My Fishing Buddy, Trevor.

Trevor is my 10 year old second cousin, and HE LOVES TO FISH.

I started getting Trevor into fishing when he was about 6 years old by taking him to the local trout stream on opening day of the season. (This particular stream is heavily stocked by the Hopewell Fish and Game Club).After a year or two of this, Trevor evolved into a "Bass Pro" via the local pond. I remember one year he even had a cast on his arm and still managed to bust a bunch of bass with ease...and a little help from the purple rubber worms.

I remember distinctively the first time we went trout fishing together like it was yesterday. What a day. My daughters were not quite old enough to head to the creek on opening day, and since Trevor is like the son I never had...it was time

to begin his training.

We started the morning off real early. You cannot start fishing until 8 a.m. on opening day here in Pennsylvania, but if you don't get to the stream early...its hard to find a "honey hole". Me and some of my regular buddies fishing buddies prescouted it already, so we knew there were some good numbers in the hole.

We hit the stream at about 6 a.m. and we had the first hole on the section of stream we were fishing ALL TO OURSELVES. My brother Brian, Big jon, Darren, Trevor, and myself.

We spent the next two hours telling jokes, prepping our rods, looking in the hole, and looking at our watches. Two hours can seem like an eternity on opening day, especially to a 6 year old.

Well 8 a.m. finally came and we let Trevor take the first cast into the hungry mob of Brookies and Rainbows. He hooked up in a matter of seconds! I assited him with the retreive adn don't know who was more excited. Him or me. The look on his face was never the less..."priceless". Half scared, and half thrilled beyond beleif.

Soon as that fish hit the bank, and I was putting it on his stringer, the other fellas proceeded to throw in...all at once. It was a feeding frenzy right away. Jon hooked up, then Brian, then Darren, and I was fantically trying to get Trevor's line back intot he hole, so I could get a cast in too. (Its also hard to bait kids hook inthe first 5 minutes of the season)

PANDEMONIUM...

The frenzy seemed to last a very short time, cause its never long enough. Big Jon limited out first, and then helped Trevor so I could catch up. Trevor lost a few but also landed 3 keepers all by himself. Thats pretty good considering he was competing a bunch of "older guys". Oh yes, it was definately competition....it was every man for himself for the first hour.

We fished until we all had our fill of thrills and spills. A hungry belly also can contribute to closure on opening morning.

We took the fish back to my Mom's place to show Trevor's Mom and Dad. A good photo session is ALWAYS an essential part of opening day as well. Trevor had some difficulty holding all three of his heavy trout all by himself, and it shows in the pictures.

Then time to clean em' up, eat a little "fresh catch", and reflect on our morning adventure. It will be a trip I will ALWAYS remember, and I think feels the same.

Thanks Trevor, for being my fishing buddy. You will be 12 soon...old enough to hunt...and then we have some AWESOME adverntures!

Your Cuz,

Mike
aka Red Fletchings