Well today is a monumental day for several reasons. First it is my birthday, okay that’s not very monumental, to me anyway. But I took my oldest son fishing this morning, early for my birthday and he gave me one of the best presents. We put the boat in on a farm pond and he cast his rod out by some cattails while I was tying a lure on my line when he says to me, “Dad, I think my worm is stuck.” So I look up and his line starts to move away from the shore out towards the middle of the pond. And I say, “Just keep reeling it in, there’s a fish on there”. So he brings a 2.5lb Largemouth Bass up to the boat and I land it for him. He was grinning from ear to ear all day, as was I.

Tags: family, fishing, milestone, Outdoors

As many of you who know me know, I am an Eagle Scout and avid camper with my family. I have also decided after how stressful the past few years have been that I would make more time to go fishing. I have not been fishing on a regular basis in over 9 years! Oh wait, coincidentally that is when I got a real job! So this winter I decided I wanted to try fly fishing. So I head on over to my local Bass Pro Shops store, talk to their fly fishing experts and a few hudred dollars later, I am a fly fisherman.

I live in western Oklahoma and if you don’t know there are a lot of Bass and catfish out here, but now trout. So for spring break last week we loaded up the family and went to Beavers Bend State park. It is one of the designated trout streams in the state that is stocked on a regular basis during trout season. We rolled in mid afternoon on the first friday of spring break, and WHEW! The park was packed, we snagged up the 2nd from last camp site in the whole state park.

So I go out and fish Saturday morning, afternoon, and evening and catch nothing. Okay, Sunday will be better, nope! Zero, zilch, nada. No fish on the fly rod for Ryan. But I can see lots of other fly fisherman pulling out trout all day long. So I rise extra early Monday and go down to a spot that I have seen other people pull trout out of the previous 2 days. After 45 min, and just about the time I am cursing my decision to buy into fly fishing BAM! I have a fish. All of those woes wash down the river as fast as the water is flowing. What a great feeling, just like I was a kid again.

Now my oldest son still had not caught anything for the week, so my new mission was to get him a fish on the line. We go out and the designated “bait” areas are packed with people so I end up back in the same spot with my fly rod and I hooked 4 more fish and let him reelthem in. Mission accomplished, for now.

Overall Beavers Bend State Park is a great place to camp! Beautiful scenery, great people, good fishing and lots of stuff to do and see. We also met a couple from Skiatook, who recommended Roaring River State Park in Missouri. We may have to check that out soon!

Tags: camping, family, fishing, Outdoors, vacation