There's little doubt that fishing is addictive. Young and old get hooked and not in a bad way, either. The excitement of feeling the steady, pulsating pull of a fighting fish is thrilling for most anyone. It's an activity that can be enjoyed for a lifetime and shared often with others. And when it's shared with family members the fruits are even more rewarding. "I've been taking that little guy with me since he was 3 or 4 years old," said Nick Self, 60, of his grandson, Dakoda Blue. "He's come a long ways and does a real good job in the boat now and can handle the rods and the net." A Topekan, Self is an avid angler and locally known for his affinity for walleye fishing. He uses the screen name "Walleye Crazy" on several fishing forums and loves to fish for these members of the perch family every chance he gets. After working 32 years for Goodyear he retired nearly a decade ago and fished the Professional Walleye Trail a couple years and traveled the country. "I got to fish some places doing that I'd never get to if I hadn't tried it," Self said. "It was a good experience and looking back I'm glad I did it then when I had a chance." But if you ask Self where he's most happy these days he might have a different answer. Whether it's crappie, white bass or walleye, he's perfectly content to do any of it provided his grandson is riding shotgun. "He really likes fishing," Self said. "And I really like taking him." Despite the heat, Self has been hitting the walleye hard at Clinton since the first of July. That bite has been particularly impressive and Self wanted to see if he could get Dakoda in on some of the action last weekend. I went along for the ride. Self was on the water by 6:30 a.m. and anticipation was high for both. Dakoda is a pleasant, extremely polite young man and like any youngster filled with plenty of youthful enthusiasm. He enjoys fishing and couldn't wait to get things going. "I like how fish fight and the fun of reeling them in," Dakoda said. "And I like to EAT them!" As much as Dakoda liked fishing, it was obvious he enjoyed spending time with his grandfather. The young man showed Self respect that's not necessarily common with some youngsters of today. He was like a sponge soaking up Self's advice and did everything he asked. "He always teaches me new things," Dakoda said affectionately about his grandfather. "The first time I reeled in a walleye I reeled too fast and now I know you have to reel slowly. "He's a great teacher," he added. Self motored to the area he'd found prior success and dropped spinner rigs and got on the trolling motor. A beautiful morning was unfolding and Dakoda started chatting with other boats nearby. "Catching anything?" he'd ask. "I bring him and he gets me all the information," Self said with a laugh, of his grandson's curiosity. "I just wanna see this pole go crazy!" Dakoda said, anxious for some action. It wasn't long and the first fish of the day hit his nightcrawler-tipped spinner rig. "I got me a walleye," Dakoda said after landing the first fish. "I love 'em, I love 'em!" "You learn fast, grasshopper!" Self said, smiling. "Thank you, Papa!" Time passed without much action. A few other boats were catching fish but there wasn't much going on in Self's Skeeter. Dakoda looked back over his shoulder and gave me the finger to the lip "Shhhhh," sign and showed his ornery side. "I got one, I got one," he said as he thrashed his pole in the water behind Self. Self nearly broke his neck spinning around which is exactly the reaction Dakoda was looking for and he started laughing. And I'll admit it was funny and Self saw the humor, too. "Now you're just picking on an old man," Self said. A fish here and a fish there and the grandfather and grandson duo kept at it. Occasionally, Self would ask Dakoda to get him a worm or piece of equipment. "Sure, Papa!" was always Dakoda's reply. "I'm grooming him for when I get old so I can just sit in the back and let him run the boat," Self said. A short time later Dakoda felt a fish pull and he reared back and set the hook. The fish didn't move much and Self knew his grandson had a pretty good walleye hooked up. "Take your time," Self said. Dakoda had learned from his grandfather and fought the fish slowly and diligently. The fat walleye started flopping near the surface and Self reached as far as he could with the net and scooped up the 4-pound walleye. If anyone within ear-shot was curious as to what just happened they wouldn't have to wait long as the whooping, hollering and high-fiving started immediately. "That thing's huge!" Dakoda said, pointing at it still in the net. "I'm proud of you, buddy!" Self said. "I'm shaking I'm so happy for you!" "Thanks, Papa!" Dakoda said. The excitement level was ramped up a notch with that fish. Dakoda leaned back in his chair and breathed a big sigh. "I'm wore out!" he said. Dakoda added that fish to one other in the livewell and continued to fish. But as is often the case with kids, and even adults in some cases, he couldn't help but peek in the livewell every so often just to check on his big fish. And if anyone wanted to see it, and even some that didn't ask, he'd pull it out and show it off. "I caught this one!" he'd say as Self looked on proud in his own right. The morning wore on and it began to get extremely hot. A near-miss at the boat saw their third keeper-sized walleye get away. Dakoda began to tire and Self realized it was about time to call it a day. Self knew, and Dakoda will realize one day if he didn't that day, the trip was about more than the number of fish in the livewell. "You did well today," Self said. "I'm proud of you." "Thanks, Papa," Dakoda responded. "I'm glad we came today." Marc Murrell can be reached ================================================ Fishing reduces stress and gives you a break from our modern world where everything is going a million miles per hour 73 Check & Clear 6 LOC: 38-54-14.60N / 097-14-09.07W |
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