GuideLines: Toms, Jakes, Kids and Fishing
I love being with my kids. I love seeing them in nature, climbing rocks and trees, running in the grass, marching through the woods, playing in the swamp in our back yard, and hunting and fishing. These are activities that keep us all connected and grounded.
There is nature all around—especially here, in Otter Tail County, MN. We live in a wonderful place and my wife and I are glad our kids get to experience and enjoy it. My kids constantly remind me who I once was and what I aspire to be everyday—carefree. As a middle aged adult, however, I lose track of what life and nature are really for. When I’m with my kids hunting and fishing and playing, and when I take other kids on fishing trips, I’m reminded how great life is—how wonderful life should be and how way-to-serious I am.
I want to share a simple hunting story that reminds me how simple and pure outdoor sports like fishing and hunting should be… My oldest is 11 years old. He and I started turkey hunting a few years ago. And while I had turkey hunted in the past (unsuccessfully), Jonas and I wanted to give it a try. The first season we hunted, we both sat in a little portable blind, froze, got bored and didn’t shoot anything. In fact, we didn’t even see anything. We looked at one another every 5 minutes and said, simultaneously, “What time is it? Can we go now?”
We weren’t sure that we liked the sport, but by March last year Jonas decided he wanted to try again. Awesome! We bought another license and went out for another try. We sat in the blind, heard a gobble and called a bit. About 30 minutes later, Jonas had shot a nice Jake turkey. We were both surprised, pleased and proud—it was a great moment.
He was more excited to try again this spring. This year we decided we didn’t like sitting in a tent/blind. We wanted to sit against a tree or post and hunt in the open relying on camouflage and exercising some hunting skill. Not long into the hunt, 9 turkeys came out of the roost and lit 300 yards away into a clearing. After a bit of calling the whole gang made their way to our hen and jake decoys—there were 2 hens and 7 males. The boys were grouped so tightly that Jonas had to hold off his shot or he would have shot all of them at once. He did wonderfully! Forty minutes later (yes, forty minutes!!), the boys finally began to separate and poor Jonas (and dad) were quite uncomfortable for sitting stiffly against our posts with the gang of turkeys a mere 20 yards away. He did so well!
As the birds exercised their competitive sparring, spurring and strutting, I couldn’t help but keep my eyes glued on the large bird. He was a nice Tom with a 7 or 8 inch beard. He was in full strut almost the entire time. He was a dandy, and I was certain Jonas was waiting for him to get away from the group. Finally, after an exciting 40 minute wait, the large Tom separated from the pack, stepping 5 or 6 yards away from the others. I whispered to Jonas for the first time since the hunt began and told he to shoot the “lead” bird. “Take the one in front,” I said. His gun went up, his safety clicked off, and “BANG!”
The big Tom stood there as live as could be, but one of the Jakes lay dead. As an old outdoor guy, I couldn’t figure out what happened? What about the “BIG” Tom? I told Jonas nice shot, then I asked him why he didn’t shoot the one in front—the big one? He looked at me and said, “The bird he shot was in front—and it was big.” It was a matter of perspective. It was a perfect moment. It was pure and genuine. It was wonderful. He shot his bird his way and that was the one he wanted. His eyes didn’t differentiate Big for Bigger. They are all good! Jonas did his thing and he was very proud and very pleased—as was I.
I see the same thing happen when I fish with kids. It’s not about BIG, Most, Best, or Limits. It’s simply about fishing, and every fish is a good fish. Every time you catch fish remember to appreciate it and feel good about it – you will enjoy the sport that much more! When you fish with kids, know that they just want to fish. Let’s all try to remember to be care-free anglers and sportsmen and women. Enjoying and appreciating what we catch—even the little ones!
Good luck fishing this spring!
