My Three Year Old Catches Her First Trout

Paige’s first Brown Trout

After sitting around for the better part of Saturday we decided Sunday we were going to get out and get active. A walk in the dog park was in order for both the dog and the kids alike. Why not get outside in plus twelve degree bliss. This weather has been unreal here in Alberta and what a great way to spend a day outdoors. Of course I had to bring my fishing rod with me, the river runs right by the east side of the dog park and why would I miss an opportunity to wet a line. What true fisherman would leave his gear at home and walk beside a river that just begs him to fish. That would be insane would it not?

A short drive down Deerfoot Trail and off to the Southland Dog Park we go with the fishing gear in tow. Once we arrived I thought every dog owner in Calgary was walking their dog today. The parking lot was packed and cars and trucks were spilling out onto the road that leads into the parking lot. My dog Bentley was ready to leap out of the car and into doggy heaven even before the car came to a stop in the parking stall I managed to squeeze into. There were dogs everywhere and Bentley was off like a bullet once his paws hit the pavement. I tied up a Rapala in the parking lot so I would be ready to go once I stepped foot on the bank of the river. After meeting literally hundreds of dogs on our fifteen minute walk to the river, we finally arrived beside the clean flowing water of the Bow River. My daughter says to me “go catch’em daddy” as I fired the first cast into the deep hole in front of me. I was hoping to catch a few within the first five minutes to keep her interested but the river can be kind, and it can be stingy some days. As I fished I kept moving upstream into a section where running water meets the deep hole. I was hoping to find some big rainbows lying in the seam where the running water meets the slack calm still water. Nothing seemed to be working but I was not really power fishing, I was there with the kids, the wife and the dog!

Paige was throwing rocks in the water and the Bentley was bouncing in the tall brown grass behind us. Then my daughter asked me if she could fish. “Daddy I want to try to fish” she said to me. “Ok honey I will cast it out for you and you reel it in”. I fired one out and held the rod for her while she cranked the reel as fast as she could. The first cast came up empty as she was to slow on the retrieve. I reloaded and fired the Rapala out again with the lure going further out this time then the last. Again she cranked the reel, this time quicker. Six and seven revolutions then boom, I feel the trout hit the lure. Paige never knew she had a fish until the trout flew out of the water in an attempt to escape. I said “Paige you got one honey, reel it in” She did a great job reeling her first Brown trout in and of course I had to help her keep a tight line. She did most all of the work herself and we both landed her first catch together. Who says fishing is not a team sport?

I gently handled her fish and unhook the Eagle Claw hook from the trout’s upper lip. I asked Paige if she wanted to help daddy release it but she was a little skittish to touch her catch. I then put her fish back into the water for her and the fish darted back to it’s new hiding spot to be caught again another day. Paige was so happy she caught her first fish and I was extremely happy also. She then said to me “lets catch the big one now daddy”. I guess she already knows that an eighteen inch fish is good, but there are larger fish in the Bow to be caught.
I fished for a little while longer while Paige was happy to throw rocks into the river and walk the bank with mommy. I never caught that big fish Paige was looking for today, in fact I never caught another fish today. I was so proud of my daughter for catching her first trout today. I know that fish will probably not be her last! Paige is now big enough to come with us on the boat this year and I have a funny feeling you will see her picture on the Blog with some of the Bow River finest trout this spring. Do you take your kids fishing with you, how about your dad or your grandpa? If you don’t take them, maybe next time ask them to go with you. Ask them to take you if you have never been, once you hook up you might just fall in love with that creature that I adore so much.