.

Hadley and I worked out a process of her catching a cricket, me putting said cricket on the hook and casting it into the pond, giving her the rod, setting the hook, playing the fish, and me taking the bluegill off the hook.  Then repeat and repeat and repeat about fifty times over two hours. 

Hadley into yet another feisty bluegill.

I think she's got the "grip and grin" down pat and she felt like quite an angler with her Fishpond Elk River Youth Vest on.

A few of the larger bluegills that we caught were put on ice.  Twice this many were put back in the pond since we only keep what we can eat.


Last night we had dinner of fried bluegill fillets, slow cooked grits, and green beans with a sweet onion.  Quite a feast and Hadley was pretty smug with herself that she was able to bring home dinner for the family.

All in all part of a great day.  

13 comments:

Robin said...

Jerry Clower told an old story about the fellow who, at the end of the tale proclaimed "Bully has done flung a craving on me!"

Well, y'all have flung a craving on me! What a great day that had to have been.

Dustin's Fly Box said...

looks like she had a blast! Stuff like this makes my day

GFP said...

I would give my left arm to have a pond like that! Even just a public pond around the house....all of mine are wind blown and freaking cold. Spring came for a day and left winter in it's place.

I'm going to restate that you need to put a fly on line, and save some time for YOU to fish. Sure, it's nice she did a lot of catching, but dad has to get into a few too!

Anonymous said...

that is awesome Cameron ,that is going to be with her for the rest of her life in one way or another. Good times !

Cameron Mortenson said...

Robin...you need to address that craving. Soon.

Dustin...it made my day for sure. So neat to see her so excited about fishing and spending time with her dad.

GFP...her catching fish after fish was the whole point. I'll get a chance to be on the water by myself soon enough.

Cameron Mortenson said...

Nutto...we get a couple trips in a year and need to do more of it. She can't get enough of being outside.

Jason Carroll said...

Yesterday I was thoroughly disappointed every time I checked back to still see the Simms post staring back at me. After seeing this wonderful post you are forgiven. These types of days ( http://trout-commander.blogspot.com/2011/04/best-trip-in-quite-some-time-and.html )really are the best!

Cameron Mortenson said...

Jason...sorry I didn't have a "TFM Fix" for you yesterday. Does three posts today make it better? HA...

james deloria said...

Cool, reminds me of fishing with my little bambinos many moons ago.

Feather Chucker said...

Your daughter is really cute. That pond look beautiful.

bfly said...

Very nice work! It's great to see the kids get into fish and loving every minute of it. And would you please send some of that green and warmth up North....please!!! I saw snow again today in WNY, and the Hendricksons aren't liking it, and neither am I!!

BLUEANGLER said...

how wonderful!!!

Erin said...

Jay says hi to Hadley! She's such a cutie! He has a new love of fishing recently, thanks so much for helping us with the 'flat Jay' project!!!