The Joys of a Childs First Trout

I had the joy of taking my oldest son on his first opening day camping trip last weekend. And by oldest, I mean just under 3 years and 10 months old. We stayed two nights and three days at Rock Creek campgrounds in the Eastern Sierras. There were a lot of firsts on this trip. His first time in the Eastern Sierras, first time stream fishing, first time in the snow, first time camping in the mountains and even his first roasted marsh mellow. This is a trip that is usually attended by only the truly dedicated fisherman in the family, as the weather is usually still pretty cold. And that it was again this year. We had quit a bit of snow fall on Saturday, covering the campground and closing almost all of the passes across the Sierras. The two passes that were open were mandatory 4 wheel drive with snow/mud tires or chains. This turned a 5 and half hour drive into roughly 8 and half hours. But we wouldn't let anything stop us, if there was a way, we would make it to fish camp.

I had been priming my son for this trip since Easter. Telling him what to expect and trying to keep him enthusiastic about everything. Its a big deal for a nearly four year old little boy to be away from his Mom and baby brother for any amount of time. Let alone sleeping in a tent with the temperature as low as the high twenty's. But he handled it like a champ. And I cannot express to you the joy that overcame me when he landed is first trout. See, I have taken him lake fishing a couple of times with no real success. So his definition to this point, in regards to fishing, is Dad baiting a hook, casting it out and setting the pole in the pole  holder. So when he first felt the fish biting, and began to real it in, the surprised look of joy on his face is something that I will carry with me until the day I die.

I thought that him catching a fish was the whole point of this trip. The grand awakening for him and his love for fishing. And I guess it was. But the trip was much more than that for us. It was things like watching him test out his new boots by climbing every rock in sight. Or teaching him what kind of sticks we need to collect for the fire pit and watching him collect more than we would ever need. I have come to find out that these things are just as big as him landing his first fish. Everything is still so new for him. Everything is like a new exploration. And I have the privilege of teaching him how to respect nature and get lost in it all at the same time. How we can harvest animals for food, but must always treat them with dignity and honor them for dieing and allowing us to fill our stomachs.

I am proud of my son for triumphing over the cold weather and sticking it out with his Dad in a tent. That, along with the countless other firsts on this trip made for something that I will never forget. I understand now, that it is not my goals that will bring me the greatest joy. But watching both my sons grow and learn about the outdoors and life, that will account for my happiest moments.

Thanks for reading.