[erik]

After a couple years of not going for many reasons, and now closing on a new house, work driving me nuts, girlfriend driving me nuts, friends and parents egging me on to go up this year, I made the decision to grab my daughter and head on up to Sheridan.

Needless to say the weather could have been a whole lot better. Storm fronts coming through like always, dry moments, wet hours, hailing rain squalls, even a few hot sun burning hours. But most of all the wind would never let up. Constantly blowing at around a 15-20 mph average all day long. So on that note, it was find areas my pontoon boat could stick so I could fish for a while. My friends were real good about throwing my pontoon on their boats and barging me out to a decent area and keeping an eye on me. Weather like that really makes me wonder why I ever sold my boat. My daughter was content in staying with Grandma and Grandpa in the motor home, or visiting with old friends while I was fighting the elements. I did catch some fish up to about 4 pounds, but it was not that easy or comfortable with the wind that would screw you up in a New York second. Typical Sheridan, but in the pontoon, it would just magnify everything that made it tough.

As the weather seemed to be a little better on Thursday I told my daughter it was her day to do whatever she wanted. My dad said if we wanted to take his boat and fish, just grab it and go. Without hesitation she grabbed her rain gear and off we went. That's when all the crappy weather and soaking wet gear didn't matter any longer. As we took off, the clouds parted, saw some blue sky and the wind actually took a break for a while. We found fish working down by Bear Island, so we anchored and starting throwing lines. I was doing nothing more than casting and my daughter was doing the retrieving. I couldn't ask her to throw 30' leaders so it was my pleasure to be the casting boy.

It was great being out there with her once again, laughing, watching the Loons hunt, and the fish rising here and there. Then her rod bent and bent hard. Line was flying out of the boat and she was doing her best to keep in all in check. Once on the reel, the fish just went. Straight out to the deeper water jumping and peeling line the way we all dream of. She did great in working the fish when she could, or letting it run when that was the case. She had been doing it for years, and it was a real treat to just sit back and watch all she has learned over the years. Finally the fish came to the net after about 15 minutes or so. It was over now, but the laughing and giggling that was coming from her. The treat to see it all happen, and to see the grin on her face and the happiness in her voice made the whole trip.
Thanks
Erik