Strawberry 5/21 Saturday report

[cat_man]

Hit Strawberry with my in-laws yesterday. We got up there quite late, around 11:00, and put the boat in and began trolling out from the main boat ramp to the Northeast. Almost immediately, we caught this fish off a deep diving jointed rapala (or other brand, who knows it was my father-in-law's).



Unfortunately, other than a few hits that never stuck, that was all we got the entire day. It was fantastic weather, however, a bit breezy and very warm. Heard that the fish were in shallow eating crawdads, but we trolled in around 35 feet most of the time, trying different types of crankbaits with little luck. Had a great time, however, and my son got to go on his first boatride and see his first fish. He's only 10 months old, but you can't start them too early that's for sure!!
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[hlmn]

You're right you can't start them out to young.
Sounds like you had a great day on the water even without the fish.
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[cat_man]

[cool]
Unfortunately I didn't catch one, only my father in law did. If I woulda hooked one, he woulda been helping me reel it in.[][cool]
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[Bigcat]

Nice fish, great picture, cute boy! Don't mean to be a party pooper but where is his life jacket? He's too cute to loose over board and not find him. By law he should have one on while on the boat until he is 12 yrs old. I know, my 4 kids complain for a while about wearing theirs (and I have a hard time finding one to fit my 5 week old) but when they ask to take the life jackets off I tell them they need to get out of the boat first that that cures their want to take off the life jacket. Protect your beautiful kids!
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[cat_man]

ya he had a lifejacket on the boat, although he didn't wear it most the time. We never went under power we were just trolling a drifting . Never had any wake at all. You're right though, I should just leave it on him the whole time.
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[FlyingFish]

[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]I remember the firs time we had our oldest daughter out in the canoe. (She was almost 2 at the time) We were paddling along and she was leaning overboard splashing in the water. I told my wife, “if she falls in, DON’T hurry and grab for her if she's more than arms legnth away, or you may capsize the canoe. She’s got a life jacket on and will float just fine.” No sooner than I had said that, I saw her feet go straight up in the air and into the water she went. She popped up right next to me; I grabbed her life jacket, and pulled her into the canoe. She had the most stunned and shocked look on her face like “what happened?” Then of course broke out screaming and crying. We still love to share that funny story.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]A 10 mo old kid puts everything in his mouth so a rod may not be the best idea…however, give him the fish and he will surely get a taste for them.[] [/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Glad you had a good trip![/size][/font]
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[windriver]

I have the same exact story to tell so no need to repeat except mine was my 2 year old boy. The Canoe and situation same. That situation is a constant reminder to us on how valuable a lifejacket is.

Windriver
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[FlyingFish]

Whoever thought of putting a handle on the top of a kid's life jacket was a genious.
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[cat_man]

All good comments thanks for the tips. We figured this time was okay since he's not walking yet, and he's a very well-tempered kid. He just sat in the bottom of the boat most the time playing. One thing not to forget with kids as well -- Lather on that sunsreen thick! We used SPF 60 baby sunscreen and reapplied it again halfway through. The last thing a tiny fairskinned baby needs is a horrible sunburn, and dooming them to skin cancer later in life.
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