FIRST FISH

FIRST FISH

Fishing is an important factor when it comes to aging properly. Almost every fish is a memory. Even more precious are the memories of watching children and grandchildren learn the sport of fishing and experience their own first fishing adventure.

Todd Alley with his first sunfish. He was maybe 4 or 5 at the time.

Becca Alley is Todd's daughter and she was happy with her first trout two seasons back while on a camping trip to the Natchaug River. Grandpa and Dad were both on hand for the occasion.

Nichole is Becca's older sister and it was double the fun that day because both girls  caught trout on their first fishing day.

Found the photo! - My oldest Grandson Chris with his first sunfish, fishing the Saugatuck Reservoir with Grandpa.  

Mary Meinke is Poppy Alley's oldest Grand-daughter. She'll be graduating from  College in May but on this day she was on her first fishing trip to the Saugatuck Reservoir with her Grandfather.

Will Meinke is Mary's younger brother and he graduates High School this June. This was a day when he  was camping with Grandma & Poppy and caught his first sunfish in the Natchaug River.

I was unable to locate my daughter Lori's first fishing photo nor her son,   Christopher's who is now 24 and out in the working world. I remember taking Lori to River Road on the Saugatuck in Weston on an opening day when she was about 8 years old. FOUND IT! Grandson Chris caught his first sunny at the Saugatuck Reservoir. It;s added to the group but stil looking for Lori's.
None have become avid anglers like myself. Todd has an almost professional degree of expertise with a fly rod and caught his personal best trout just this past season. Mary has a continued interest in fishing. We have a date for this summer after graduation.
It will be fun to see how all of  their interests develop in the years ahead. I was a fishing nut until midway through high school due to other more pleasant distractions. I fished very little while doing military service nor for a couple of years after my discharge. It was the late 1950's that the fish-fire began burning brightly again and since then I've been hooked.
I'm just happy to have been there at the beginning.
DWA