My Little Ones First Fish

This past summer my daughter Lyla and I woke up one morning and decided to head to our little local "hidden spot" which is located on the north west part of Las Vegas. I knew when I woke up that it would be the day Lyla would catch her first largemouth. My Lyla is this most sweet, sensitive, and out going little girl. Lyla is almost four but as my wife says it she's our "teenage toddler". Each time I prepared my boat and rods, in our garage for a tournament, Lyla would poke her head out of the garage door and ask, "Daddy, you going fishing?" I would reply, "Yes, babe." Her response would always be, "Me too". Watching her with my spinning rod attempting to reel and cast gave me hope that she would love fishing. As we woke early that day, I felt it would be no ordinary fishing adventure with my daughter. With a very excited three year old, we drove to the "hidden spot" where I have had success catching fish so many times before. While making the thirty minute drive, Lyla proclaimed many times "I'm not going to touch it. After the 30 minute drive from our house we made it to the spot. When getting out of the truck it was the perfect day. It wasn't to hot and there was a light breeze blowing into our little so called cove. The ideal place to fish was near a metal gate which extended out in the water about 5 feet. The water depth was about 4 to 5 feet. I prepared Lyla's rod with a drop shot rigged with a Roboworm Bold Bluegill curly tail worm. I used this set up many times and was confident she would have success. We grabbed the set up and came right up to the edge of the water where there's a slab of concrete to stand on. Lyla's Smile could be seen from across the little lake because it was from ear to ear. I asked,"Are you ready babe?" She replied "I think so". The first cast was made and Lyla held the rod tip straight in front of her as she began to reel quickly with great excitement. In a soft voice I prompted her to reel "slow and steady". After a couple more casts and resetting the retrieve, she was ready. The fourth cast landed in just the right spot. I moved back from Lyla and kneeled on one knee to watch as she slowly reeled. I waited anticipating the shake of the rod tip and Lyla's reaction. A scream ripped out of that little three year old as the Largemouth took the bait. I was elated! I told her to reel fast which she did with no hesitation. To my surprise she instinctively raised the rod tip and with a few more excited screams landed her first fish. She had hooked that 1 pound fish in the sweet spot, right on top of the lip. I lipped the fish with Lyla jumping up and down shouting, "Oh my Gosh!" and "I don't want to touch it". She did stand next to her fish and exclaimed, "It's so cute". After taking a few pictures to remember this special day at the "hidden spot" we made our way home. I once read that if you want to have your kid beg to go fishing again, you catch one fish and then leave. I am happy to say that it worked with Lyla. I think Lyla has now become addicted to fishing. I can't wait for the day when she's older and being on the water together.