We actually had a weekend with no hockey this winter and headed out fishing. Amazing day on the ice with my boys! We were up and out the door by 5 a.m. and to the lodge in Baudette a little after 7. We had zero issues getting those boys out of bed! Funny how that works when we take them hunting too.
Bear and I weren't sure we should even attempt this trip. We end up with this grand idea in our heads and think the boys will get a long the whole time and we'll have a happy day of fishing. We can't help but keep trying things like this but part of me was dreading that we may end up stuck in a house for hours on end, catching no fish and crabby and fighting. Thankfully that wasn't the case. Makes me believe that other fun trips can happen!
We hadn't been in the house more than five minutes and Parker had a bite. He managed to set the hook and real in a keeper. The excitement he had was unforgettable. He gets giddy and all jacked up and it's so fun to watch!
This little guy instantly starting pouting that he didn't catch a fish right away but his brother did. I just had to remind him that he would get his chance and that we were going to catch fish! We've taken them before and sat all day and been miserable. But not this day!
Sure enough the next fish went to Emmitt. His mood quickly turned into pure excitement. One after the next he just kept catching fish! Believe me, we did lose a few, or they were too small to keep, but we kept getting bites! Never in all my years of fishing have I ever gone and hit the fish like this.
Of course Bella got to come with! She wasn't too interested in the fish. She would lick them once in awhile. But mainly she would sleep with one eye open and keep an eye on that flopping bag in the corner of the fish house.
Emmitt was by far the best "fish measurer." We read them the rules and regs and they were sure to measure the fish and keep or toss them back.
I managed to catch the biggest perch I have ever seen! She was huge and tasted yummy when Bear cooked her up for supper!
My boys and their fish! And footie jammie's too. They basically live in those things!
Bear got a 22 incher! He was huge and had to be thrown back, but so fun to see those giant fish!
We headed back on the 25 miles of ice to the mainland. The trip home was a little scarier than heading out. I don't love being on the ice, especially that far out, but the pressure ridges that had developed while we were out quickly freaked us all out. We had another vehicle pass us when we stopped to check out the new ridge and the kind fisherman decided to lead us back and make sure we were okay. The boys judged our reaction and were a little more scared, but we reminded them that good people are out there and after an hour and a half ride we were back on dry land. Until next year Lake of the Woods!
