The Future

Do you think the future of "our" sport is very bright?  Yes, it is "our" sport to support and to pass along.  Here is a short piece and story to remind you that fishing will always have a place in "family and fun"!  

Got the chance to take out a few youngsters recently and I can't say enough about the smile that this guide trip on Lake Minnetonka put on my face.  A smile that makes me appreciate what I get to call "work" and also that I have faith in the "system"!  

On this particular evening I fished with Blake, his 2 son's(Colin, Pat), and Grandpa.  Blake's 2 sons are 3 and 5 and these kids are crazy about their fishing.  They make an annual trip to MN from AZ to visit family and manage to take one afternoon to fishwithmatt on Lake Minnetonka.  It is a trip I always look forward to.  Watching the excitement in these kid's faces and voices is priceless.  From the moment I pulled up at the dock to pick them up I could hear them screaming my name.  After 4-5 hours of hard fishing, the first thing they asked when I dropped them off was; "Mr Matt, can we fish with you again tomorrow?!".  

They are so well behaved and persisitent. Just look at how Colin(3yrs) thumbs that bass.  He is a natural and absoluetely loves the sport of fishing.  They managed to catch a number of nice hard pulling bass on this trip.  The biggest pushed 4lbs and made for a couple happy little boys.  

Colin took some time out from bass fishing to try his luck with a little musky winding.  Let me remind you, this kid is 3 years old and reeling a Shimano Caltutta 400 on a 8' rod with a 10" lure on the end!  He is a natural and gives me goosebumps.  I see so much of myself when I was 3 yrs old in this little guy; it almost scares me.  It also makes me realize that the future of our sport is in good hands and will be ok.  Although this family doesn't even live in MN they make a point to get these kids outdoors to enjoy God's creation and expose them to great sports like fishing.  These kids will leave MN never forgetting their outing with "Mr. Matt"!  I can apprecaite that and thank them for taking their kids fishing.  Just never know what they may grow up and want to do......