Looking for a perfect fishing buddy for Idaho adventures? Take your daughter (or son)!
On this picturesque Idaho evening, the only sounds were the faint hum of our trolling motor, the squawks of an arctic tern circling overhead, and a few gentle waves lapping against the shoreline. I looked back at my 4-year-old daughter, Quinn, happily polishing off an applesauce pouch with the sun on her face and the wind in her hair. She flashed a goofy smile.
No matter how many fish we caught, this was going to be a fun trip.
Quinn is the oldest of my two girls, and she’s been hooked on fishing ever since pulling her first trout through the ice at Horsethief Reservoir. She often tags along on local pond adventures or family boat outings, but once or twice a year, I get to take her on a “daddy trip,” where she and I get to spend some special one-on-one time. These are quickly becoming my favorite outings of the year.
We parked the boat near a large school of bluegill. I pointed them out, and Quinn — who inherited her dad’s sharp eye — started counting them off. Before long, we were reeling them in, one after the other. Small ones got tossed overboard with an enthusiastic “One…two…three!!” Bigger ones went in the livewell. Some even got names (“Kokie” was my personal favorite).
Quinn reeled in a few fish on my ultralight rod, then settled in next to me with a container of mealworms at the ready. Every time I caught a fish, she handed me fresh bait. Meanwhile, her questions came in rapid fire — some fishing related, some not.
“Dad, why is it called an arctic tern?”
“Why does that bluegill have such an orange tummy?”
“Do we have tidal waves in Idaho?”
“Is this mealworm already dead?”
“Is that a pelican?”
“If an axolotl isn’t a fish, why does it have gills?”
Pretty tough questions from a preschooler! Luckily, dad was (mostly) up to the task.
After a break for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Quinn wanted to tackle some bluegill with her Elsa pole. We talked through safety, the mechanics of casting and how to pay close attention to her jig-and-bobber rig. After a few near-misses, she hooked and landed a bluegill on four straight casts. Into the livewell they went — and Quinn took another break to “play hide and seek with them.”
The hours passed all too quickly. We joked and laughed. We snacked on spicy Cheetos. We talked about school, soccer, fishing, animals, the Little Mermaid and countless other topics. Dozens of panfish joined us on board. Eight nice bluegill came home for a fish fry, which is Quinn’s favorite meal (daddy’s, too). Once we’d met our quota, we fished for bass and caught some nice ones. Quinn loved measuring the fish, and she even made a valiant effort to hold a 17-incher by the lip.
It’s hard to describe the happiness that comes from sharing your favorite things with your favorite people. This trip wasn’t really about bluegill, bass or even teaching my daughter fishing skills. Free from cell phone service and other distractions, Quinney and I felt like the only people on earth. It was a perfect setting to enjoy the funny, smart, fearless little person she’s becoming.
For all the fishing moms and dads out there, you’ll never have better fishing buddies than your kids. What a blessing it is to share life’s adventures with them. I cherish the memories Quinn and I are building together — and it won’t be long until her little sister, Skye, gets in on the fun. Tight lines!
Jordan Rodriguez has been fishing Idaho waters since he was a teen. Share your fish stories, adventures and questions with him at tightlinesboise@gmail.com, or visit www.tightlines208.com for the latest local fishing reports and upcoming class offerings.