I have three.
My Dad loved fishing the Adirondack spring brooks for brookies and a month before he turned 87 I discovered a beaver dam about two miles from his old farm. It was about 2 acres and about 2.5, 3 years old. Dad was dealing with a very weak heart. I dug some worms, loaded his 10 ft aluminum pram and fishing gear into the truck and convinced him that we could drive to the edge of the pond. He was barely able to make it from the truck to the boat. We fished for about a half hour when he finally got a bite. He landed it and asked me to open it up to see what they were feeding on. Little black bugs. He had a small zippered leather tobacco pouch in which he carried an assortment of hooks. Took out his smallest hook, tied it on, and baited it with a tiny chunk of worm. BOOM! Trout on! Those Brookies hit as fast as he could get his hook in the water. I was busy cutting little chunks of worms and stuffing trout into his old creel. Some of the largest Brookies I have ever seen came out of that pond. He was laughing and having a wonderful time. In less than a half hour I said, "Hey Dad, your creel is getting full!" He stopped and asked how many "we" had. I didn't know. His heart was now acting up again and he needed to stop the excitement and arm movement.
Got home and Dad laid down while I took care of the trout. Counted, measured, took pictures, and set up to clean them. One measured 16", two 14"+-, several over a foot, smallest was 8". I had fished those Adirondack spring brooks all my life and a 10" Trout was considered a big fish. Dad surveyed the catch, teared up and whispered, "that's the greatest catch of Trout I've ever had in all my life." (31) That was his last fishing trip. His heart stopped a few months after.
Second event.
Several years previous to the above event my Dad and I took my oldest son for our first fishing event together. We took a small 12 ft boat to a little nearby lake. Dad rowed us out a short distance while I readied my son baiting his hook and rigging his line with a bobber. He tossed out his bait and I began getting my pole ready to wet a worm. The little guy spoke up saying,"daddy, my bobber's gone." Caught his first Trout and it was bigger than any Trout I have ever caught. He tends to out do me in whatever venture we find ourselves in.
Third event.
I have 3 sons whom I love deeply and Fathers Day has always been important to me. One year our middle son, then in his teens, took me fishing for Fathers Day in a special place he had found. The Trout were hesitant to bite and he caught every one we pulled out of the water that day. I have fished with many guys but he remains the only person to ever take me fishing. A memorable day. Thanks son.
Last edited by Rug3; 12/05/19.
