Best fishin' buddies

My son Isaac has been fishing with me since he was 2. "Best fishin' buddies" is what he calls us, and it's true. He doesn't care to fish all the time, but when he does, he's really impressed me with his patience and his willingness and ability to learn.

Last year when he turned 7, we started a new tradition for his birthday. A fishing trip to Erie during the week. Just me and him. Big sister and baby brother stay at home with Mama. We got the green light from Mama early this week to head up Wednesday night and fish all day Thursday.

The creek he wanted to fish wasn't high on my list of priorities for yesterday, but I wanted him to call the shots. When we got there, it was a ghost town. I thought, "This isn't good." But we walked the stream a little bit and found a motherlode - for us anyway.

Consistent action all day on this stream and another - lots of quick hookups and lost fish as he got the hang of drifting, which I tried to let him do on his own. Lots of missed hits. But in the end, he brought 5 steelhead and a beautiful brown trout - bigger than any brown I've ever caught - to the net. We had action on everything - single eggs, sacs, P-dubs and jigs. Pink P-dubs provided the most action. Still LMAO at the thought of using those things, but they work.

I was net man all day, and it was better than any solo trip I've ever had. I'd trade it for a solitary, 50 fish day any time. As we headed south on 79, he was grinning from ear to ear, and about to drift off to sleep, he said, "Dad, we're still the best fishin' buddies." Yes, yes we are. Happy 8th birthday buddy.

Awesome...lookin' forward to those days with mine. Still a little young but getting there, slowly but surely.

Excellent. Enjoy.

Absolutely awesome! Thanks for sharing!

Too cool! Sounds like about the perfect day!
I can't wait til my two little fishing buddies get big enough to take steelheading with me. but at 3 and 4 yrs old i think i still got a few seasons to wait

 F-ing awesome !!! Thats what's it is about...............

that's good stuff right there

Most excellent! My daughter loves to get up as well, and everytime is special no matter how many fish you catch. Get em hooked now so they can tie on your flies later.....

best post i have read in a long time on here i have a 5 year old and he is my best fishin buddy

Wonderful to see kids enjoying the outdoors. Father/son relationship fishing, hunting, hiking, whatever the activity, is something special. Developing hobbies/interests for life.

Great pics, Dave. You're the man, Isaac! Happy Birthday!

Awesome report. It reminds me of my trips with my Dad. Hope my kids will be interested enough, and wife willing enough to have similar outings. Still a good bit off for me though, and CAN wait, with how fast time flies when you introduce kids into this world!

Great Story! Remeinds me of my Dad and I. He got me started whe i was about 3 or so and i never looked back. I remember whe he used to take me out on his boat and that was the most awsome thing in the world to me. Im now 30 and he is 65 and now i take him out on my boat lol. We have a tradition to go up to Erie every spring for smallies and we have an absolute blast every year! Im sure someday i will have a lil one to start traditions with.