The leaders of my son’s old scout troop contacted me this summer and ask if I would be interested in hauling my boat up to the high country and taking a few scout fishing so they can complete the requirements for the fishing merit badge.
Let’s see, stay at home in the 100% heat, or another excuse to go fishing at a cool high mountain lake ?

I’ll be there.

It’s a good thing I showed up 2 hours early, the lake level was 100 feet below the bottom of the ramp, the only option was a 4 wheel drive trail and launching off a gumbo mud shoreline.
It was ugly but I got it done and was the only boat on the lake.

Started taking boys out 2 at a time about 8:30 AM.

Ended up taking 8 Boy Scouts and two Cub Scout younger brothers.

7 of them had never caught a fish before.

I have 4 basic rules for new fishermen.

# 1 You don’t get in my boat until you’re wearing a PFD.
# 2, sit down and stay seated
# 3 My name is “Caption Dan”, if I tell you to do something, do it.
#4 Don’t drop any of my rods overboard.

All in all, a very successful day, nobody came back bleeding or bruised
Every boy boated at least 2 fish, most of them got 3 or 4 in the boat and lost a few others.

The following photos are all boys with the first fish they ever caught

[Linked Image]

The two boys in photo #1 and #3 were trolling along when the younger one said,
"wouldn't it be cool if we both caught a fish at the same time" ?
About ten seconds later, both of them hooked up at the same time.
It was a rodeo with two boys who didn't know how to play or land a fish, but with lots of shouted instructions and some hooping and hollering, we got both fish in the boat.

Good job Captain Dan!

Yes! Making serious memories there. I remember very little from the age 4 era, but the first fish is one that's still there.

Good job and keep it up.

That’s caption Dan to you. The ADA accessible captain who closed captions everything. In all seriousness, great job taking the scouts out (I know you have done it in the past as well). I think the mud launch ramp might have been enough to get me to change my mind.

That is mighty grand of you Cpt Dan, even though you got out of the house and to the lake out of the deal.
Those son to be young men will remember the trip, fish and the kind gentleman that took them FISHIN.

[

I have several more photo's in the image gallery, but I can't get them to post

This young man was so excited he keep dropping the fish before I could get a photo, so I just threw it in the net and put the net in his lap.

Another first fish.
The young man on the right has been out with me several times, he comes from a traditional Latino family.
His parents made a fantastic old school lunch
Home made Adobada tacos & salsa.
Chorizo and Mrs. R's world famous re-fried beans.

Good Stuff! Nice Job!